Tuesday 10 September 2024 saw the return of our English Literature Group under their leader David Harris, who will be working on the medieval poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”. The poem, written in the late 14th Century in Middle English, is not accessible for many so a ‘translation’ from Middle English to modern parlance is being used alongside the original text.

The themes that run through the poem have particular relevance today. Honesty, Trust, Faithfulness, Morality and Ethics are equally questions for the 21st Century and the 14th Century, and the poem deals with each of them in the story that it tells. As well as the story, there are many alliterations to be found in the poem as well as details of the bloody and graphical events – some of which are reminiscent of the Monty Python film set in the Middle Ages. There is also sorcery and witchcraft!

If you are wondering if this tale has any significance for you in 2024, stop wondering and make sure you attend the next session on 24 September 2024 at 10:00am. The first blow has been struck, and the story will move ahead now towards a year and a day after that event, when the second return blow will be struck. If you want to catch up and enjoy David’s continuing explanation and analysis of this 600+ year old poem, try this web page on Wikipedia (where you can also see the original manuscript).