11.07.2015 Views

Afternoon of Alterity - Nazareth College

Afternoon of Alterity - Nazareth College

Afternoon of Alterity - Nazareth College

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>of</strong> face so fere He stightles stif in stalle; Ful yep in that NwYere, Much mirthe he mas with alle. (Armitage 100-106)Within Camelot’s castle this was the custom, and at feastsand festivals when the fellowship would meet. With featuresproud and fine he stood there tall and straight, a king atChrismastime amid great merriment. (Armitage 100-106)Here, a clear idea <strong>of</strong> identity becomes apparent from within thephysical space <strong>of</strong> the castle. The castle, the feasts, and the festivalsestablish Gawain’s identity. Gawain is defined by his place withinKing Arthur’s court. His identity is based upon the chivalric codethat a knight must abide by. Gawain’s identity comes into questionwhen he is forced to leave the physical space <strong>of</strong> the castle. The game<strong>of</strong> the Green Knight takes Gawain out <strong>of</strong> his comfortable existenceinto an uncertain space and reality.Gawain becomes physically homeless when he enters into thewoods in search <strong>of</strong> the Green Knight. He experiences a feeling <strong>of</strong>displacement as he travels into the unknown.Bi a mounte on the morne meryly he rydes Into a forest fuldep, that ferly was wylde, Highe hills on uche a halve, andholtwodes under Of hore okes ful hoge a hundreth togeder.The hasel and the hawthorne were harled al samen, Withroghe raged mosse rayled aywhere, With mony bryddesunblythe upon bare twyges, That pitosly ther piped forpyne <strong>of</strong> the cold. (Armitage 740-747)Next morning he moves on, skirts the mountainside,descends a deep forest, densely overgrown, with ancientoaks in huddles <strong>of</strong> hundreds and vaulting hills above eachhalf <strong>of</strong> the valley. Hazel and hawthorn interwoven, decked148 afternoons <strong>of</strong> alterity

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!