Medieval romances typically involve tales of high adventure and quests. They commonly feature themes of chivalry, courage, supernatural elements, and love. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight exemplifies these characteristics of a medieval romance through its story of Sir Gawain embarking on a quest to face three temptations, encountering a supernatural green giant, and demonstrating chivalry and skill, placing it firmly in the tradition of medieval romances.

2. Definition of Medieval Romance
• The term medieval romance is originally derived
from Latin.
• It later came to refer to the French and their style
and characteristics of writing.

3. Romance Characteristics
• A Romance is normally a tale of high adventure and
also follows a quest.
• The story of Gawain is a tale of high adventure
with all of the tests Gawain has to complete and
there are also different temptations he has to
resist.
• Gawain’s entire story is a quest.

4. Characteristics Con.
• Chivalry plays a large part in The Green Knight also.
• The only reason Gawain takes on the challenge in the first place is
because its rude and not chivalrous to let your king accept a
challenge.
• Gawain’s openness to adventure is also a key part in medieval
romances. He has to show that he has courage and a skill in arms.
• Another key part in romances is the love of women. Gawain is said to
be a ladies man even though he is “pure”. All of the ladies are drawn
to him and he does not deny them.

5. Setting
• Sir Gawain was first introduced in the
imaginary fantasy land of Camelot.
• It begins in the courts of Camelot and as the
story moves on, Gawain faces challenges in the
wilderness.

6. Supernatural/Mysticism
• The green knight himself is a supernatural being.
He is a giant and he is green. When Gawain tried to
kill him by cutting off his head, he just picked it up
and left the castle on his giant horse, he was still
headless by the way.
• There is also the repetition of 3’s. The three
temptations or tests that Gawain has to face
during the story.

7. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• This story is definitely a Medieval Romance.
• It has most, if not all, of the characteristics of a
typical medieval romance.
• Gawain is a very loyal, christlike person and would
do anything and everything for his king.