Guenevere's physical appearance is emphasized throughout the poem, both by the narrator and by Guenevere herself. She uses her beauty as a point in her own defense: how can anyone so beautiful be guilty? Then again, her beauty could also be used as a point against her, since she admits that her own beauty drove her "half mad" in the garden with Launcelot.
Questions About Appearances
- How does Guenevere's beauty work in her defense?
- How does her beauty work against her?
- The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the way things appear to the senses. Are things ever as they appear in this poem?
- How has Guenevere's beauty seemed to affect other characters in the poem (the narrator, Sir Gauwaine, Mellyagraunce, Launcelot)?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Guenevere's beauty is a double-edged sword: it both excites sympathy in her listeners and incites the jealousy that leads to the accusation against her.
Guenevere's beauty has a surreal quality to it that can drive people mad – including Guenevere herself.