Fantasy literature is often used as a template for authors to showcase their personal views on sexuality, race, etc. When it comes to homosexuality in fantastic literature, it has always been present. In early works, however, homosexuality was often masked with innuendos and *insert something clever here.* The texts Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Huntress are two prime examples of fantasy, both past and present, that use homosexuality as a way to further their plot line. It is appropriate to compare these two stories, because they follow a somewhat similar storyline that uses homosexuality/ homoeroticism to enhance the story itself, albeit they each do it in a vastly different manner. These differing presentations help to showcase how …show more content…
This homoeroticism is first displayed when Sir Gawain must kiss Bertilak. Right before the kiss takes place, the Lord calls all of the dames and damsels in the castle around to watch their exchange of “gifts.” After the first kiss is exchanged between the two men, the only comment comes from Bertilak, saying “now tell me where you won this same wealth by the wits you possess” (SGGK 77). Gawain responds by saying that he is not required to tell the Lord how he got his “prize,” he is only required to exchange what he won with the lord. Their on looking audience does not seem to have any sort of opinion, this lack of reaction can lead the modern reader to be somewhat puzzled. In his article “Sodomy, Misogyny, and Displacement: Occluding Queer Desire in ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,’” David Boyd claims that medieval readers would have been more familiar with this odd love triangle that Gawain is forced into. He goes on to say that “such triangulation is also not an uncommon device for employing apparently heterosexual situations and temptation as a means through which homosexual activity (and desire) can manifest themselves” (Boyd 80). By this, Boyd is saying that what a modern reader may perceive as odd or homoerotic, was typical to the romances of medieval …show more content…
In the beginning of this story, it is discovered that the Fairy Queen has sent an invitation inviting King Cai of Cathair to her side of the border between the lands. This is quite shocking to the humans, since neither group of beings had ventured, or even been invited to venture, into the other’s borders in centuries. Since their kingdom is in utter turmoil, people are starving and civil wars are occurring, King Cai agrees that a meeting should be made with the Fairy Queen, but he will not go himself. It is decided that two young girls studying to become sages, Kaede and Taisin, along with Prince Con and three guards will make the long journey to the fairy kingdom, Taninli. While on this journey, the small group of wanderers encounter many mystical forces which end up killing two of the guards, while severely injuring the third, forcing the group to leave her behind. Throughout their journey, Kaede and Taisin begin to fall in love, though they do not act upon their love until the end of the journey is nearing. Once the remaining three reach the Fairy Queen, she informs them that the force destroying both the fairy and human world is her half-breed daughter, Elowen. She then goes on to tell them that Kaede is the only one who can kill her, and she must. After killing the queen’s daughter, things do not return to the way they should. They find out that killing the half-breed is killing a part of the Fairy Queen. If the queen dies,