And wonder dread, and war, have lingered in that land, where loss and love in turn, have held the upper hand.” 

- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Simon Armitage Translation. 

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But there was also... a prophecy. "The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear. And the power to oppose it lies dormant beneath the ground...We also learned of a princess with a sacred power and her appointed knight, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness. 

​-Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild

 

     I remember walking into Half Price Books, finding a copy of Arthurian Myths & Legends (Jackson) and was immediately attached to it. The amount of historical context within English Folklore has fascinated me for years. And for centuries, we have been consumed with the Heroic lore of knights and warriors, friends, and wild beasts. The alliterative poems of the early days describe many heroic uprisings to protect its people and fight enemies for the common good of the realm. 

By the Fourteenth Century, in England, the tale of Arthur had evolved to inspire other brave warriors in the oral traditions of classic stories. The classic genre of Chivalric Romance, not to be confused with modern romance, describes epic journeys and the constant tests of one’s integrity. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Norton Anthology) certainly fit in this sub-genre as it promotes topics of prophecy and themes of Medieval nobility.  

     The number of adaptations and dramatizations of these stories are countless. Its influence has evolved to cover a wide range of media. From Novels to Plays and Films; they provide their own individual interpretations. And in the previous decades, video games have influenced modern storytelling, and many are inspired by the topics and themes of classic literature. The Legend of Zelda (1987-present) is considered one the best renderings and continues to influence the artform as one of the earliest in its industry. All the Zelda games represent common tropes to the epics of early English. Three games are A Link to The Past (1991),          An Ocarina of Time (1998), and Breath of the Wild (2017). The massive success of this series guarantees attention to a continuing interest in epic stories. And with both Sir Gawain and Link, Medieval Romance has continued to influence culture into contemporary society.  

     Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is set in early England and begins with the festivities of Christmas during the reign of King Arthur. His nephew Gawain sits with the other knights, feeling unworthy because he has yet to prove his courage and bravery among his peers. On New Years Eve a giant man, all in green from skin to weapon, challenges any opponent to strike at him and in return he may strike them back a year later.  To prove his bravery, Gawain accepts the challenge, takes the beast’s axe, and strikes him down.  The Green Knight laughs and picks up his severed head, reminding him of the wager. Gawain experiences many more adventures as he prepares throughout the year. Eventually he comes across a Noble Lord, his wife, and tells them of his quest to find the “Green Chapel” to pay his dept. The Lord is incredibly hospitable and assures him that he will make it there and asks to stay in his castle, but Gawain’s faith is constantly tested. 

     The lure of temptation and the ability to ignore our irrational urges is the ultimate test of human morality. In moments of confrontation, we are challenged with these harsh truths. Sir Gawain was tested for the vows of his devotion. For his role requires discipline and a rejection for worldly desires outside the task at hand. These qualities carry on into the character of Link in many of Zelda’s iconic games, however less inspired by Christianity.  

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      A Link to The Past, Princess Zelda is captured by the evil wizard Agahnim as he attempts to free Ganon from the Dark World and destroy all that is good within the Kingdom of Hyrule. Link steps up, like Gawain, to pursue a quest for the “Master Sword”, a symbol of morality that is needed to destroy evil.  

Symbolism is a common literary device used in Medieval Fantasy. The One Ring in Tolkien’s iconic Lord of the Rings bears similarity to the Master Sword as does the Holy Grail in Monty Python. With Sir Gawian and the Green Knight it is the sash that he receives a symbol of good look but also punishment for accepting it from a married woman.  These items are constantly presented as trophies and curses for a hero’s integrity and nobility among their fellow people.  

     With An Ocarina of Time, the fate of Hyrule is put to question as the main villain Ganon is disguised as Ganondorf, in a dangerous attempt to rule the world. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Noble disguises himself as the Green Giant to prove Gawain’s courage. Both stories use the elements of disguise to influence integrity in completely different ways. The element of disguise in Sir Gawain is used to prove the hero's integrity. In The Ocarina of Time, the element is used to destroy it.  The question of a hero’s honesty is challenged in multiple aspects, with the Ocarina as a symbol to summon Zelda in spirit to save humanity.  

     Breath of the Wild is widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time. It has consistently been rated among the best in game history. The diverse monsters and characters of Hyrule resemble many of the creatures in “Sir Gawain”: In a strange region he scales steep slopes; far from his friends he cuts a lonely figure. Where he bridges a brook or wades through a waterway; it’s no suprise to find that he faces a foe so foul or fierce he is bound to use force. (Sir Gawain 430). This description, among many, could be applied to Link in BOTW and its respected predecessors. 

     Like Sir Gawain, Link is bound from the weight of corruption for a world so strongly against his spirit and must struggle with what he faces. Sir Gawain is also bound, but by the vows he made to serve his king. In both stories we witness the trials of temptation and its resistance for world peace. 

     Throughout the poem, Gawain is tempted by the Noble’s beautiful wife. In many ways she parallels the character of Mipha in Breath of the Wild: “I shall hold you fast here on this other side as well And so chat on with the chevalier my chains have caught. . . . My lord and his liegemen are a long way off; Others still bide in their beds, my bower-maidens too. . . . My young body is yours. Do with it what you will. (Norton Anthology). I was... I was always willing to heal your wounds. Even back then. (Princess Mipha, BOTW). 

 

     With the countless presence of adaptations through the years, and the recent emergence of digital storytelling, readers and audiences continue to embrace ideals of courtly romance, epic quests, and battles of Good vs. Evil. The goal for the “greater good” has always been relatable from the earliest writings in western civilization to the most recent films and video games. The success of these stories provides interest in an ancient art form that has been around for ages but never forgotten. 

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