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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, Pearl: Verse Translations

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Borroff is the Best!
Excellent translation
Best modern translation

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, Pearl: Verse Translations

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393976580

Book Description

Verse translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, and Pearl by Marie Borroff. "These translations by Marie Borroff not only are one of the great achievements of rthe translator's craft but are works of art in their own right."—Lee Patterson, Frederick W. Hilles Professor of English and Chairman of Medieval Studies, Yale University.

Customer Reviews:

Borroff is the Best!.......2006-03-05

These are absolutely the best translations of the Gawain- (aka Pearl-) poet around. It's diabolically tricky to translate the Middle English of this obscure, anonymous poet, due to the fact that he combines the accentual, alliterative prosody of the native tradition with the rhythmic and rhyming verse of continental models. Of all the translators who have attempted it, Borroff by far provides an experience closest to reading this brilliant verse in the original.

These translations were originally published in short paperback versions of each poem. These are often still available from used booksellers. If you are only interested in one poem (probably Sir Gawain), look for one of these used paperback versions, and save your money. Patience and Purity (or "Cleanness") are wonderful poems, but they are not really of much interest to the general reader, and are mostly studied by scholars or by grad students.

Excellent translation.......2002-11-02

This is a great translation of one of the finest poems ever written in the English (well, middle English) language. The poem, in its original form, is very difficult to read, and Borroff's translation makes it not only easy but also very enjoyable to read.

This poem originally was very alliterative, and Borroff has preserved much of that. Sir Gawain is one of the greatest of the Arthurian legends, and this translation preserves much of the poems integrity. This is definitely a must have for any student of early English poetry or Arthurian legend.

The other works, Pearl and Patience, are believed to share the same author as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. These, too, are excellent poems. This would be a great addition to any collection.

Best modern translation.......2002-10-21

This book contains a reprint of Borroff's now standard translation, in addition to translations of two other middle English poems from the Gawain ms. Borroff has not only rendered Gawain into very readable modern English, but has also retained the alliterative lines of the original. Aside from the merits of this edition as a translation, Sir Gawain is one of the finest poems written in the English language. There are several sharp departures from typical romances of this type, and in Gawain's test we are made to see the contradictory nature of the courtly ideal. Amazing in style, it is both a clever critique of chivalric values and an entertaining adventure.
Due to the difficulty of the remote dialect of the original, this lively and witty romance is difficult to read in middle English, even for those who have studied Chaucer. It is, however, not impossible. For those who are interested in the poem, I would recommend reading it in translation, then trying the Anderson-Cawley (Everyman) edition, which normalizes the runic letters preserved in the Tolkien-Gordon-Davis (Oxford UP) scholarly edition.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo

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Enter into late-Medieval Adventure and Piety
The Great Magic
Arthurian Legend at its best
Pearl of Wisdom
Great ME text

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345277600
Release Date: 1979-12-12

Book Description

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL, and SIR ORFEO are masterpieces of a remote and exotic age--the age of chivalry and wizards, knights and holy quests. Yet it is only in the unique artistry and imagination of J.R.R. Tolken that the language, romance, and power of these great stories comes to life for modern readers, in this masterful and compelling new translation.

Customer Reviews:

Enter into late-Medieval Adventure and Piety.......2006-08-11

These three texts from the translating pen of J.R.R. Tolkien coprise an uplifiting trio that give the reader a glimpse of times when literature was aimed at both beauty and the edification of proper values. This is particularly true in the first two texts.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight presents a late Arthurian legend which was penned in a relatively obscure West-Midland dialect of early Middle English. The text, as translated by Tolkien, still maintains the auditory alliteration used to drive the poem itself. This in itself is a blessed treasure to the reader, as it is a rarely used method of poetry. The story is a gem in that it presents a fallible human, Gawain, who strives by the Grace of God to fulfill his oaths made. It is an exposition of piety, casting the Arthurian knight into a wholly Christian light.

Pearl, written in a dialectic style of poetic meter, is a moving poem of grief and understanding in the face of the death of a two-year-old child. The imagery used in it is absolutely breathtaking, drawing heavily on the Apocalypse of John for its material. The discourse is a journey of enlightenment and eventual peace, marked with profound trust in God. I found this poem to be absolutely stunning in itself. Pearl, along with Gawain, exposes the existence of a great deal of Marian piety at the time of the writing. This presents an intriguing scenario which reminds Christians of the ongoing understanding of Mary's role in the Christian faith.

Sir Orfeo, related in many ways to Classical myth, is a much more light-hearted adventure. It is a quick read that presents the reader with the brave quest of King Orfeo for his lost wife,Heurodis. The sybols used are mixed from Classical as well as English/Celtic sources. While the story is not wholly inventive, it is a fun read and has been presented very well by professor Tolkien.

I suggest this set of texts to everybody, for they present the reader with poetry which is not only grounded in romance/adventure but also in morality (particulary I and II) and faith.

The Great Magic.......2005-10-23

"Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight" is a great and holy work of literature and I return to it on an annual basis to breathe the air of its strong magic and to observe with awe its rutheless moral rigor. What a profound joy it is to foresake the barren land of contemporary hack literature and enter once more into a world where the colors are brighter, the language is grander, and the characters stride across the mysterious landscape like gods or faery-figures lit from within by a mystic sun. The great J.R.R. Tolkien did us all a supreme kindness when he advocated for the deep spiritual and aesthetic significance of "Beowulf" (for whom his own writings bear covert relations) and he doubled it when he translated this masterpiece of the enchanted but decidedly anonymous soul who wrote it.

Five stars are a poor return for such pleasure and wisdom offered.

Arthurian Legend at its best.......2005-10-13

I've always been fascinated with the old Arthurian legends, so this tale appealed to me greatly. Sir Gawain was everything a knight should be considering the fact that he's not perfect due to the fact that he's human. The animals depicted in the hunting scenes directly tie in with the storyline with Sir Gawain and the lady of the castle. The deer represented that Sir Gawain tried to flee away from having to deal with the lady of the castle. The wild boar represented difficulty since it was stated that the boar in the hunt had killed a man. Finally, the fox represented the fact that Sir Gawain was planning to be sly and conceal the fact that the lady of the castle had given him her girdle. The fact that he would lie to the lord of the castle, shows that he is truly human and that he would like to keep his own head when he has to go meet back up with the Green Knight the following day. The hunt over three days represents a series of three tests which later comes to aid or hinder Sir Gawain in his quest to keep his oath as a knight and follow through with the guidelines of "the beheading game". The girdle at the end that all the knights in King Arthur's court take to wearing symbolizes that they are human and that they are not perfect and that humility should be observed.

Pearl of Wisdom.......2004-03-29

Gawain is the Tolekin translation of one of many versions of the story. The story is exciting but ultimately disappointing because of the incongruence of the ending with the opening. The opening indicates that King Arthur is all too aware of the false beheading trick being played in his court as he primes the action for the hapless Gawain. The ending indicates the Green Man alone instigated the trick with Morgan le Fay. The point missed by Tolkein (jnr) in the Introduction is that the brocade is the sole tangible due to the green man in the exchange of acquisitions, so a real dishonour. Anyway Camelot' s self advertised mythology is well and truly pricked.
Pearl, on the other hand is a true medaeval pagan gem, arguing that religion is the exploitation of bereavement. Religion claims the deceased for heaven; it offers reunion to the survivor conditional on temporal faith. If the departed is beloved of a survivor then that cat runs headlong into the priest' s bag with little prompting. The poet becomes so seduced by the vision of the New Jerusalem he comes to see his former reason as madness and so went the world.
The strength of Christian theology surely developed from these kinds of rational resistence. Ultimetely reason conquered and theology relapsed to a dogmatic statement of faith in the shape of pearl (Aquinas). A great and thoroughly authentic work of transitional pagan genius saved by Tolkein.

Great ME text.......2003-10-31

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most famous Middle English works. This edition contains NOT Tolkien's TRANSLATION, but the original MIDDLE ENGLISH TEXT with his (and late prof. E.V. Gordon's) glossary and notes.
Their edition was published in 1925, and revised by Norman Dabis in 1967. It still remains the most authoritative and standard text. I strongly suggest that students who study this alliterative poem buy this great Middle English text. The language is quite difficult so you also need Tolkien's Present Day English translation version (on HarperCollins, Ballantine Books,etc).

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: (Facing Page Translation) (Broadview Literary Texts)

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Content Not Sacrificed for Form

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: (Facing Page Translation) (Broadview Literary Texts)

Manufacturer: Broadview Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0921149921

Book Description

Original text along with facing-page translation.

The fourteenth-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the greatest classics of English literature, but one of the least accessible to most twentieth-century readers. This new edition of the poem offers the original text together with a facing-page translation; editor James Winny provides a non-alliterative and sensitively literal rendering in modern English, as well as explanatory and textual notes, a further note on some words that present particular difficulties, and two contemporary stories, The Feast of Bricriu and the Knight of the Sword, which provide insight on the poem.

"This is the best translation of Sir Gawain. It... makes the remote world of Arthurian romance immediate to the reader." --Gordon Teskey, Cornell University

Customer Reviews:

Content Not Sacrificed for Form.......2000-03-24

This is my favorite edition of _Sir Gawain and the Green Knight_ not only because it is a fine poem, but also because the facing-page layout allows Winny to translate very accurately. The introduction to the poem and to Winny's translation of it is excellent, and discusses why he chooses not to translate within the confines of the formal characteristics of the poem in the original. Also, there are textual notes, a section discussing certain words in the poet's vocabulary that present significant difficulties for translators, and two appendices containing Arthurian analogues: Fled Briend/Bricriu's Feast and from Le Chevalier a L'Epee/The Knight of the Sword.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Signet Classics)

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Wonderful
Wonderful
Wonderful .. a story of the human condition
Raffel triumphs again
Draws on Celtic myth for a dramatic, moving tale.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Signet Classics)
Anonymous
Manufacturer: Signet Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451528182
Release Date: 2001-11-07

Book Description

King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table are in the middle of a Christmas feast when a green-skinned knight offers them a simple but deadly challenge. A challenge the brave Sir Gawain quickly-and fatefully-accepts. Brilliantly translated by distiguished poet Burton Raffel, this is a lyrical, accessible version of one of the most beloved tales in Arthurian literature.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2006-01-18

The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is perhaps the most authentically English of all the King Arthur tales. Most of the Arthurian mythos was largely a largely French creation, when the Norman conquerors discovered a few old Celtic legends about Arthur and wove them into a dynamic myth of chivalric idealism. The story of Sir Gawain is regarded by most scholars as a much purer version of those Celtic stories, as well as a much more nuanced synthesis of Celtic cultural heritage with Christian ideals. J.R.R. Tolkien was fond of citing it as one of his very favorite stories and deepest influences.

Raffel's translation is sure to endear itself to any fan of fantasy, medieval literature, or the King Arthur stories. It flows with the simple beauty of a dream, and the purity of heart of Gawain himself. Do yourself a favor and spend an hour or two reading this.

Wonderful.......2001-05-21

I was required to read this book in college ... and I loved it. A tale of courage, the knights code of moral and adventure, this book is not only an adventure story but a depiction of the human condition. Selfishness and fear can ruin our moral constitutions. The knight was a tower strength and courage yet the book brought to focus his fears and his selfishness.

I'm sure there are deeper levels of analysis for this book - good books often do.

- johnny -

Wonderful .. a story of the human condition.......2001-05-19

I'm sure there are deeper levels of analysis for this book - good books often do.

- johnny -

Raffel triumphs again.......2000-10-01

This 14th Century poem is one of the earliest known works in English. Its provenance is a mystery because literally nothing is known of the poet. It is written in a unique dialect of Middle English and is pretty much unread in the original. This verse translation by Burton Raffel is terrific and does much to elevate the work to the level of Beowulf & Chaucer.

At Christmas time, a Green Knight enters Camelot and challenges any Knight of the Roundtable to smite him with one blow of a battle axe. The only catch is that one year hence the smiter must receive a similar blow from the Green Knight. Sir Gawain volunteers for this strange duty. He beheads the Green Knight who thereupon picks up his laughing head and reminds Gawain of his obligation & tells him to find him in exactly one year to receive the blow.

The enchanting adventure leading up to and inculding their subsequent confrontation is beautifully rendered by Raffel. The poem is exciting, humorous & deals with great themes: courage, honor, etc.

GRADE: A+

Draws on Celtic myth for a dramatic, moving tale........1997-09-27

This exciting, powerful myth combines the best of the old Celtic belief in the sanctity of a solemn promise and the Christian ethic of forgiveness. It is moving, dramatic, and inspiring.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight (Oxford World's Classics)

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The First Mystery Written in English
A Compelling Achievement Of Lyrical Verse
The Structure of the Romance
A great book for any reader
Reading underneath the decisions of Gawain

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight (Oxford World's Classics)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Le Morte D'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table (Signet Classics)

ASIN: 0192833340

Book Description

'The finest translation in and for our time' (Kevin Crossley-Holland) Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, with its intricate plot of enchantment and betrayal is probably the most skilfully told story in the whole of the English Arthurian cycle. Originating from the north-west midlands of England, it is based on two separate and very ancient Celtic motifs of the Beheading and the Exchange of Winnings, brought together by the anonymous 14th century poet. His telling comprehends a great variety of moods and modes - from the stark realism of the hunt-scenes to the delicious and dangerous bedroom encounters between Lady Bercilak and Gawain, from moments of pure lyric beauty when he evokes the English countryside in all its seasons, to authorial asides that are full of irony and puckish humour. This new verse translation uses a modern alliterative pattern which subtly echoes the music of the original at the same time as it strives for fidelity.

Customer Reviews:

The First Mystery Written in English.......2006-05-28

Although written in Middle English during the fourteenth century during the reign of Richard II, this four-part story is considered the first mystery written in the English language, a great literary work and, mysteriously, the story's author remains unknown. Its dialect is strangley written in a Chesire dialect rather than a London accent. But at that time, the King of England had his guards hired from Chesire and transported to London to guard him from local enemies, so this story was probably written by one of them or for them by someone familiar with their dialect. But when Richard the Second fell, the Chesiremen were no more than a fleeting memory and Chaucer's stories became the vogue.

Part One begins at King Arthur's court at that "silly place" - Camelot on New Year's day. As Arthur's court is feasting and making merry with holiday cheer, a stranger, the huge but well dressed Green Knight, mounted on horseback and armed with an axe in one hand and a holly bough in the other, enters the hall and lays down an invitation to a game. Arthur may take the axe and strike a single blow against the Green Knight, on the condition that the Green Knight, if he survives, will return the blow one year and one day later. Arthur cannot refuse this challenge because if he did refuse, he would then be a coward. So Sir Gawain, the youngest of Arthur's knights, accepts the challenge and chops off the giant's head. The severed head's eyes open red. His body, still alive, picks up his severed head and confirms the bargain calling for Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel in a year and a day so that he may return the blow. Then he departs.

Part Two begins nearly a year later on All Hallows Day. Gawain sets off in his finest armour to find the Green Chapel and complete his bargain with the Green Knight. His shield is marked with the pentangle rather than a cross. It's a solitary journey without the assistance of his friends. Knights fight, hunt and womanize. But Gawain is severly immasculated. The journey takes him to a mysterious nearly-hidden castle somewhere in the Northwest of England near Chesire, where he arrives on Christmas Eve. Everybody there is mysterious and knows his name but he knows not theirs. Gawain meets the lord of the castle and his beautiful wife. After the feasting of Christmas Day, the lord asks Gawain why he has journeyed so far. Gawain tells of his New Year's Day appointment at the Green Chapel and that he must continue his search the next day. The lord insists that Gawain must remain his guest because the green chapel is only two miles away.

In part three, Gawain is laid a series of challenges to his masculinity and knighthood. The lord announces that while he is hunting the next day, Gawain will stay behind at the castle. Rather than hunt with the men, Gawain will stay behind to sleep as late as he wants and to eat whenever he chooses. But mysteriously, the lord proposes a game. He will give Gawain whatever he bags on his hunting trip on condition that Gawain gives to the lord, without explanation, whatever he might gain during the day. Gawain accepts. The next morning, after the lord has gone, the lady of the castle visits Gawain's room to seduce him. Gawain, not wanting to know the lord on intimate terms, allows nothing but a single kiss. When the lord returns with the deer he has killed, he hands it to Gawain as agreed and Gawain responds by returning the lady's kiss to the lord. Surprised to be kissed, the lord asks Gwain what that was all about? But Gawain reminds him that the condition was to give without an explanation, and so provides none.

On the second morning, Gawain again receives another visit from the lady. Again, he politely refuses her advances save two kisses. When the lord returns, there is another exchange of a hunted boar for two kisses. On the third morning, the lord mysteriously goes fox hunting when it is not the season to do so. Later when the lady again visits his chamber, Gawain maintains his chastity save three kisses. Then the lady offers him a green sash with the purported power to keep him from harm. But the lady says that he must not tell her husband or the sash will lose its power to protect him. That evening, the lord returns with a fox and exchanges it for three kisses from Gawain. However, Gawain keeps the sash from the lord so that he can use it in his forthcoming encounter with the Green Knight. During his ordeal at the castle, not only did Gawain resist the basic instinct for copulation, but by wearing a woman's article of clothing, he is further immasculated.

In part four, Gawain leaves for the Green Chapel wearing the lady's sash hidden under his armour. Gawain finds a grassy dwelling that Tolkien later borrowed for use in his stories as "hobbit" houses. The Green Chapel turns out to be a "hobbit" house. The Green Knight appears with a huge Viking axe in readiness to deliver the return blow. As arranged, Gwain moves forward to be beheaded without a fight. He bends over and bares his neck. The Green Knight raises his axe to behead Gawain. Gawain flinches and the Giant stops his blow in midswing. The Giant says that he did not flinch at his turn and Gwain should not flinch either, so they try again. Second time Gwain does not flinch, but Giant stops his blow midswing again anyway. But the third time, the Giant's blow lightly cuts the side of Gwain's neck. Gawain sees his blood in the snow. Knowing the contract is fullfilled, he jumps up branishing shield and sword. The Green Knight then laughs and reveals himself to be Bertilak de Hautdesert and explains that the three blows were for the three occasions when Gawain was visited by the lady. The third blow was a punishment for Gawain's refusal to give the sash to the lord.

The Green Knight explains that Gawain's trial was arranged by Morgan le Fay, mistress of the wizard Merlin and now a guest at Hautdesert castle. This is the revelation of this who-done-it mystery. The two men part on cordial terms, Gawain returning to Camelot. Gawain is filled with disgrace and recounts his ordeal to Arthur and explains his shame at having believed in the lady's sash and not giving it to the lord as bargained. Arthur refuses to blame Gawain and light-heartedly decrees that all his knights should henceforth wear a green sash.

A Compelling Achievement Of Lyrical Verse.......2003-11-18

Within this Arthurian Romance poem, the author serves to illustrate the trials and tribulations of Sir Gawain in a compelling achievement of lyrical verse. The translation by Keith Harrison contains a well written introduction with extremely informative background on both Arthurian romances in general, and also specifically focused on an analysis of Sir Gawain. Harrison restores the author's original achievement through preserving much of the structure and mood, keeping the plot unscathed, as originally intended by working closely with the original text to revitalize the Old English by granting it current nuances while remaining removed from the rather blunt phraseology of today and maintaining the opulent nature of the original text. The author writes to the audiences expectations, preconceiving the notion that Arthurian romantic heroes intrigue with violence, chivalry, and conflict, and he works within that to produce a piece that upholds those expectations while, at the same time, humanizing Sir Gawain. As intended by the author, the translator clearly invokes the audiences' sympathy by allowing them to share the same emotions of fear and hesitation as Sir Gawain, thereby involving them more as a spectator amongst the action of the piece. Therefore, this piece offers a very effective description of a more humanized romantic hero than is often related within Old English Arthurian romances. At $8.95, it is well worth its cost if you are indeed interested in Arthurian literature and lore, and seeking a short, enthralling poem about the plight of one man seeking heroism.

The Structure of the Romance.......2003-11-10

By replacing many archaic expressions with more modern phrases, this translated version of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight makes the romance more accessible to the general public. The translator's writing conveys the subtle details within the text gracefully and meaningfully so that the reader can grasp the general atmosphere of the story as well as the more significant details of each line. This text's contents are great for analysis in a classroom yet also amusing for a bedtime read.

Although in many texts the explanatory notes in the back of the book disrupts the reader's concentration from the actual text and destroys the general flow of the novel, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight this is not an issue. The translator's writing is detailed and clear enough so that the reader does not need to refer to the appendix of the book to understand a certain phrase or line. The translator's attention to both metric flow and detail contributes to the success of the text.
The Introduction, written by Helen Cooper, is helpful yet is also a spoiler. Cooper describes to the reader the original author's writing style as well as gives the reader a background on Arthurian romances and poetic structure. However, during her process of explaining the elements of the book and the character of Sir Gawain to the reader, Cooper reveals the unfolding plot of the novel. While clearly written and easily understandable, the Introduction to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is too informal a writing to such a sophisticated text.

A great book for any reader.......2003-11-08

This book is probably one of the best out there to dive into the world or Arthurian Romances. Harrison's translation is easy to understand, and provides helpful endnotes for much of the historical context. The plot is exciting, and the story progresses smoothly. Although the introduction by Helen Cooper is very informative about the author and subject of the novel, it also provides interpretations of the story itself. I would recommend that those who are unfamiliar with the story to take Cooper's advice and not read it, for it will give away much of the plot, which is rather intricate.
The novel starts out in King Arthur's court, around Christmas time. An unusual visitor arrives, in the form of a giant knight, who as the title implies, is green. He makes a challenge that is met by Sir Gawain, the king's nephew. After a short display, he finds out that he will ultimately have to confront the knight a year later to receive his deathblow. Thus, the story begins, as Gawain sets out on his voyage, to not only find the Green Knight, but also the hero in himself.
Although not too long, the text is very rich. It is full of subliminal messages, which create plots of their own. However, it can still be enjoyed even when taken literally, thanks to the clear writing of Harrison, and to the imagination of the original author.
At less than ten dollars, the book is an excellent value. Although a casual reader would get enjoyment from one reading, further readings would almost certainly bring out new themes and revelations to those more familiar with Arthurian romances, making this a must for any Arthurian enthusiast.

Reading underneath the decisions of Gawain.......2003-11-05

Keith Harrison's translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a masterful classic that creates a new world in the reader's mind dating back to the times of Arthur's Round Table. Detailing the travels of the knight Sir Gawain, this tale exemplifies the genre of writing characteristic of Arthurian romances. The style sees the use of alliteration in pentameter showing a great appreciation of the ideals of poetry to accompany the basis of recreating a story passed down through generations. In addition, the short story does a prototypical job in portraying the values of the chivalric life. Using the pentangle as his model of excellence, the poet brings about a new understanding within the reader of the underlying morals that are at the heart of every Arthurian knight.

But even without a deep respect of the style of writing, the reader finds in Keith Harrison's SGGK a great retelling of a story that follows the up's and down's of Gawain and his quest for the Green Knight. Within the visible, physical struggle, an inner, mental conflict between the knight's own mindset as a romance hero and his all too obvious humanity becomes the dominant force in the narrative. The inner struggle is something that every human being, from past ages or modern cultures will face.

The deeper meaning in SGGK provides a backbone to a story beautifully translated into modern poetry. Because of the story's symbolic undertones, the recommendation is for the reader to read through the story once for its basic hero story and next to answer the question of why the Green Knight did not kill Gawain to upend his side of the deal. The realization then becomes the connection that Gawain's weaknesses have with your own human flaws. Because of the correlation between Gawain and the common man, this story has survived the test of time and space.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Penguin Classics)

Average customer rating:

CAUGHT BETWEEN AND ROCK AND A SOFT PLACE
Magical and human
Burrow's Penguin Classics edition is a solid resource
My favorite Gawain
The Best Modern English Translation of This Masterpiece

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Penguin Classics)
J.A. Burrow
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin Classics)

ASIN: 0140422951

Customer Reviews:

CAUGHT BETWEEN AND ROCK AND A SOFT PLACE.......2007-02-12

This medieval poem from approximately 1350 represents one of the earliest pieces of literature extent in prototype English. At first glance the manuscript, housed in a special collection at the British Museum, appears to be in a foreign language; it is characterized by archaic spelling and specialized vocabulary known mainly to medieval scholars. But conscientious study proves rewarding; scholars may view the birth of English, or at least a stillborn twin, of its modern descendent. A unique example of a translation from oldest into
into modern English, this Penguin Classics edition includes notes on the bottom of the pages, explaining words or references to scholars and legendary figures.

Constructed in four basic Parts the plot is elegantly simple. During a Christmas feast at Camelot Arthur and his knights are amazed at the rude intrusion of a brawny giant of man on horseback--with both rider and steed appareled in green. The intruder taunts the bravery of the members of the famous Round Table--challenging any one among them to swap blows in the Beheading Game. Although modest in his self assessment, young Sir Gawain feels compelled to answer this insolent challenge--speedily salvaging the honor of Arthur's court. (A literary aside: this chaste and loyal warrior is also Arthur's nephew; the uncle-nephew bond is the most sacred human relationship in medieval lais. Gawain's failure to defend Arthur's reputation--a year hence--would prove even more shameful than if ignored by the other knights.)

After the Challenge and Acceptance of Part One, we enter Part Two: Preparation and Departure. We read of the perils and hardships of Gawain's odyssey as he seeks the Green Chapel--the site of the assignation as designated by the insolent Green Knight--throughout England without any
true sense of direction. Part Three may be subtitled Hunt and Temptation:
a 3-day sojourn at the castle of a most hospitable lord, who promises to provide his guest with a guide to the very Green Chapel which he seeks at year's end. The poet alternates scenes of the hunt in the forest with softer struggles in Gawain's bedchamber, as he is assaulted most delicately but insistently by the Lady of the manor, who seems enamored of her husband's guest and oblivious to her reputation. To further complicate secret affairs, the Lord jocularly insists that Gawain and he swap the spoils of each day's exertions. Gawain is hard pressed not to betray either the laws of chivalry toward the Lady or the lavish hospitality of the Lord. He insists on departing after three days of trial by seduction--determined to meet his fate at the hands of his mysterious adversary.

Part Four may be considered Trial by Axe and Conscience. Sir Gawain, barely escaping Venus' onslaughts but secretly wearing the Lady's green girdle beneath his armor, reaches the scene of his probable doom--a curious natural structure called the Green Chapel. This is a wonderful read, rich in Anglo-Saxon alliteration with vivid details of medieval hunting, feasting and personal combat. Thought-provoking themes abound such as the role of Chivalry, the dictates of Hospitality, and the influence of the French creation: Courtly Love. As the blood
representative of King Arthur, Sir Gawain is constantly being tested. Individual readers must determine for themselves how well he succeeds in his maintaining his ideals.

Magical and human.......2005-10-03

Middle English is a diverse collection of different dialects and styles, when it comes to literature. At the same time that Chaucer was writing in the southeast of England, with good command of French and Italian poetic sensibilities, there was a strong tradition in the north and west country of alliterative poetry, the kind that owed as much to the Old English forms of verse and use of language as to the new influences post-Norman Conquest-wise. Among the products of this time and place, the anonymously composed 'Sir Gawain and Green Knight' is one of the most outstanding.

This poem has all the hallmarks of being a work of many influences - it has the heroic aspects that one might expect from Old English epics such as Beowulf; it has a decided romantic streak reminiscent of French and Norman influences; it has virtue and church/Christian overlaying influences that come from Latin and ecclesial sources; it has magical and mystical ideas that are most likely Celtic in origin. Perhaps more like a tapestry, the various strands of influence are woven together into a glorious pattern that stands as a towerig achievement of the synthesis of language that Middle English achieved between its Germanic and Latinate streams.

Gawain's story is a very popular one. The most virtuous of the Round Table knights, his bravery and his resourcefulness at seeking the Green Knight, the annual challenger at the court of Arthur, is legendary. Gawain's small fault (and indeed, Gawain was portrayed as a virtuous human, but human nonetheless) warrants a very small penalty, but he is deemed upon reporting back to Camelot that he has brought honour upon the whole fellowship of knights. There is something magical about the Green Knight, however, and this can be seen as metaphor for the way in which temptation seems to have a magical power over humanity.

Do note: This is a review of the Penguin Classics 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' as edited and translated by Brian Stone, who also produced the Penguin Classics 'Medieval English Verse'. It has a wonderful introduction, as well as a series of essays following the translation of the poem. These essays include topics such as the significance of the Green Knight, the moral nature of Gawain, the way in which the poem can be and has been used as a play, Arthurian images, and speculation about the poet himself. There are also extracts from the original alliterative verses with the middle gaps.

There are also two bibliographies, one of texts mentioned in this book, and another for suggested readings for students. These are a bit dated now, as the latest impression of the book comes from the early 1980s, and none of the items on the list dates past the mid-1960s. There is also an extensive section of translation notes.

Burrow's Penguin Classics edition is a solid resource.......2003-12-06

The Penguin Classics edition of SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, edited by J.A. Burrow, is fantastic for motivated readers who wish to approach the text as it really is, and delve deep into its symbolism and historical references. Burrow's edition is not a translation into modern English, but a presentation of the original Middle English with enough notes and and a glossary so copious that the reasonably well-educated reader will be able to tackle and even really enjoy this important work.

While it was written at the same time as Chaucer's CANTERBURY TALES, which is difficult but of which the modern reader can usually get the gist, SIR GAWAIN is written in a dialect of rural England which seems more impenetrable nowadays. Under this archaic facade, however, lies a magical tale ostensibly of Arthurian myth, but which is really an adaptation of an older, indigenous legend. The framing of the tale attempts to claim a noble heritage for England from Troy like the Roman poet Vergil had done for Rome with his AENEID.

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of a decent introduction. Barrow provides only a brief explanation of how the text was typeset and minor alterations in spelling, but I would have preferred coverage of the history of the story, the role of Arthurian myth in the popular literature of the writer's region, and a brief mention of the other contents of the manuscript on which the work was found.

If you are a student of English literature, or simply a lover of archaic English texts, the Penguin edition of SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT is a great choice.

My favorite Gawain.......2002-10-10

I have read at least four translations of Gawain, including Tolkein's, and the Brian Stone version is my favorite. It is written in understandable English. As another reviewer has pointed out, Stone's version is most like the medieval one in its structure, its use of alliteration, and the rhyme scheme of the bob and wheel. Tolkein, in an appendix to his version, gives a clear and enlightening explanation of the principles of this kind of poetry. Once you've read Tolkein's explanation, your appreciation of the poem will be greatly enhanced. Nowadays, many poets and others turn up their noses at alliteration, but I love it. So the language is one of the things that make the poem such a pleasure to read.

Another thing that makes Gawain a great read is that it is just a darn good story. When a green man riding a green horse and carrying his own green-haired head gallops into Arthur's dining hall, you know there's going to be some drama in this tale. And there is! There's some hunting and killing of animals for the sportsperson and the bloodthirsty. There's romantic temptation, and there's suspense.

One reviewer speculated on possible symbolism in the novel. The search for deeper meanings might interest some readers. For me to "get" a symbol, it has to jump out of the book and bite me on the nose.

The Best Modern English Translation of This Masterpiece.......2002-05-06

I know that the Marie Borroff translation is much praised, but this one is far better for the undergraduate classroom. While both translations share some characteristics (both are in poetry, both try to maintain the alliteration), you need only compare/contrast the "bob and wheel" (last 5 lines of each stanza) to see that Stone has managed to maintain "the sting in the tail" so typical of the original Middle English version--wherein a significant or surprising part of the stanza often appears in the bob and wheel--start with Fitt I, stanzas 4 and 7. Stone also maintains the "alliterative signaling" oral tradition: when possible he tries to alliterate only key words (Boroff seems happy when she can alliterate anything in the line, regardless of its significance to theme or motif!). As a medievalist, I am truly sorry to see so many of my colleagues jumping on the Borroff bandwagon when this superior, alternative translation is so readily available.

Tolkien Fantasy Tales Box Set (The Tolkien Reader/The Silmarillion/Unfinished Tales/Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)

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The many facets of Tolkien's genius. Don't miss it!!!
More than Middle-Earth

Tolkien Fantasy Tales Box Set (The Tolkien Reader/The Silmarillion/Unfinished Tales/Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345466462
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Customer Reviews:

The many facets of Tolkien's genius. Don't miss it!!!.......2004-06-05

This box set is the next logical step for those Tolkien readers looking to see where there is beyond THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT. I'll deal with the four works individually.

THE TOLKIEN READER: This book contain's Tolkien's shorter fiction and works, including a play and Leaf by Niggle. There are four works in total:

1. The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son: a play dealing with two men after the Battle of Maldon. Interesting, and shows more of the scholarly side of Tolkien.
2. TREE AND LEAF: This is a book consisting of two things: his essay on faerie tales, and Leaf By Niggle. Tolkien's essay is now considered one of the main centerpieces of literature defending and validating fantasy and faerie tale (as if THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT weren't enough). Leaf By Niggle is a very deep work, and basically it deals with his despair of mortality and not being able to finish his mythology, his great work. However, in the end Tolkien shows his glorious hope.
3. FARMER GILES OF HAM: a mock medieval story. Everything that THE LORD OF THE RINGS represents, this story pokes fun at and parodies. Very funny story, and shows Tolkien's sense of humour. This was written originally for his children (as much of his stuff was).
4. THE ADVENTURES OF TOM BOMBADIL: This is a very misleading title. It is a collection of poetry, and only the first two poems have anything to do with Bombadil. The rest of the poetry deals with Middle-earth, or set therein. It is a nice selection of his verse.

Overall, a well put together anthology. However, it would have been better had it included SMITH OF WOOTTON MAJOR. That, along with the two works constituting TREE AND LEAF, is the closest thing to autobiography he ever wrote, and all three are vitally important in any serious study of Tolkien.

THE SILMARILLION: The heart of Tolkien's mythology, providing the vast, mythic backdrop that made THE LORD OF THE RINGS so satisfying. As important to Tolkien as LOTR, THE SILMARILION is long, epic history of the Satanic Morgoth, the far more deadly lord of Sauron, and his dealings with the three tribes of Elves (The Noldor, the Teleri, and the Vanyar.). Difficult and dry, but immensely rewarding for those who love mythology. There are four short works, plus THE SILMARILLION proper. These are:

1. The AINULINDALE: Tolkien's beautiful creation myth. Details how Iluvator (God) brought the world into being through song, with the vast angelic hosts (the Valar) adding their special touches to Arda, or Creation. Tolkien gives us an account of the fall, showing how Morgoth created strife and war musically, and introduces the main Valar. A wonderful creation myth.
2. VALAQUENTA: A who's who of the major gods.
3. QUENTA SILMARILLION: The major account of the Elves' fall from grace, and how Feanor, crafting three jewels called the Silmarils, leads his tribe to war after Morgoth steals them. Complex, beautiful, and amazing, this is hard-core mythology that, while difficult for the modern reader, will prove wonderfully fulfilling for those persevere.
4. The AKALLABETH: The downfall of Numenor, Tolkien's version of Atlantis. Woefully short, the events of the Second Age would have made a wonderful successor to LOTR. Deals with Sauron's enslavement of men's hearts and how men became corrupt with the lust for immortality. Much more focused on men instead of elves.
5. THE RINGS OF POWER: The account of the Lord of the Rings.

Overall, a very highly comperessed text, with thousands of years compressed relative short chatpers. As you can see, the half a million words that Tolkien tells LOTR in is compressed to a very short text. How Tolkien taken the same conventions with THE SILMARILION as he did with LOTR, we would have an extremely long book. Arcane, written in a very elevated style, this takes a special kind of reader to make it through Tolkien's tough, deeply tragic, and incredibly beautiful vision of Middle-earth's history. The book stands as a definitive history of Middle-earth, covering all the ages and its creation. Highly recommended for the Tolkien student.

UNFINISHED TALES: Exactly what it says it is. A compendium of unfinished narratives, further detailing the three ages of Middle-earth. Especially illuminating are "Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin" (which would have been in the 1977 SILMARILION had it been completed, "Aldarion and Erendis," a story very unique in Tolkien's work because it is an actual story from the Second Age, wonderful revelations from the Third age, including much information about the Palantiri, the ever elusive other three wizards, new information about Theodred, Theoden's son, and revelations about the hunt for the ring. One of the most interesting sections is 'The Quest for Erebor," which another version is now included in THE ANNOTATED HOBBIT. This is the last scene we get of Gandalf and the hobbits. Told after the coronation of Aragorn in Minas Tirith, Gandalf discusses arranging for Bilbo to join with Thorin, and gives an hitherto unknown account of how the events of THE HOBBIT really came to be. Highly interesting.

Very interesting reading, but in the end UNFINISHED TALES is more lost lore than anything. Read only after you've read the big three (LOTR, HOBBIT, and SILMARILION).

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT: Three medieval poems. Great for the student and acadmic, but may not be real appealing to a mass audience. Due to Tolkien's remarkable linquistic skills, these are very accurate modern translations of the ancient texts. Sir Gawain is an Arthurian tale. Also includes the two shorter poems, "Pearl" and "Sir Orfeo".

In the end, a wonderful introduction to Tolkien's other works. Shows the more academic, scholary side of Tolkien. The most important work included here for the LOTR fan is THE SILMARILION. The rest are for the fans looking to go beyond Middle-earth.

More than Middle-Earth.......2003-09-26

J.R.R. Tolkien was the literary giant whose "Lord of the Rings" trilogy turned fantasy books from slightly odd literary blips into a full-blown genre. Not quite as well-known are his smaller fantasy tales, translations and the backdrop of Middle-Earth itself. Now his lesser-known (but still wonderful) books are released in a boxed set.

"The Tolkien Reader" is a mishmash of material both by and about Tolkien, including an essay by noted fantasy writer Peter Beagle, a short play, a story/reflection on writing and mortality, the hilarious comic fantasy "Farmer Giles of Ham," and a series of poems -- ranging from gloomy to cute to sad -- focusing on Tom Bombadil and Middle-Earth.

"The Silmarillion" is a the type of book that many authors have tried to emulate, but still stands unrivalled: The Bible of Middle-Earth. This is the history of the Elves and Middle-Earth, from Eru (God) creating the world and the races on it, through wars and disasters, until the events of "Lord of the Rings" itself, when the Elves finally leave Middle-Earth forever.

"Unfinished Tales" fills in a few of the mystery gaps in "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Want to know more about Gandalf, Bilbo, Galadriel, and other people in Middle-Earth? This collection of writings, organized by Tolkien's son, offers more insights into the world of Middle-Earth.

"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" steps out of Tolkien's imagination, and into classic Arthurian fantasy. It's the story of Sir Gawain, and how after being challenged by a mysterious Green Knight, must forfeit his own head. Added on to it are Tolkien's translations of the beautiful poem "Pearl," and "Sir Orfeo," a tale rooted in the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Tolkien's full writing range is put on display in these books. He wrote comic fantasy about inept farmers and easily-intimidated dragons, and he also wrote sweeping fictional histories that spanned thousands of years. He wrote cute poems about dancing elf kids, melancholy poetry, and upbeat songs about the Man in the Moon. He wrote elaborate backstories for Middle-Earth, but also translated the classic Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain. In these stories, he proved that he could write (and translate) just about any style of fantasy imaginable, without it seeming stale or strained.

From charming to mind-bogglingly complicated, the "Tolkien Fantasy Tales" are a great way to introduce yourself to the full range of Tolkien's genius. Think you've seen it all with "Lord of the Rings"? You ain't seen nothing yet...

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A Wonderous Tale!
"Hony Soyt Qui Mal Pense"
Beautiful, A Gem of Romantic Literature
Mystery, Magic and Morals in the 14th Century
Best Edition

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
M. Borroff
Manufacturer: W W Norton & Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

In translation from the West Midland dialect (sorry, prose was best I could find.)

Download Description

In translation from the West Midland dialect (sorry, prose was best I could find.)

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderous Tale!.......2005-09-20

Rare and elegant translation of a legendary tale...a great find for English Lit fanatics like me.

"Hony Soyt Qui Mal Pense".......2001-09-10

"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is considered one of the finest Arthurian romances in English. It belongs to the so-called Alliterative Revival: the organizing device of the line is alliteration, the beginning of several words with the same sounds ("foemen fled"). Unlike most Arthurian romances, which deal with the end of Arthur's life and his death, in "Sir Gawain," Arthur is still a youth, and the court is in its springtime. The main plot belongs to a type folklorists classify as the "Beheading Game," in which a supernatural challenger offers to let his head be cut off in exchange for a return blow. The poem is chock-full of games and exchanges.

Dr. Borroff studied under E. Talbot Donaldson, who translated "Beowulf" to prose during the same period at Yale. Her translation is a joy and great fun to read.

Beautiful, A Gem of Romantic Literature.......2001-02-09

Gaiwan would be worth the purchase if only for the story line alone. However Marie Borroff's amazing translation adds that beauty and eloquence which only a master translator can produce. Borroff uses an alliterative meter which will get you tongue tied if you try and read it out loud. For example the first line is "Since the siege and the assault was ceased at Troy." She also gives us beautiful rhymes at the end of each stanza, like in lines 1236-1240: "My body is here at hand,/ Your each wish to fulfill;/ Your servant to command/ I am, and shall be still/." The story is full of symbolism, and confronts us with a tough philosophical question. You have to read the book to find out what that is however. The book also deals with the problems inherent in the institution of chivalry, and especially courtly love. Overall I thought the story was wonderful, the translation impeccable, and the underlying message profound.

Mystery, Magic and Morals in the 14th Century.......2000-09-06

A king, a green giant, a temptress, a witch, and a knight. Seduction, drinking, hunting, and gore. Boring, scholarly, "classic"; I think not. The opening scene is h i l a r i o u s (Imagine congress in that situation!! Would Bill be up to the challenge?:-). If you hated the "literary classics" assigned to you in school, forget that this is one. My favorite parts were the ones with the lord's wife. Her hidden, and NOT so hidden, intentions make for great soap opera material. It's a fun read, and this translation is very well put together.

Best Edition.......2000-03-28

Certainly the best edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight available in this price range. The translation is by Marie Boroff, and is highly regarded. The translation provides excellent glosses for both the amateur and seasoned scholar. A quality book for anyone who wants to begin an in depth study of Sir Gawain.

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What Pleasurable Memories Are Here
Broad Sampling of Western European Romances

Medieval Romances
Roger Sherman Loomis , and Laura Hibbard Loomis
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Edited, with an Introduction, by Roger sherman Loomis and Laura Hibbard Loomis

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What Pleasurable Memories Are Here.......2002-10-12

When I was young books were a bit short at my house. However, we did have a collection of medieval romances that I read and reread. When I recently found this book I was enchanted to see some old favorites here.

Oh, yes, these stories have scholarly worth. But they also have the power to fire the imagination and feed the mind hungry for magic and adventure. Spend some time enjoying these tales before you study them!

Broad Sampling of Western European Romances.......2001-10-20

Loomis and Loomis present translations of the following tales: _Perceval, or the Story of the Grail_ by Chretien de Troyes, _Tristan and Isolt_ by Gottfried von Strassburg, _The Youth of Alexander the Great_, _Aucassin and Nicolete_, _Havelok the Dane_, _Sir Orfeo_, _Sir Gawain and the Green Knight_ - all anonymous, and an excerpt from the Caxton Mallory - _The Book of Balin_. Of these, Tristan, Perceval and Gawain make up the bulk of the text and the translations read well, although I prefer Hatto for Tristan and Kibler for Perceval. The real finds in this book though are the briefer tales that do not deal with the Matter of Britain as they are difficult to locate elsewhere.

Alexander stories formed part of _The Matter of Rome_ a collection of tales rivaling the Carolingian _Matter of France_ and the Arthurian _Matter of Britain_ in popularity in the middle ages. Alexander's story here is welcome, albeit only a brief episode. "Aucassin and Nicolette" is a brief story of a damsel in distress and her rescuer/lover. Sir Orfeo is an odd amalgam of Greek and Celtic myth in a medieval setting.

One stylistic point which may bother some is that despite most of these tales being 20th century translations into English of works which were originally non-English, (Mallory and Gawain being exceptions), Loomis and Loomis include a lot of Shakespearian era wording (thee, thou, quoth, ye, yea) rather than more modern choices.

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Michael Morpurgo
Manufacturer: Walker Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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