Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Sir Gawain and the ritual process

Mackley, J. S. (2016) Sir Gawain and the ritual process. In: Hulubas, A. and Repciuc, I. (eds.) The Rites of Passage Time after Time :. Isai: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Press. pp. 333-349.

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Mackley_Jon_AICUP_2016_Sir_Gawain_and_the_ritual_process.pdf - Published Version
Information
Abstract:
In the Middle English Romance, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is offered a challenge to strike his opponent, the Green Knight, and then to receive a return blow a year later. The challenge and the consequences of Gawain’s actions, when considered through the lens of Arnold van Gennep’s Rites of Passage (as well as some of the sources that informed van Gennep’s study), highlight aspects of the ritual process. These elements include a magico‐religious fraternity, receiving of (and being received as) a stranger in a new environment, vegetation rites, covenant pledges and separation and inclusion rituals. The text of Gawain demonstrates that he undertakes a form of pre‐liminal testing in hostile terrains, while the Green Knight’s second test represents liminal testing and transition, and Gawain returns to Camelot for a postliminal rite of incorporation.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Gawain, Green Knight, separation and inclusion ritual, vegetation rites, covenant pledges.
Creators:
Mackley, J. S.
Editors:
Hulubas, A. and Repciuc, I.
Publisher:
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Press
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing
Date:
23 December 2016
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 333-349
Title of Book:
The Rites of Passage Time after Time :
Place of Publication:
Isai
Number of Pages:
17
Language:
English
ISBN:
978-606-714-317-1
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
Related URLs:
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