Genre
Medieval Fiction, Medieval Literature, Poetic Text
Setting and Context
The setting is the Court of King Arthur
Narrator and Point of View
The text is written from King Arthur's point of view.
Tone and Mood
At first the tone is melancholy and overwhelming because the text takes its tone from the mood of King Arthur. Once Gawain is introduced into the story the mood and tone become more upbeat and positive.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Kinig Arthur is the protagonist. The antagonist is Sir Gromer Somer Joure.
Major Conflict
There is conflict between Arthur and Gromer after Gromer offers him a challenge that he has to fulfill under threat of beheading.
Climax
Ragnelle is released from the curse that has rendered her ugly and finds that her beauty has been restored.
Foreshadowing
The deal that Arthur strikes with Ragnelle foreshadows the wedding of Gawain and Ragnelle.
Understatement
Under the curse, Ragnelle is described as "ugly" but this is an understatement because her youth has been taken from her and replaced with the visage of an old, wizened crone of a woman with no trace of beauty.
Allusions
The text exhibits similarities to Geoffrey Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Tale".
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
Gawain decides to treat his new bride as though she were the most beautiful woman in the world, which of course breaks the curse and makes her beautiful again.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Gawain's chivalry and the speed with which Ragnelle's curse is released.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
"The Court" is the phrase used to encompass all of the knights within the court itself.
Personification
N/A
