verse is what the verse form used in sir gawain is called.
verse is what the verse form used in sir gawain is called.
what is the verse form used in sir gawain called?
verse
the 2,530 lines and 101 stanzas that make up "sir gawain and the green knight" are written in what linguists call the "alliterative revival" style typical of the 14th century. instead of focusing on a metrical syllabic count and rhyme, the alliterative form of this period usually relied on the agreement of a pair of stressed syllables at the beginning of the line and another pair at the end. each line always includes a pause, called a "caesura", at some point after the first two stresses, dividing it into two half-lines. although he largely follows the form of his day, the gawain poet was somewhat freer with convention than his or her predecessors. the poet broke the alliterative lines into variable-length groups and ended these nominal stanzas with a rhyming section of five lines known as the "bob and wheel", in which the "bob" is a very short line, sometimes of only two syllables, followed by the "wheel," longer lines with internal rhyme.
sir gawain and the green knight
sir gawain, on his last night at sir bertilak's castle in "sir gawain and the green knight", having gone through much to locate the green chapel at which he must suffer this return stroke of the axe, is determined, in truly chivalrous style, to be "merrier than ever before." likewise, gologras, in "the knightly tale of gologras and gawain", is determined to be seen to be relaxed and "mery" in his hall, even when things are going badly for him outside and his knights are failing to gain the upper hand. this show of composure in adversity becomes a measure of honour and chivalry for both protagonists. and the climax of both "the knightly tale of gologras and gawain" and "sir gawain and the green knight" involves reciprocity. in the one, sir gawain takes upon himself what he has given to gologras, that is, the mantle of defeat. in the other, sir gawain receives what he has given to his opponent, that is, a stroke of the axe. and not only a stroke of the axe, but earlier, also, in bertilak's castle, a game was played in which everything that bertilak had gained in the forest was given to sir gawain, and everything that sir gawain had achieved in the castle was (supposed to be) given to his host. more reciprocity.
the knightly tale of gologras and gawain