Read The Classics: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight March 8, 2009

The Multnomah County Library invites you to take part in a new book series, where you can read some of the best all-time classics and discuss them under the leadership of Dr. Michael A. Faletra, professor of medieval literature at Reed College. Participation is free, but registration is required. You can register online at http://www.multcolib.org/events/classics/middle.html
A limited number of books will be available free of charge for those who pre-register.

The anonymous 14th century English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (circa 1360–1380) is considered the finest and most complex of all the Arthurian romances. Its hero, Gawain, was the most beloved of all of Arthur's knights among medieval English audiences. Yet, like the enigmatic five–pointed star on Gawain's shield, this story is riddled with paradoxes as both Gawain and the audience struggle to discern truth from reality: Who are the heroes and who are the villains? When is a game merely a game and when is it a matter of life and death? What makes King Arthur such a great king? What are the bounds of hospitality? Do knightly reputations always live up to reality? And what does it even mean to be a knight of the Round Table anyway? From its very first scene, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight unsettles all of our common and comfortable notions about the too-often idealized world of the Arthurian romance. As we read and investigate this compelling text, we will consider to what extent Sir Gawain sacrifices his own values and the honor of Arthur's court in pursuit of a seemingly unwinnable quest.

Official Website: http://www.multcolib.org/events/classics/middle.html