In the Arthurian legends from medieval Britain and Europe, King Arthur has an alliance of numerous Knights of the Round Table. One of the most famous of these knights is the young Gawain, Arthurs own nephew. Across numerous pieces of Arthurian literature, the various knights engage on individual adventures, but Gawains conflict with the Green Knight is one of the most famous and intriguing of all. Where does this legend come from, and what actually happens in it? Is Gawain able to defeat the Green Knight in the end, or not?The Origin of the Legend of Gawain and the Green KnightThe opening pages of the story of Gawain and the Green Knight in the Pearl Manuscript, c. 14th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe legend of Gawain and the Green Knight comes from a Middle English poem dating to the late 14th century. One reason why this story is so interesting is because it survives in just a single manuscript, the Pearl Manuscript (formally known as the British Library MS Cotton Nero A X/2). The author is unfortunately unknown.Although there are no other surviving manuscripts of this poem, the same story is also found in the Percy Folio Manuscript. This contains a 15th century retelling of the legend, with a simplified plot and more explicit character motivations. This is known as The Greene Knight. It would appear that these two manuscripts are the only medieval sources for this famous legend. In many senses, it is remarkable that the story of Gawain and the Green Knight has come to be as famous as it is today, since it was clearly not widely distributed in the medieval era.The Green Knight Arrives at King Arthurs CourtA depiction of a wedding celebration at Arthurs court, by Lancelot Speed, 1912. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe legend of Gawain and the Green Knight opens with King Arthur holding a Christmas feast at his royal court. His knightsmostly kings and princes from all over Britainare present, exchanging gifts. Suddenly, the Green Knight enters the court. He is riding on horseback like a knight normally would, but this is where the similarities end. This knight is not wearing any armor. He is also exceptionally, inhumanly large and completely green all over. Even his horse is green. In one hand, he holds a holly bough. Everything about him suggests that he is some kind of nature deity.Although he is not armored, he does come into the court bearing a weapon. While the holly bough is in one hand, an axe is in the other. Although Arthurs court is full of brave and powerful knights, the Green Knight is by far the most formidable presence there. However, he does not intend to fight any of Arthurs men, nor Arthur himself.The Green Knights ChallengeDepiction of King Arthurs court at Camelot, Gustave Dore, 1867. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Green Knight himself makes it clear that he does not want to fight any of the Knights of the Round Table. Of course, this is not because he is afraid. Rather, he remarks that every man there is like a child compared to him. Rather, he offers to play a Christmas game with the court. He explains that he will let anyone who dares strike his neck with his axe, to cut off his head. However, there is an important condition. Anyone who accepts the challenge will also have to be willing to receive the same blow of the axe from the Green Knight himself in a year and a day.At first, it seems as if there is little risk, since the Green Knight will have been slain by anyone who accepts the challenge. Nevertheless, Arthurs men are afraid. Finally, when Arthur sees that no one is going to accept the challenge, the king himself decides to do it.Gawains QuestDepiction of Gawain fighting Yvain, Garrett MS 125, c. late-13th century. Source: Princeton University LibraryHowever, before Arthur can go through with it, the young Sir Gawain steps forward and takes the axe. The Green Knight willingly lets Gawain strike him with it and cut off his head. However, to everyones shock, he does not fall down dead. In fact, he calmly picks up his head and mounts his green horse. He presents his bleeding head to a terrified Guinevere, and then turns toward Gawain to remind him of the agreement. In a year and a day, Gawain is obliged to allow the Green Knight to strike Gawains neck with the axe. At this point, the Green Knight tells Gawain that when that time comes, he needs to meet him at the Green Chapel. He also mentions that everyone nearby knows where it is.This challenge presents a massive test for Gawains integrity. Nevertheless, he decides to keep his word. As the time approaches, Gawain sets off to find the Green Chapel and fulfill his side of the deal.Lord Bertilaks ArrangementLuds Church, Staffordshire, England, one of the most popular candidates for the setting of the climax of Gawains journey. Source: Chris Morriss via FlickrEventually, Gawain comes across a glorious castle, the home of a lord and his wife. Gawain explains to them why he is there and that the time for him to face the Green Knight is just a few days away. The lord of the castle, later named as Lord Bertilak, reveals to him that the Green Chapel is just a short distance away, so he encourages him to rest at the castle until it is time to go there.While staying there, Lord Bertilak makes a deal with Gawain. He will go out hunting every day and give to Gawain whatever he catches, while Gawain will give to Bertilak whatever he received that day. Each day, while the lord is away hunting, the lady of the castle attempts to seduce Gawain. On each occasion, Gawain mostly rejects her, accepting only a kiss. Whenever Bertilak would return and give Gawain what he had hunted that day, Gawain would give Bertilak the kisses that he had received from his wife.A depiction of Bertilaks wife tempting Gawain, Pearl Manuscript, c. 14th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOf course, Gawain never revealed to Bertilak where he had received the kisses. He attempted to maintain the appearance of pure chastity and honesty, even though he was not being completely pure with Bertilaks wife. On the final day before Gawains appointment to face the Green Knight, the lady offered him something special. It was a green sash that would protect him from any physical harm. However, he was to keep it a secret from her husband.Since Gawain was going to face the Green Knight the following day, almost certainly meaning his death, he accepted the gift. When Lord Bertilak returned, Gawain did not mention the sash, just as the lady had instructed him. Hence, not only was he not being completely chaste, but he had also become dishonest in another sense. In fact, this is one of the reasons for the storys popularity. It is a story which tests Gawains integrity to the full, and in several different ways.Facing the Green KnightA depiction of Gawain approaching the Green Chapel, Pearl Manuscript, c. 14th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsFinally, the next day, it was time to face the Green Knight. Gawain tied the sash around his waist and went to the Green Chapel. The Green Knight was there, waiting for him with his axe. He had Gawain bend forward, offering his neck. The Green Knight went to strike him, but then stopped at the last moment. This caused Gawain to flinch, for which reason the Green Knight makes fun of him. A second fake blow is delivered, at which Gawain does not flinch. At this, Gawain demanded that the Green Knight strike him properly. He does, but Gawain received only a minor cut.The Green Knight then revealed the truth behind everything. He was actually Lord Bertilak, with his appearance transformed by magic. It was Morgan le Fay, Arthurs evil half-sister, who was behind all this. She had sent the Green Knight in an attempt to scare Guinevere to death, due to her hatred for her and Arthur.Although Gawain received a minor cut due to his dishonesty regarding the green sash, Bertilak assured him that he was the most blameless knight in all the land.The Story of Gawain and the Green KnightA depiction of the Green Knight at King Arthurs court, Pearl Manuscript, c. late 14th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn conclusion, the story of Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most famous of all the Arthurian legends. The original poem survives in just a single manuscript by an unknown author in the late 14th century. It tells the story of how the Green Knight challenged Arthurs court to cut off his head in exchange for the same blow a year and a day later. The young Gawain is the one who accepted the challenge, successfully beheading the knight. The rest of the story shows how Gawain deals with the difficulties of keeping his word, remaining chaste, and being honest in the face of what appears to be certain death. As the story progresses, we see that Gawain is brave and virtuous, yet flawed. He succumbs to some pressures, while resisting others. Ultimately, he survives the ordeal with only a minor wound for his dishonesty, and the whole scenario is revealed to have been crafted by the evil Morgan le Fay.