I’ve been thinking more about the similarities between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the first parts of Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings. My thanks to Noelia Ramos and her new article “He Is the Master of Wood, Water, and Hill” for three of these items — she has observed that Bombadil (like Bertilak) is “acting as a guardian of the [ancient] forest” and likewise invites the unexpected traveller(s) to hospitality, and then guides them on their way.
Consider however that there are many more obvious parallels between the story-sequences:
A mighty birthday feast (Bilbo’s party / Camelot). The young hero accepts a near-suicidal journey to an uncertain place, in a race-against time, and is under a great burden of doom (Frodo and the Ring / Gawain and the Quest).
The quest is delayed, summer passes (Frodo tarries in the Shire / Gawain waits a year).
They have a lavish celebratory feast (Crickhollow / Camelot).
At the feast a mysterious ‘interloper’ appears (Sam, revealed / The Green Knight).
The traveller(s) are then well kitted-out for a journey on horseback (hobbits on ponies / Gawain on horseback).
‘Outside’ and entering a dangerous wilderness (The Old Forest / leaving Wales, passing through the Wirral).
Their way is barred by male aggression near water (Old Man Willow / the surly way-barring ford-keepers of the Cheshire plain).
An unexpected encounter with a fine high house in the wilderness (Bombadil’s house / Bertilak’s castle).
Meet a genial but very mysterious fellow who seems to ‘own/guard’ the country aroundabout, and who resides with a supernatural woman (Bombadil and Goldberry / Bertilak and Morgan le Fey). The latter appears to hold the house under some sort of enchantment (Goldberry / Morgan).
Dreams, and the voice of a fair lady (the hobbit dreams / Gawain’s dream).
After gracious hosting, the host sets the traveller(s) on their way with specific guidance (to the Barrow Downs / to the Green Chapel) but he does not accompany.
The traveller(s) leave with the blessings of a fair supernatural lady (Goldberry’s farewell atop the path / Gawain with his shield of the Virgin Mary and Green Sash).
Leave the ancient forest, enter into an uncanny upland place of standing-stones and barrow burials, also encountering fog and heavy mists (the Barrow Downs / the Staffordshire Moorlands between Alton and Wetton).
A barrow-mound of some uncertainty (the wight’s barrow / the Green Chapel) (also note it has a “pale greenish light” in Fellowship).
Deadly edged weapons, grinding sounds (swords and the dragging of the bony hand on a stone floor / the Green Knight’s axe and the strange sounds of its sharpening).
Traveller(s) in great peril, near death, and many others have been slain here in the past.
There is a temptation to easy escape from the peril (Frodo thinks of putting on the Ring / Gawain has been tempted by the protection of the Green Sash)
The genial host reappears (Tom pops his head through an opening in the barrow / Bertilak – as the Green Knight – pops his head out of an upper part of the Chapel).
The traveller(s) are humbled (Gawain humbled, and the hobbits mysteriously lose their clothes and are naked).
Celebrations (Arthur’s court rejoices at the hero’s safe-keeping and to hear his tale / the revelry at Bree, Frodo gives a fantastical song)