Gawain and Green Knight

Description

From Publishers Weekly
The brothers Shannon valiantly fail at the improbable-a picture-book version of a dense, alliterative, complex medieval classic. As the tale opens, Gawain is "the youngest and most inexperienced" knight in King Arthur's court. After being teased by the members of the Round Table, Gawain is quick to accept the challenge issued by the Green Knight, who interrupts the Yuletide festivities to propose an exchange of blows. Gawain slices off the stranger's head, who then picks it up and calls Gawain to a meeting a year hence. Gawain travels long to find the appointed spot, enduring fierce winter weather before finding shelter in a castle. There he resists the offer of an allegedly magic sash, for in this version he has promised to wear a sash made for him by his girlfriend. The Green Knight therefore withholds his blow, telling him, "You were true to the mysteries of your own heart." In the original, of course, Gawain (sans lady love) accepts the sash in hopes of saving his life, but is forgiven this minor fault-even a chivalrous Christian knight could not be perfect. Though David Shannon's chiaroscuro effects suit his eerie castle scenes and larger-than-life Green Knight, the mundane, altered text disappoints, giving no sense of the extraordinary language of the original, and so heavily adapted as to be an entirely new and lesser story. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-The gigantic Green Knight storms into Camelot challenging Arthur's knights to chop off his head. If he survives, he expects his beheader to seek him out in a year and a day and have his own head chopped off. Gawain accepts the challenge, and the giant survives. He leaves with his bloody head, reminding the young man to keep his word. Questing for him, the young knight stops at a castle where he is wined, dined, given a soft bed, and tempted by his stunning hostess to exchange the sash given to him by his beloved for her magic one, which she says will save his neck-literally. This archetypal story dates back 1,000 years in Celtic lore as a Cuchulain tale, and Gawain emerged as the hero in an anonymous 14th-century epic. The theme has always been honor for its own sake and the importance of keeping one's word. Earlier illustrated versions, notably Selina Hastings's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Lothrop, 1981) and Constance Bartlett Hieatt's book of the same title (Crowell, 1967; o.p.), are truer to the original. This simpler abridgement only infers the attempted seduction, invents Gawain's love interest back home, and depicts him refusing the sash not for courage or honor, but for love. The writing is strong, except when Gawain says "Oh my goodness" when the Green Knight's head rolls. Dark, richly textured art with Rembrandt lighting suits the violent tale. The full-and double-page paintings flow from one to another and exhibit great attention to detail. The artist obviously researched time and setting. Flaws aside, this is an early taste of a magnificent adventure. The Shannons are worth watching.
Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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