Gawayne and the Green Knight

MP3 Audio CD. Gawayne and the Green Knight, by Charlton Miner Lewis, is a retelling in modern language of the 14th century romance with the same title, making this epic poem an excellent source for those who want to become familiar with one of the greatest stories about the Knights of the Round Table.

The story presented in versed form starts during a Christmas celebration at the court of King Arthur, with the appearance of a mysterious knight dressed in green who is carrying an axe and proposes a challenge: if anyone manages to strike him with his axe once, he will return the blow in one year and one day and he also offers his superb axe as prize.

At first, no one wants to take up the challenge, but then Sir Gawayne, King Arthur?s nephew and also the youngest of all knights, accepts it. The Green Knight kneels in front of Gawayne, who beheads him with the axe, but the Green Knight does not die, he picks up his severed head, puts it back on his neck and rides away, reminding Gawayne that they shall meet in a year?s time in the Green Chapel. Gawain leaves for the Chapel when the time comes, becoming involved in many adventures while on the go. At one point, he is given a magic girdle that should keep him from all harm and that will indeed save his life in the final battle with the Green Knight, even though Gawayne was supposed to give away the girdle before the battle.

He survives the battle, but he is ashamed that he used the magic girdle. The Knights of the Round Table absolve him, but they decide to start wearing a green ribbon from then on to remind them of Gawayne?s challenge and as a token that will not let them forget to always keep their word.