Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (10 of 20)
Publication Date: June 18, 2010
Chapter: English Literature During The Middle Ages
So, Gawain goes to the spiffy new castle, and that's when things get weird. Well, weirder.
"Gawain gazed on the host that greeted him there,
And a lusty fellow he looked, the lord of that place:
A man of massive mold, and of middle age;
Broad, bright was his beard, of a beaver's hue,
Strong, steady his stance, upon stalwart shanks,
His face fierce as fire, fair-spoken withal,
And well-suited he seemed in Gawain's sight
To be a master of men in a mighty keep."
Man, I don't know why people think this story is gay. Everything seems pretty normal to - wait, what's that a few lines down
"Robes richly wrought they brought [Gawain] soon,
To change there in chamber and choose what he would.
When he had found one he fancied, and flung it about,
Well-fashioned for his frame, with flowing skirts,
His face fair and fresh as the flowers of spring,
All the good folk agreed, that gazed upon him then,
His limbs arrayed royally in radiant hues,
That so comely a mortal never Christ made as he."
I dunno. I'm still not seeing it. Clearly all those scholars were - wait, there's another strange passage further on
"The lord attends alone: his fair lady sits
In a comely closet, secluded from sight.
Gawain in gay attire goes thither soon;
The lord catches his coat, and calls him by name,
And has him sit beside him, and says in good faith
No guest on God's earth would he gladlier greet.
For that Gawain thanked him; the two then embraced
And sat together soberly the service through."
Oh, come on, guys. "Gay" back then just meant happy. And I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason why he'd wanna sit close to Gawain while keeping his wife out of sight. And seriously, if I had a nickle for every time men warmly embraced, I'd - ah, screw it, I give up.
Gawain might be gay. Which, let's be honest, would be awesome.
Author: The Pearl Poet • Year: c. 14th Century • Info: Wikipedia
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Lit Brick is a comic started by Jodie Troutman in an effort to read the entire Norton Anthology of English Literature. Having eventually succeeded in that goal, it now features comics about all manner of random literature. For more of Jodie's work, visit longtalljodie.com!
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