The games fairies play: Otherworld intruders in medieval literary narratives

Otherworld intruders intrude upon mortals and the mortal world in search of game (using every conceivable meaning of game) and they enter into agreements and bargains with mortals in their pursuit of "game." These bargains are exceedingly carefully, and legally constructed contracts. I examine the games, bargains and contracts between otherworld intruders and mortals in various medieval Celtic and English text, but particularly in the medieval Welsh tale of Pwyll Pendeuic Dyfed, the Middle English texts of Sir Orfeo, Thomas of Erceldoune, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in an effort to show how an understanding of how this story pattern works illuminates and removes some of the problems many readers have understanding Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.