Sir Gawain

             The idea of a medieval romance is a concept which is based around stories including chivalrous knights, living by the codes of behavior which is the backbone of medieval legend. The legends of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Morte d" Arthur have similarities to the ideas of a medieval romance such as shows of courage and depictions of honor.
             Courage is a steady theme for both the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the legend of Morte d" Arthur. For instance, Sir Gawain embodies courage when he takes King Arthur's place in the Green Knights challenge. "Would you grant me the grace it ought to be mine."(p.146 line 117-133) When Gawain says this he displays his courage to King Arthur's court. In Morte d" Arthur King Arthur shows a great deal of courage when he returns to the Britains to battle his traitorous nephew Sir Mordred. This display of courage is the embodiment of the medieval chivalrous form of courage.
             Honor was one of the highest held beliefs of the chivalrous knights of medieval romances and instance of honor are prevalent in both Morte d" Arthur as we as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In Morte d" Arthur Sir Bedivere acts with honor when he returns Arthur's sword to the lady of the lake after he is obviously dying. This is honorable because Sir Bedivere could have kept Excalibur for himself since Arthur was doomed, but he refused to betray his long time friend and leader. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain shows an incredible amount of honor when he respects his challenge. This was honorable because Gawain knew that he was putting himself at great risk but still followed through none the less. This high respect for honor was a common trait in the medieval romance archetype.
             Honor and courage are very prevalent characteristics in medieval romances such as Morte d" Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Chivalrous hero stories have changed as time has passed, now, characters such as Superman and Spiderman embody the characteristics of those heroes in the lore and legend of medieval romance.