Gawain - Prominence in Arthurian Literature

Prominence in Arthurian Literature

The character of Gawain is seen more often in the various incarnations of Arthurian legend than are many knights. In fact, there are more medieval romances dedicated to narrating the adventures of Gawain than there are even to Lancelot, who is perhaps better known in popular culture today. Even when he is not the protagonist, he often appears in a supporting role that offers some prominence in the tale. In Chrétien de Troyes's Perceval, the Story of the Grail, the greater part of the verse focuses on Gawain rather than on the character after whom it is named. In Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Gawain plays a significant role in, for instance, the quest for the Holy Grail and the events leading up to Arthur’s death. Though he figures importantly in much of Arthurian literature, in French texts he is more often found in a supporting position (as in Perceval). In English ones, however, he frequently has the principal role.