The Meaning and Symbolism of the Hunting Scenes in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight :: Sir Gawain Green Knight Essays

The Meaning and Symbolism of the Hunting Scenes in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Sir Gawain is a poem of heroism, chivalry, brave knights and even romance. The story itself is so engaging that all too easily the reader may miss many of the symbols present within. present we will consider the symbolism and importance of the hunting scenes and how they help develop and enhance the plot. The hunting scenes in Sir Gawain are numerous and told in detail. Why did the germ spend so much space in what seems to be just action scenes? Unquestionably such a talented author would never raffishly spend time on lines that do not add meaning to the story. One critics overzealous opinion is all the hunted animals convey connotations of evil, and this is doubtless the condition why the author of the poem seems so involved in the outcome of the hunts and never tires of triumphantly describing the final slaying of the pursued animals. (Howard 85) This is an interesting interpretation and could by chance serve as a religious meaning in the poem. Nevertheless the animals themselves are never described as evil nor is there any subtraction of evil animals in the poem. The animals do hold specific meaning though not antheralvolent like the above quoted critic believes. Medieval people love stories of animals that assumed human qualities for example Chantlicleer, the rooster in Chaucers Canterbury Tales. Many animals were thought to pass on qualities of human emotions, spirituality and even intelligent qualities the three hunted animals in Sir Gawain included. To begin, Certain facts about the animals which formed the quarry of the medieval huntsman...and certain popular beliefs about their habits and temper (Savage 32) will allow the reader to draw parallels between the hunt, contingency outside the castle and the hunt happening inside the castle between Gawain and the Lady of the house. Insight is provided by understanding the attitude the medieval huntsman would have towar d the animals. Hunted animals were classified as either beasts of venery or beasts of chase. Beasts of venery included the male and female red deer, wild boar or the wolf. Beasts of chase were the male or female deer and the fox. Animals of the first class were considered noble to hunt. Animals of the second class do not fair as well, especially poor Reynard. At the time Sir Gawain was written the fox was regarded as vermin to be hunted out and destroyed (Savage 33).