Posted May 18, 2014 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Classic / 4 Comments
Title: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Goodreads)
Author: Anonymous
Translator: Brian Stone
Published: Penguin, 1390
Pages: 176
Genres: Classic
My Copy: Personal Copy
Buy: Amazon, Book Depository (or visit your local Indie bookstore)
When I found out we had to read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for a current university subject, I was a little worried. I often struggle with analysing poetry and something written in Middle English was not going to be easy. Thankfully we had to read the Brian Stone translation, which only hints at being Middle English. This is a famous 14th century Arthurian romance that is often known for the beheading game.
This is a typical quest narrative; The Green Knight exposes the Knights of the Round Table as timid and cowards when he challenges them to the beheading game. The rules are simple, one knight tries to behead the Green Knight and in a year and a day he will meet them for the returning blow. The Arthurian world is governed by a well-established code of behaviour. This code is one of chivalry, a romantic notion that is deeply rooted in Christian morality, being a beacon of spiritual ideals in a fallen world.
The beheading game is a plot device used as a test in the quest narrative, Sir Gawain is thrown into participating in the game and he is left with a choice, to be a man that lives by his code or not. A game that is meant to measure the inner worth of the knights and it does it in a big way, it exposes the Knights as cowards but Gawain steps up, sort of.
There is a whole lot of humour in this story that often gets over looked when trying to analyse this difficult text. The idea of beheading someone and them returning for a reciprocating blow should have given that away. However the supernatural elements might have made this difficult to pick up on the comedic value. The Green Knight can be interpreted as an allusion of Christ and the strong religious overtones might lead you to think that but I saw him more as a plot device to represent life’s challenges.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was a rather beautiful and interesting exploration for me. The translation I read did make it easier to understand, I don’t think I could handle learning Middle English. I had to do an assignment on this text and the quest narrative so I feel like I’ve already said plenty about this poem before sitting down to writing this review. I hope there is plenty of information here and gives the reader an idea of what to expect when reading this poem. It isn’t hard to understand if you have the right translation and is well worth reading.
Posted March 25, 2011 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Poetry / 0 Comments
Lord Byron pioneered a new form of living to give meaning to his own existence. His poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage was an instant best seller, and the crowds loved it, and him. The poem gave Byron a lot of followers, all wanting to be Romantics; dissatisfied with the world, yearning for something else.
His house, his home, his heritage, his lands,
The laughing dames in whom he did delight,
Whose large blue eyes, fair locks, and snowy hands,
Might shake the saintship of an anchorite,
And long had fed his youthful appetite;
His goblets brimmed with every costly wine,
And all that mote to luxury invite,
Without a sigh he left to cross the brine,
And traverse Paynim shores, and pass earth’s central line.
– Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage 1812
With all his followers, came the proposals, many of which Byron took up (making him one of the first celebrities to have groupies), resulting in a scandal when his marriage fell apart; which Byron fed on, even drawing inspiration from it. But as the scandals grew, public accusations of incest and sodomy, Lord Byron fled from England, never to return. But for the public, Lord Byron had redefined the idea of a poet, making his life a living poem of passion and scandal.
Lord Byron’s life in the public may have made him the first rock star, but did his life of passion have a greater effect on his poetry than John Keats life of brooding or Percy Bysshe Shelley’s life rebelling for liberty? Did Byron find the sublime? He may have redefined the way we view a poet, but his life’s quest for passion and freedom was the real poem.
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
In life I am misunderstood,
I am a creature of confusion,
I do not understand the world I live in,
Was I put here by mistake?
Or is there a purpose of me?
In an attempt to understand a mindset I wrote that bit of poetry. Trying to understand I asked myself the following.
What is differing in the mind of a killer?
Are they not like everyone else?
Are they not someone that was pushed over the edge by society?
What makes one person turn out this way is it just a state of mind?
Are we all capable of this?
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
I’m only happy when I dream at night,
’cause all I dream is you.
It’s the only time of the day
When I’m not feeling blue.
I dream of your love, tenderness,
And embrace…
That beautiful smile on your face.
I dream of the time we were together.
It makes me feel so good…
Really special.
When I wake you’re not around,
And I feel blue again.
But I know, when I close my eyes
At night…
I’ll dream of you again.
From a very dark place this poem sprouted, looking back at it, It’s not to bad, but I didn’t post it earlier because I didn’t feel it was a good time to post it
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
Dreams from the heart… whisper to the soul.
You stay on my mind… wherever I go.
My body aches… to hold you through the night,
to feel you touch my face… at each morning’s light.
I want you near me… all through my life,
with a promise of staying… even through strife.
I wonder if I’ve told you… what feelings will embark?
For then you would know… these were Dreams from the Heart.
I’m not quite sure how i feel about this poem, everytime i read it, i think there should be more, but considering i havn’t posted in awhile, i will post this one
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
Hiding In My Room, Like It’s My Own Corner
There I Dream, Feel And Drift Into Myself
Through It All I Feel You Against My Skin
Like The Voices That I Hear Seeping Into My Brain
No Matter Where I Go, I Never Escape
I Will Feel All Your Pain And All Your Happiness
Its Like A Poison That Will Never Heal
I Wonder Why You’re Always With Me
Although I Try Numbing Your Pain
Even If I Run In The Hope To Not Feel Anything
No Matter What Happens I Will Always Feel You
I Will Need You Always
Have you ever felt that connection with someone where you feel like they are always with you. I admit this was inspired by the song Always by The Butterfly Effect and it has some similar words
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
Existence Seems Like It Just Drifts By
Understanding That I’m Not Making A Difference
Dreaming That Everything I Do Will Be Fulfilling
On Tenterhooks Of Leave My Mark On This World
Motivating Someone Life Making Them Struggle On
Sensing That Special Connection
Construction Character And Memories Of Ecstasy
Succeeding In The Career Choices
Viewing The Perfection Of Life You Have Made
Starting At Step One?
This poem, i’m not very happy with but its not as dark and gloomy as everything else, so i thought i would prove that i’m not all depressing. Its a poem about sitting here and watching the world pass me by and wanting to make a difference to my life
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
As I Lie Here In Bed
Staring Into The Darkness
Things Start To Become Clear
Like Images Projected On My Ceiling
I See My Past, I Imagine My Future
Feels Like A Coldness Creeping Over Me
It Seems Like Nothing By An Unsolved Puzzle
I Try To Put Pieces Together, But Never Succeed
The Whole Picture Is To Abstract To Comprehend
But Then I Feel Something That Relieves Me
The Warmth Of My Blood Inside
Then I Know I’m Still Alive
I Will See The Full Picture In Due Time
Sometimes i find emotions, and thoughts just race through my head, not knowing that to make of it, i decided to let it just come out onto paper
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
As Days Drift By Me
I Wonder If My Life Is Dying
Do I Still Have Direction
Is My Love Truly Pure
Are My Emotions Controlling Me
Or Is My Mind Playing Tricks On Me
I Wonder If I’m Doing The Right Things
Or Am I Just Going From Day To Day
Remembering The Times I Aimed For My Dreams
Now They Seem So Far Out Of Reach
Numbness Feels Like It’s Only Part Of Me
Darkness Is A Word I Would Use To Describe This
I Cry Out For Something To Change This
Is There Anyone That Can Save Me
Or Am I Just Needing To Face My Destiny
And Force Myself Into Thriving
With Help Or With Out It
I Will Push To Break This Mind Set
After watching the movie Basketball Diaries, which is about a kid that got so messed up with drugs and after cleaning up went on to writing about his struggles through poetry. I felt inspired to write down my personal struggle, it may not be any good, but it was inspired and came out all at once, just how it is written, i didn’t edit it after, it seemed pure in its ruggedness
Posted December 22, 2009 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in My Poetry / 0 Comments
Hearts Thumping
Emotions Weakening
Heads Whirling
Intellect’s Plummeting
Breath’s Racing
Life’s Failing
Palms Dampening
But Love Carries Me
This was the first time I ever wrote a poem, so I hope it’s alright. I think it’s a fair reflection of me. I was inspired to write poetry by someone very close to me, and i’ve been writing ever since, although its only a few days ago, its be very therapeutic, it made it easy to express myself.
