Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose, Opening, part 1, sentence 37
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.”
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
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.
Mova's own parse. This tree may be wrong.
The tree
The words, one row each (CoNLL-U)
| # | word | lemma | UPOS | features | head | relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | But | but | CCONJ | _ | 8 them | cc |
| 2 | this | this | DET | Number=Sing PronType=Dem | 4 book | det |
| 3 | little | little | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 4 book | amod |
| 4 | book | book | NOUN | Number=Sing | 8 them | nsubj |
| 5 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 8 them | cop |
| 6 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 8 them | advmod |
| 7 | for | for | ADP | _ | 8 them | case |
| 8 | them | they | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | root | root |
| 9 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 13 those | punct |
| 10 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 13 those | cc |
| 11 | if | if | SCONJ | _ | 13 those | mark |
| 12 | to | to | ADP | _ | 13 those | case |
| 13 | those | that | PRON | Number=Plur PronType=Dem | 8 them | appos |
| 14 | to | to | ADP | _ | 15 whom | case |
| 15 | whom | whom | PRON | PronType=Rel | 13 those | nmod |
| 16 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 17 tale | det |
| 17 | tale | tale | NOUN | Number=Sing | 23 treasure | nsubj |
| 18 | would | would | AUX | VerbForm=Fin | 23 treasure | aux |
| 19 | otherwise | otherwise | ADV | _ | 23 treasure | advmod |
| 20 | be | be | AUX | VerbForm=Inf | 23 treasure | cop |
| 21 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 23 treasure | det |
| 22 | sealed | seal | VERB | Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass | 23 treasure | amod |
| 23 | treasure | treasure | NOUN | Number=Sing | 15 whom | acl:relcl |
| 24 | these | this | DET | Number=Plur PronType=Dem | 25 pages | det |
| 25 | pages | page | NOUN | Number=Plur | 26 bring | nsubj |
| 26 | bring | bring | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 23 treasure | acl:relcl |
| 27 | some | some | DET | PronType=Ind | 29 knowledge | det |
| 28 | new | new | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 29 knowledge | amod |
| 29 | knowledge | knowledge | NOUN | Number=Sing | 26 bring | obj |
| 30 | of | of | ADP | _ | 32 way | case |
| 31 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 32 way | det |
| 32 | way | way | NOUN | Number=Sing | 29 knowledge | nmod |
| 33 | in | in | ADP | _ | 34 which | case |
| 34 | which | which | PRON | PronType=Rel | 37 looked | obl |
| 35 | our | our | PRON | Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 36 forefathers | nmod:poss |
| 36 | forefathers | forefather | NOUN | Number=Plur | 37 looked | nsubj |
| 37 | looked | look | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 32 way | acl:relcl |
| 38 | on | on | ADP | _ | 40 characters | case |
| 39 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 40 characters | det |
| 40 | characters | character | NOUN | Number=Plur | 37 looked | obl |
| 41 | of | of | ADP | _ | 44 legend | case |
| 42 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 44 legend | det |
| 43 | Arthurian | arthurian | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 44 legend | amod |
| 44 | legend | legend | NOUN | Number=Sing | 40 characters | nmod |
| 45 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 47 tales | punct |
| 46 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 47 tales | det |
| 47 | tales | tale | NOUN | Number=Plur | 29 knowledge | conj |
| 48 | they | they | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 49 told | nsubj |
| 49 | told | tell | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 47 tales | acl:relcl |
| 50 | of | of | ADP | _ | 51 them | case |
| 51 | them | they | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 49 told | obl |
| 52 | ( | ( | PUNCT | _ | 54 betraying | punct |
| 53 | unconsciously | unconsciously | ADV | _ | 54 betraying | advmod |
| 54 | betraying | betray | VERB | VerbForm=Ger | 49 told | ccomp |
| 55 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 54 betraying | obj |
| 56 | while | while | SCONJ | _ | 60 lived | mark |
| 57 | how | how | ADV | PronType=Int | 60 lived | advmod |
| 58 | they | they | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 60 lived | nsubj |
| 59 | themselves | themselves | PRON | Case=Acc Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Emp Reflex=Yes | 58 they | nmod:unmarked |
| 60 | lived | live | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 54 betraying | advcl |
| 61 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 62 thought | cc |
| 62 | thought | think | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 60 lived | conj |
| 63 | and | and | CCONJ | _ | 64 spoke | cc |
| 64 | spoke | speak | VERB | Mood=Ind Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 62 thought | ccomp |
| 65 | ) | ) | PUNCT | _ | 64 spoke | punct |
| 66 | — | - | PUNCT | _ | 70 means | punct |
| 67 | if | if | SCONJ | _ | 70 means | mark |
| 68 | by | by | ADP | _ | 69 that | case |
| 69 | that | that | PRON | Number=Sing PronType=Dem | 70 means | nsubj |
| 70 | means | mean | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 54 betraying | parataxis |
| 71 | they | they | PRON | Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=3 PronType=Prs | 72 gain | nsubj |
| 72 | gain | gain | VERB | Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 70 means | ccomp |
| 73 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 75 appreciation | det |
| 74 | keener | keen | ADJ | Degree=Cmp | 75 appreciation | amod |
| 75 | appreciation | appreciation | NOUN | Number=Sing | 100 doubtless | nsubj |
| 76 | of | of | ADP | _ | 79 heroes | case |
| 77 | our | our | PRON | Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 79 heroes | nmod:poss |
| 78 | national | national | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 79 heroes | amod |
| 79 | heroes | hero | NOUN | Number=Plur | 75 appreciation | nmod |
| 80 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 83 knowledge | punct |
| 81 | a | a | DET | Definite=Ind PronType=Art | 83 knowledge | det |
| 82 | wider | wide | ADJ | Degree=Cmp | 83 knowledge | amod |
| 83 | knowledge | knowledge | NOUN | Number=Sing | 75 appreciation | conj |
| 84 | of | of | ADP | _ | 87 literature | case |
| 85 | our | our | PRON | Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 87 literature | nmod:poss |
| 86 | national | national | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 87 literature | amod |
| 87 | literature | literature | NOUN | Number=Sing | 83 knowledge | nmod |
| 88 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 92 spirit | punct |
| 89 | — | - | PUNCT | _ | 92 spirit | punct |
| 90 | then | then | ADV | PronType=Dem | 92 spirit | advmod |
| 91 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 92 spirit | det |
| 92 | spirit | spirit | NOUN | Number=Sing | 75 appreciation | conj |
| 93 | of | of | ADP | _ | 98 poet | case |
| 94 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 98 poet | det |
| 95 | long | long | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 97 dead | amod |
| 96 | - | - | PUNCT | _ | 95 long | punct |
| 97 | dead | dead | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 98 poet | amod |
| 98 | poet | poet | NOUN | Number=Sing | 92 spirit | nmod |
| 99 | will | will | AUX | VerbForm=Fin | 100 doubtless | aux |
| 100 | doubtless | doubtless | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 72 gain | ccomp |
| 101 | not | not | PART | Polarity=Neg | 100 doubtless | advmod |
| 102 | be | be | AUX | VerbForm=Inf | 104 slowest | cop |
| 103 | the | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 104 slowest | det |
| 104 | slowest | slow | ADJ | Degree=Sup | 100 doubtless | obj |
| 105 | to | to | PART | _ | 106 pardon | mark |
| 106 | pardon | pardon | VERB | VerbForm=Inf | 104 slowest | advcl |
| 107 | my | my | PRON | Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 108 handling | nmod:poss |
| 108 | handling | handling | NOUN | Number=Sing | 106 pardon | obj |
| 109 | of | of | ADP | _ | 113 masterpiece | case |
| 110 | what | what | PRON | PronType=Int | 113 masterpiece | nsubj |
| 111 | was | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin | 113 masterpiece | cop |
| 112 | his | his | PRON | Case=Gen Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs | 113 masterpiece | nmod:poss |
| 113 | masterpiece | masterpiece | NOUN | Number=Sing | 108 handling | nmod |
| 114 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 117 is | punct |
| 115 | as | as | SCONJ | _ | 117 is | mark |
| 116 | it | it | PRON | Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs | 117 is | nsubj |
| 117 | is | be | AUX | Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin | 124 words | cop |
| 118 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 124 words | punct |
| 119 | in | in | ADP | _ | 124 words | case |
| 120 | M. | M. | PROPN | Number=Sing | 121 Gaston | compound |
| 121 | Gaston | Gaston | PROPN | Number=Sing | 124 words | nmod:poss |
| 122 | Paris | Paris | PROPN | Number=Sing | 121 Gaston | flat |
| 123 | ’ | 's | PART | _ | 121 Gaston | case |
| 124 | words | word | NOUN | Number=Plur | 100 doubtless | obj |
| 125 | , | , | PUNCT | _ | 128 jewel | punct |
| 126 | “ | " | PUNCT | _ | 128 jewel | punct |
| 127 | The | the | DET | Definite=Def PronType=Art | 128 jewel | det |
| 128 | jewel | jewel | NOUN | Number=Sing | 124 words | appos |
| 129 | of | of | ADP | _ | 132 literature | case |
| 130 | English | English | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 132 literature | amod |
| 131 | mediæval | mediæval | ADJ | Degree=Pos | 132 literature | amod |
| 132 | literature | literature | NOUN | Number=Sing | 128 jewel | nmod |
| 133 | . | . | PUNCT | _ | 128 jewel | punct |
| 134 | ” | " | PUNCT | _ | 128 jewel | punct |
Pragmatics
| # | 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 |
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.
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.
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66084/1/37/