THE SCENE: In this scene from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the author captures the scene of an uncanny beheading with lyric grace, whilst not leaving out any of the blood and gore.
THE TEXT: Gawain grips the axe and heaves it heavenwards, plants his left foot firmly on the floor in front, then swings it swiftly towards the bare skin. The cleanness of the strike cleaved the spinal cord and parted the fat and the flesh so far that the bright steel blade took a bite from the floor. The handsome head tumbles onto the earth and the king’s men kick it as it clatters past. Blood gutters brightly against his green gown, yet the man doesn’t shudder or stagger or sink, but trudges towards them on those tree-trunk legs and rummages around, reaches at their feet and cops hold of his head and hoists it high, and strides his steed, snatches the bridle, steps into the stirrup and swings into the saddle still gripping his head by a handful of hair.
– Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 14th Century AD
