A Literary Function of Grissell’s Death in The Awntyrs off Arthure

Gawain’s lament for the death of his horse in The Awntyrs off Arthure is one of the most prominent scenes to show the relationship between knights and their mounts in Middle English literature. In most cases, knights ignore the loss of their horses altogether. In this poem, however, Gawain’s intense emotional outburst at the death of Grissell is a manifestation of the compassionate love he has for his warhorse. At the same time, it reveals cracks in his knightly façade:imperfections that originate in his humanness. These two factors contribute to rejuvenating the once lackluster figure of Gawain in literature, giving him an emotional human attribute