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Sir Gawain: The Pentangle Knight

In Book Two, you will encounter the Pentangle on Sir Gawain’s shield. The concept of the pentangle as a bridge between pagan and Christian beliefs is one key to the broader scholarly theory that Gawain is descended from a mythical Irish hero. Stylized triangles (the pentangle is constructed of triangles) recur in Irish myth and in Celtic design and represent various gods and goddesses, such as the Triple Goddess (maid, mother, and crone). In Christianity the triangle might represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Consider: How does the Pentangle represent Sir Gawain? What knightly characteristics are NOT emphasized in the pentangle?

Consider also how a multiplicity of meanings can be applied to the pentangle. For example, consider the significance of the star itself, the meaning of the infinite in relation to the pentangle, the symbolism—both pagan and Christian—of the triangle, and the interconnectedness of the triangles that make up the pentangle. Can you relate these ideas to symbols of our time (like the circle of life and other circles that symbolize eternity)?

Assignment:

Make a concrete rendering of Sir Gawain’s Pentangle using whatever medium you choose (hand drawn, computer generated, clay, wire, folded paper, etc.) Write one aspect of the Code of Chivalry (love, fellowship, purity, courtesy and pity) on each of the points of the star. Looking at other aspects the Pentangle, what symbolism can you incorporate in your rendition?

This is due Monday, 28 November.

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