Entitled

"Now that I see your full name, I have to say this:
'Matthew Duckworth . . .
. . . Earl of Sandwich.'"

--clerk at the hardware store

Play-Time: From the Medieval to the Renaissance

The manuscript poster--
Spring 2017:
English 46A
Come join the fun!
I'll make it as memorable as I can.

Fresh from the Kiln: Chesspieces

Clay: soldate;
glazing: oribe.

Green Men: Cyrano, Sir Bertilak, Fergus, Amleth, Treece, and Company

Cyrano de Bergerac: A Mask

(sculpture mix; sea-foam glazing)

Sir Bertilak; Or, The Green Knight

(sculpture mix; green house paint)

Fergus: a Celtic Head

Henry Treece's fine historical novel The Green Man, 

a version of Hamlet drawing upon Saxo Grammaticus' tale of Amleth the Dane

Mytho-heroic.

Self-Portrait #53 (wood-kerne and clay).

"Whither Now, Friend?"

Two old clay pieces,
searching for the right setting,
for the proper game.
They seem slightly lost to me.  To you?

Riddles at Random

. . . in the rain.

The Green Knight?

Bertilak: sculpture mix; green house paint.

Gawain's Stroke of Luck

Or, Part I of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight."

The Antler Dance

King Lear and Frey the Stag: sculpture mix; green and blue glazing.

Sir Bertilak Sends His Best To The King

The Solstice is almost upon us.

I like to reread "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" this time of year, for 'tis a Christmas story, a winter story, a challenge-and-change story. Young Sir Gawain stands up to defend the King's honor against the green-clothed, green-skinned, green-haired giant's insults and tests. What would you have done if a green giant offered you the chance to prove your mettle--yours, the court's, and the king's-- by taking a swipe at his neck in return for the opportunity to take a swipe at yours a year hence? Must be a trick?

Of course, but imagine when, despite your successful hack with the axe, the mysterious Green Knight catches up that rolling, bleeding head by the hair, and that detached head laughs and reminds you of the grim appointment, a year hence. Would that be a long year or a short year for you? Would you even set out to meet this giant maniac? Would you get lost on the way, particularly since you don't quite know where you are going anyway? (Finding the knight to honor your oath being part of the test.) And, oh, if you find a castle and a lovely lady offers you a magical belt of protection, would you accept it--and lie about taking it? Would . . . .

Where is my copy of this poem?

The original Middle English is wonderful, but more difficult without practice than Chaucer's pieces, so I tend to be a bit lazy and reach for Tolkien's translation. There are other fine ones, beside.

If you are looking for a good book for the autumn/winter evenings . . . .