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The Green Knight was a character featured in the classic
poem Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight (fourteenth century) and its derivative The Green Knight (c.
1500). This knight came into Arthur's hall and asked any one of his knights
to trade blows.
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| The Green Knight prepares
to fight. |
Gawain accepted this challenge and he was allowed
to strike first. He cut off the Green Knight's head. The latter calmly picked
it up and told Gawain to meet him on New Year's Morning for his turn.
On his way to this meeting, Gawain lodged with
a lord and each agreed to give the other what he had obtained during each
day of Gawain's stay. On the first day, when the lord was out hunting, Gawain
received a kiss from his wife which was duly passed on. On the second day,
he received a brace of kisses which were also passed on. On the third day
he was given three kisses and some green lace which would magically protect
him, but only the three kisses were passed on.
Having left the lord's residence, Gawain arrived at the Green Chapel where
he was to meet the Green Knight. He knelt for the blow. The Green Knight
aimed three blows at Gawain, but the first two did not make contact and
the third but lightly cut his neck.
The Green Knight turned out to be the lord with whom he had been staying
and he said he would not have cut Gawain at all had the latter told him
about the lace. The Green Knight was called Bertilak and he lived at Castle
Hutton. The tale bears a striking resemblance to an Irish narrative in which
Cu Roi takes the part of the Green Knight and Cuchullain that of Gawain.
The Green Knight may have been the Green Man, a wild man featured on inn
signboards whose effigy was carried in civic processions.
*Sir Pertolepe was also called the Green Knight, and he was defeated by
Sir Gareth.
(Read Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight.)
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