THE WODWO AND “SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT” (COMMENT).

Posted on November 19, 2008 by Philip

THE WODWO AND “SIR GAWAIN THE GREEN KNIGHT” (COMMENT). What is a wodwo? The Sidestep essay refers to a poem written in about 1375: “The Wodwo, is an ancient, Middle English word taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” (Mary Jane speculated in a comment that a “wodwo” was like Gollum in LORD OF THE RINGS. A good guess because “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” was very important for Tolkien. His edition of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” in 1925 was enormously influential. But, according to Tom Shippey in ROOTS AND BRANCHES, it is not Gollum, but the “Woses”, the Wild Men of the Woods of Druadan Forest in the chapter “The Ride of the Rohirrim”, that derive from the “wodwos” in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.”)

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3 Responses to THE WODWO AND “SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT” (COMMENT).

  1. Annalisa says:
    November 21, 2008 at 6:07 PM

    I can’t wait to read Roots and Branches. Thank you so much for getting it for me, Dad. I know this is counter to your teachings (and that of an uncle of yours, correct?), but currently I have so many good choices of books to read, I’m feeling stressed out about it! Just the other day I passed on your wisdom to my friend who’s stressed about choosing between two really good grad schools; I said that since she has two good choices, she doesn’t need to stress about which one she chooses. It’s just harder to apply it to myself. Anyway, my point is, this blog post piques my interest in Roots and Branches and I’m looking forward to reading it.

  2. ewan (sidestep) says:
    November 25, 2008 at 12:28 AM

    I don’t know if the wodwo is of earth – I don’t think it is helpful to describe it for mystery is part of its very composition. It is that thing which lurks in the twilight of existence and non-existence.
    best, captainhoek.blogspot.com

  3. Philip says:
    November 28, 2008 at 2:10 PM

    I agree wholeheartedly. The wodwo is not of earth.

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