Point of View

The points of view of the three pieces included in the book vary according to the authors, as one might expect. But before addressing the differences, let us first focus on their similarities. First, all three of these pieces were written during the High Middle Ages in England, following the Norman Conquest of 1066. This gave rise to a particular form of the English language known as Middle English, which is largely incomprehensible to English-speakers today.

Further, all three authors are deeply committed Christians or at least are attempting to look that way. Pearl appears to be partly a theological treatise about the nature and justice of God's actions and decisions in the world. And Sir Gawain and the Green Knight prominently features the Christian mass and Marian and Saints piety characteristic of the Roman Catholic faith as central to Medieval English social practices. Finally, while Sir...