Reviews

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl and Sir Orfeo by J.R.R. Tolkien

austinkershaw's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

adastrame's review against another edition

3.0

Despite Tolkien's admirable efforts to preserve the meter of the poem, I think it's not particuarly easier to read than the original. Due to this some of his choices seem a bit off (I have been comparing his translation with the original). For easier comprehension, it's better to read a prose translation.

kylejomiller01's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

theseventhl's review against another edition

3.0

Sir Gawain's story was pretty interesting, as was Sir Orfeo's. Pearl was just . . . boring. And long.

newtarbo's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

grilledcheetah's review against another edition

2.0

COLLEGE READ

kingspite618's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

veronicascottnova's review against another edition

2.0

I only read SGatGK, not the later two in the title.

aritz's review

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bioarla's review against another edition

4.0

This book includes three English medieval poems: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl and Sir Orfeo, composed between the 13th and 14th century and here translated by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of the three, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is my favourite: an example of chivalric romance, it belongs to the Arthurian folklore and tests the chivalric code of honour of the Knights of the Round Table, and of the young nephew of King Arthur, Sir Gawain. When a gigantic green knight interrupts the Christmas Feast at Camelot, Sir Gawain is the one accepting his challenge: he will strike the mysterious knight and win his magnificent axe, and in return he will accept to take a blow from the green knight in a year and a day time. Sir Gawain thinks the challenge is easily won by beheading his opponent with a single blow, but this is a land of magic and tricks…
Pearl is very different in tone, more difficult in the interpretation, and reminds me of Christian medieval allegories: a father is desperate for the loss of his pearls and while asleep, he dreams of meeting a Pearl maiden with whom he starts a very long and yes, sometimes boring, theological discussion.
Finally, Sir Orfeo: I didn’t know anything of this poem, the shortest of the three, and it is a beautiful mixture of Greek mythology (the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice) with Medieval English folklore (fairy tales).
Given that all the three stories are written as poems and in old English, it is not always easy to follow them (especially Pearl), but you'll like them if you are interested in either English folklore, English Medieval literature or just in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.