Understanding Sir Gawain and the Green KnightLike Malory’s Le Morte Darthur, the anonymously authored Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represents a watershed in the development of the Arthurian tradition. Drawing on insights from Nicholas Perkins, a specialist on medieval English literature and manuscripts at the University of Cambridge; Arthurian expert Kevin J. Harty, of La Salle University; and Helen Cooper, authority on medieval literature at the University of Oxford, this program explicates this complex alliterative poem, examines its treatment of familiar Arthurian themes, and illustrates why it is considered one of the finest romances of the Middle Ages. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. (24 minutes)