---
title: But this little book is not for them, and if to those to whom the ta… — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-Englis… · tree and pragmatics
description: But this little book is not for them, and if to those to whom the tale would otherwise be a sealed treasure these pages bring some new knowledge of the way in which our forefathers looked on the characters of the Arthurian legend, the tales they told of them (unconsciously betraying the while how th
---

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# Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose, Opening, part 1, sentence 37

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But this little book is not for them, and if to those to whom the tale would otherwise be a sealed treasure these pages bring some new knowledge of the way in which our forefathers looked on the characters of the Arthurian legend, the tales they told of them (unconsciously betraying the while how they themselves lived and thought and spoke)—if by that means they gain a keener appreciation of our national heroes, a wider knowledge of our national literature,—then the spirit of the long-dead poet will doubtless not be the slowest to pardon my handling of what was his masterpiece, as it is, in M. Gaston Paris’ words, “The jewel of English mediæval literature.”

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** little book, tale, pages, forefathers, that, keener appreciation · **What happens:** not be, seal, be, bring, look, tell · **To what, where:** sealed treasure, new knowledge, tales, the, handling, words · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
This is a sentence of «Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose» by Jessie L. Weston, Opening, part 1. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (little book, tale, pages, forefathers), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

<!-- .note-en -->
**Mova's own parse.** This tree may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg66084:1:37
# text = But this little book is not for them, and if to those to whom the tale would otherwise be a sealed treasure these pages bring some new knowledge of the way in which our forefathers looked on the characters of the Arthurian legend, the tales they told of them (unconsciously betraying the while how they themselves lived and thought and spoke)—if by that means they gain a keener appreciation of our national heroes, a wider knowledge of our national literature,—then the spirit of the long-dead poet will doubtless not be the slowest to pardon my handling of what was his masterpiece, as it is, in M. Gaston Paris’ words, “The jewel of English mediæval literature.”
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	8	appos	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nmod	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
18	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
19	otherwise	otherwise	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
20	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	cop	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	sealed	seal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	23	amod	_	_
23	treasure	treasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	acl:relcl	_	_
24	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	25	det	_	_
25	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	nsubj	_	_
26	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	acl:relcl	_	_
27	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	29	det	_	_
28	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	_
30	of	of	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nmod	_	_
33	in	in	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
34	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	37	obl	_	_
35	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	36	nmod:poss	_	_
36	forefathers	forefather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	nsubj	_	_
37	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	32	acl:relcl	_	_
38	on	on	ADP	IN	_	40	case	_	_
39	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	40	det	_	_
40	characters	character	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	obl	_	_
41	of	of	ADP	IN	_	44	case	_	_
42	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	44	det	_	_
43	Arthurian	arthurian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	44	amod	_	_
44	legend	legend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	40	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
45	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	47	punct	_	_
46	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	47	det	_	_
47	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	conj	_	_
48	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	49	nsubj	_	_
49	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	47	acl:relcl	_	_
50	of	of	ADP	IN	_	51	case	_	_
51	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	49	obl	_	_
52	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	54	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
53	unconsciously	unconsciously	ADV	RB	_	54	advmod	_	_
54	betraying	betray	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	49	ccomp	_	_
55	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	54	obj	_	_
56	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	60	mark	_	_
57	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	60	advmod	_	_
58	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	60	nsubj	_	_
59	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Emp|Reflex=Yes	58	nmod:unmarked	_	_
60	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	54	advcl	_	_
61	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	62	cc	_	_
62	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	60	conj	_	_
63	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	64	cc	_	_
64	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	62	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
65	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	64	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
66	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	70	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
67	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	70	mark	_	_
68	by	by	ADP	IN	_	69	case	_	_
69	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	70	nsubj	_	_
70	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	54	parataxis	_	_
71	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	72	nsubj	_	_
72	gain	gain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	70	ccomp	_	_
73	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	75	det	_	_
74	keener	keen	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	75	amod	_	_
75	appreciation	appreciation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	100	nsubj	_	_
76	of	of	ADP	IN	_	79	case	_	_
77	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	79	nmod:poss	_	_
78	national	national	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	79	amod	_	_
79	heroes	hero	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	75	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
80	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	83	punct	_	_
81	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	83	det	_	_
82	wider	wide	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	83	amod	_	_
83	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	75	conj	_	_
84	of	of	ADP	IN	_	87	case	_	_
85	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	87	nmod:poss	_	_
86	national	national	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	87	amod	_	_
87	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	83	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
88	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	92	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
89	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	92	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
90	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	92	advmod	_	_
91	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	92	det	_	_
92	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	75	conj	_	_
93	of	of	ADP	IN	_	98	case	_	_
94	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	98	det	_	_
95	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	97	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
96	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	95	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
97	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	98	amod	_	_
98	poet	poet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	92	nmod	_	_
99	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	100	aux	_	_
100	doubtless	doubtless	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	72	ccomp	_	_
101	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	100	advmod	_	_
102	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	104	cop	_	_
103	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	104	det	_	_
104	slowest	slow	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	100	obj	_	_
105	to	to	PART	TO	_	106	mark	_	_
106	pardon	pardon	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	104	advcl	_	_
107	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	108	nmod:poss	_	_
108	handling	handling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	106	obj	_	_
109	of	of	ADP	IN	_	113	case	_	_
110	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	113	nsubj	_	_
111	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	113	cop	_	_
112	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	113	nmod:poss	_	_
113	masterpiece	masterpiece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	108	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
114	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	117	punct	_	_
115	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	117	mark	_	_
116	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	117	nsubj	_	_
117	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	124	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
118	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	124	punct	_	_
119	in	in	ADP	IN	_	124	case	_	_
120	M.	M.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	121	compound	_	_
121	Gaston	Gaston	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	124	nmod:poss	_	_
122	Paris	Paris	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	121	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
123	’	's	PART	POS	_	121	case	_	_
124	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	100	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
125	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	128	punct	_	_
126	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	128	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
127	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	128	det	_	_
128	jewel	jewel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	124	appos	_	_
129	of	of	ADP	IN	_	132	case	_	_
130	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	132	amod	_	_
131	mediæval	mediæval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	132	amod	_	_
132	literature	literature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	128	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
133	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	128	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
134	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	128	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | this little book |  |  |  |  | for scholars *= scholar*; those *appos* | tree rules |
| 2 | **seal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | would | the tale | a sealed treasure |  |  |  | otherwise *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **bring** | present | this pages | some new knowledge of the way and the tales |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent knowledge=Theme |
| 5 | **look** | past | our forefathers |  |  |  |  | on the characters of the Arthurian legend; in the way | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in which=Theme |
| 6 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | pages *= page* | the tales *not said here* |  |  |  | of scholars *= scholar* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent tale=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 7 | **betray** | gerund |  | the |  |  |  | unconsciously *property* | tree rules |
| 8 | **live** | past | pages *= page* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 9 | **think** *speech: other* | past | pages *= page* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 10 | **speak** *speech: other* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 11 | **mean** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 12 | **gain** | present | pages *= page* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 13 | **not** **doubtless** | future | a keener appreciation of our national heroes and a wider knowledge of our national literature and the spirit of the dead poet |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 14 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | tree rules |
| 15 | **pardon** | to-infinitive |  | my handling |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent handling=Theme |
| 16 | **is** | past | my handling |  |  |  |  | of literature's masterpiece; literature *nmod:poss* | tree rules |
| 17 | **is** | present |  |  |  | M. Gaston's words |  | M. Gaston *nmod:poss*; the jewel of English mediæval literature *appos* | tree rules |
| 18 | **handle** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom handling «act transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

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**Text:** «Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose» by Jessie L. Weston, Project Gutenberg book 66084 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

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