In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the hero sets out on a journey in which he is forced to make moral choices that ultimately alter his self-knowledge. Gawai:a’s journey is the direct result of a challenge offered by the Green Knight under the guise of a Christmas game .
Metaphorically, his actions are reflected by the pentangle, which although composed of oppositions, always l eads back to itself. Gawain’3 di7tded consciousness is further symbolized by the Virgin- shield, which alludes to cari~as, and the magic girdle, which alludes to cupiditas . Their opposition forms the basic conflict of the poem: between spirit and flesh. These symbols ini~iate two sequences of action wherein Gawain is tested, fails and is absolved .
He retur~s to C:!lmelo-r: a new man, wiser for his folly, a true exemola1· of Christiani-r:,y as symbolized by the penta~gle virtues .