Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo by J. R. R. Tolkien

Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: English (Middle), Middle English, English poetry - Middle English, Poetry, Fiction, Literary, Pearl, Fantasy - General, Medieval, Welsh, Science Fiction - General, Science Fiction, Royalty, 1100-1500, English poetry, 1100-1500 - Modernized versions, Manuscripts, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Juvenile Fiction, Knights and knighthood, Orpheus (Greek mythology), English, Gawain (Legendary character), Criticism, Arthurian romances, Irish, Modernized versions, General, Fantasy, English (Middle) - England - West Midlands, Literary Criticism, Scottish, Literature - Classics, Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12), Sir Orfeo
ISBN: 9780345277602
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 1980-12-13T20:00:00+00:00

1 The symbol з is the Anglo-Saxon form of g, and is a modification of the Latin letter. It was retained by later scribes principally for the guttural gh as in knyзt, for the y-sound at the beginning of a word, as in зet, and for the final z-sound, as in ask eз. The spellings watз, hatз for was and has are peculiar.

2 Þ is the Anglo-Saxon symbol for th, which lasted till the 15th century, and as y till later—e.g., in ye=the. It is the old rune "thorn."

3 u and v, originally the same symbol, are both written u.

4 These "bobs" especially, and the rhyming 4-line"wheel" at the end of the stanzas, are often almost meaningless, and difficult to translate.

5 The qu is the Northern way of writing Anglo-Saxon hw, our wh.

6 Such "conceited," "precious" or far-fetched terms and tags are characteristic of the later alliterative verse

7 Construction clear, though sense odd. Antenor and Aeneas were the traitors who in the medieval story of Troy handed over the city to the Greeks. Antenor remained unpopular, but Aeneas suffered no loss of reputation. See Lydgate's Troy Book in the publications of the Early English Text Soc., Bk. IV, 1. 4539 f.

8 Dancing and singing in a ring.

9 New Year's gifts of good omen.

10 Oriental figured stuff.

11 It was extremely sumptuous having only two at a mess; i. e. only two sharing the same cup and platter.

12 It seems to make somewhat better sense if we transpose, as has here been done, lines 132 and 133; otherwise this passage means that a second course came in heralded by new music.

13 Translation doubtful.

14 Word doubtful.

15 Our "reins" is a mere stop-gap. The MS. has the puzzling sturtes.

16 Translating hors swete of the MS. as "horse's suite."

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