hexatrance 's review for:

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Gawain Poet

4.5

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is such a great text. The translation is so readable and has chosen a rhythm that emphasises performance. The 'bob' and 'wheel' is such a delightful structure. I also love the interwoven scenes of the Lord's hunt and Gawain with his wife. It draws such interesting parallels and contrasts, with a mixture of humour, violence, and meditation. I also love that this text is bursting with material culture. Descriptions upon descriptions of detailed clothing and furnishings, full of colours and textures. Even the description of cutting up the hunted doe reveals so much about day to day processes,  and the amount of work and care that such material culture would have had. Also steller use of sound in this text. It shows that both the lives of the people and the adventure of the quest are loud and busy. Gawain and the Green Knight is so full of wonder that it becomes timeless.