Supernatural Elements In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight...

A recurring theme that can be found throughout Arthurian literature is the mention of magic, mythical creatures, and other supernatural elements. Arthur’s own birth is a direct result of this. He was conceived after his father had used a potion, with the help of Merlin, to disguise himself as Igraine’s husband before sex. In some legends, there is even an â€Å"Otherworld†. The term Otherworld has Celtic origins and is usually described as a separate plane of existence from the normal world. Typically, it holds divine creatures or deities and can be entered by crossing a body of water. In Arthurian legend, the addition of supernatural elements is used to not only advance the plot, but aid the characters and often explain the unexplainable. Two†¦show more content†¦The lord of the castle allows Gawain to stay there and sets up a proposal for a game. The lord says, â€Å"Whatever I win out in the woods shall revert to you, and whatever you gain, be so goo d as to give it to me†. Gawain agrees and decides to sleep. The next day, while the lord is away, his lady attempts to seduce Gawain. The lord’s wife kisses Gawain, so he kisses the lord when he returns. On the third day, the lady gives Gawain a girdle in which she claims possesses the power to protect the person who wears it from dying. When the lord returns, Gawain breaks his promise and does not give the lord the girdle. After this, Gawain sets off to find the Green Chapel. When he arrives, he stretches out his neck to allow the Green Knight to cut his neck, not wanting to go back on the deal. The Green Knight pretends to swing twice before cutting Gawain only enough to draw blood. It is then revealed that the Green Knight is actually Bertilak, the lord of the castle in which Gawain stayed at. Bertilak says, â€Å"It’s all because of my beautiful girdle you’re bearing, which my own wife formed-I know this for a fact; for I’m conscious of your ki sses and other conduct, playing games with my spouse. I was the planner myself†. Thus, Bertilak drew blood on the third swing in order to pay Gawain back for lying. Bertilak also mentions to Gawain that this was all the work of Morgan Le Faye and her magic is what changed Bertilak’s appearance. By her doing this to make Gawain prove