An examination of Christian and Pagan symbolism in "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight"
             "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is one of the best examples of British Literature. It holds the fascination and wonder of scholars to this day and is perhaps one of the best known and most well read of all the King Arthur legends. There are several reasons why that might be. Some argue it is the brilliant phrasing of the poem and its organization. Others say that it is because it is a story that comes full circle and appeals to our base human need for organization and completeness. However it is the parallels and clash of Pagan and Christian symbolism found within the text that holds the most wonder. This is most easily seen when the text is divided into three distinct parts. The scenes taking place in Camelot is the first section that will be examined. Secondly we will take a look at Sir Gawain's travels as he searches for the Green Chapel and slowly descends into the world of the supernatural. Finally we will scrutinize the events that unfold while Gawain is a guest at Hautdesert Castle and his clash with the Green Knight. By examining all of these both individually and in their entirety we can see Sir Gawain's decent into a world of pagan magic and English religious tradition predating the Romans invasion of the British isle's. It also presents a continuation of the struggle of religious ideals within Briton. Sir Gawain himself, is a representation of this duality best illustrated by his shield which displayed a pentangle, a traditionally druidic symbol representing the 5 elements, as well as the Virgin Mary , a Catholic figure of worship. Eventually this conflict is resolved in the third section.
             The first part of the story occurs in the fair city of Camelot. The City is described as a sort of earthly paradise or a rediscovered garden of Eden best illustrated by the poets description of Camelot "...