H English 11: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

What does the Green Chapel look like?

A cave

Who is Sir Reynard?

A fox

What appears on the outside of Gawain's shield?

A pentangle

What appears on the inside of Gawain's shield?

A picture of Mary

What is the green King carrying?

An axe and a holly branch

Where does Gawain go at the end of the story?

Back to Camelot

What is the name of Arthur's kingdom?

Camelot

What event does Gawain fear he will miss as he's wandering the forest alone?

Christmas day mass

What order are the animals hunted by the Lord of the Castle?

Deer, boar, fox

True of false: Gawain accepts his guide's offer of assistance?

False

To what or to whom does Gawain appeal to grant him his wish?

God and mary

Where is the Green Knight from?

Green Chapel

Hoe foes his host respond to Gawain's concerns in the question above?

He assures Gawain he knows where the Green Knight lives and that he will take him there

Why does the Green Knight call Gawain a coward?

He flinched on the first swing

What does Gawain do after the last interaction with the Lady of the Castle?

He goes to confession

When the poet introduces the Green Knight, what is most stunning about him

He is giant-sized and his skin is green

Why will King Arthur not eat his dinner? What is he waiting for?

He is waiting for something amazing to happen or for someone to tell him an amazing story

How does Gawain react to seeing his blood in the snow?

He realizes he's alive and prepares to fight

What is one way Gawain refuses the Lady's advances?

He reminds her she's married

How does Sir Gawain convince King Arthur to let him be the one to accept the Knight's challenge?

He says he is the weakest and the least smart

What things scare or chase Gawain in his journey?

Humans, wild animals, snakes

What hobby foes the Lord of the Castle enjoy?

Hunting

The king of Camelot. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ________is young and beardless, and his court is in its golden age. _________'s refusal to eat until he hears a fantastic tale shows the petulance of youth, as does __________'s initial stunned response to the Green Knight's challenge. However, like a good king, _________ soon steps forward to take on the challenge. At the story's end, Arthur joins his nephew in wearing a green girdle on his arm, showing that Gawain's trial has taught him about his own fallibility.

King Arthur

Attempts to seduce Gawain on a daily basis during his stay at the castle; beautiful young woman; amazingly clever debater and an astute reader of Gawain's responses; argues her way through three attempted seductions; Flirtatious and intelligent

Lady Bertilack

The sturdy, good-natured lord of the castle where Gawain spends Christmas; associated with the natural world: his beard resembles a beaver, his face a fire—but also with the courtly behavior of an aristocratic host. Boisterous, powerful, brave, and generous;

Lord Bertilack

Who is the Green Knight?

Lord Bertilak

What is the term used to refer to the symbolic significance of the two ladies-- one old and faded and the other "fresh as first snow"

Memento Mori

The Arthurian tradition typically portrays _________ as a powerful sorceress, trained by Merlin, as well as the half sister of King Arthur. Not until the last one hundred lines do we discover that the old woman at the castle is _________________ and that she has controlled the poem's entire action from beginning to end. As she often does in Arthurian literature, appears as an enemy of Camelot, one who aims to cause as much trouble for her half brother and his followers as she can.

Morgan Le Fay

Who orchestrated this whole journey?

Morgan Le Fay

What does the Lady of the Castle give Gawain on the first day?

One kiss

How long before Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will meet again?

One year and one day

Arthur's wife. The beautiful, young; sits next to Gawain at the New Year's feast and remains a silent, objectified presence in the midst of the knights of the Round Table.

Queen Guenievre

Who is King Arthur's queen?

Queen Guinevere

Hoe does the lady try to persuade Gawain to love her?

Questions his knightly virtues, guilt, and claims he can't be sir Gawain

What color is Sir Reynard?

Red

What colors are on Gawain's shield?

Red and Gold

How does Gawain's guide tempt him?

Says he won't tell if he doesn't go

The story's protagonist, Arthur's nephew and one of his most loyal knights; although he modestly disclaims it, he has the reputation of being a great knight and courtly lover. He prides himself on his observance of the five points of chivalry in every aspect of his life. He is a pinnacle of humility, piety, integrity, loyalty, and honesty. His only flaw proves to be that he loves his own life so much that he will lie in order to protect himself. He leaves the Green Chapel penitent and changed.

Sir Gawain

Who is being hunted in Part III?

Sir Gawain

A mysterious visitor to Camelot; huge stature, wild appearance, and green complexion set him apart from the beardless knights and beautiful ladies of Arthur's Camelot; an ambiguous figure: he says that he comes in friendship, not wanting to fight, but the friendly game he proposes is quite deadly. He attaches great importance to verbal contracts, expecting Sir Gawain to go to great lengths to hold up his end of their bargain; shows himself to be a supernatural being when he picks up his own severed head and rides out of Arthur's court, still speaking. At the same time, he seems to symbolize the natural world, in that he is killed and reborn as part of a cycle; also Bertilak, Gawain's host, and one of Morgan le Faye's minions.

The Green Knight

What does the Green Knight do that enrages Gawain?

The Green Knight swings and stops short

What does the Green Knight propose to King Arthur?

The beheading game

which animal is easiest to hint?

The deer

Which animal is the hardest to hunt?

The fox

What is the name of the game proposed by the lord of the castle at the end of part II?

The hunting game

How many swings does the Green Knight take to Sir Gawain?

Three

What does the Lady of the Castle give Gawain on the third day?

Three kisses and a Girdle

Why does Gawain fake being asleep when the Lady of the Castle comes to his room?

To avoid being caught breaking the rules, to fire out what she wants and why she's there, to try and not appear too excited to see her

Sir Gawain begins with a stanza about the rise of nations. What is the primary reason the poet has placed King Arthur in line with the founders of the ancient civilization?

To demonstrate King Arthur's importance

How are King Arthur and Sir Gawain related?

Uncle-Nephew

What season of the year is it when the story begins?

Winter

How does King Arthur respond to the Green Knight?

he asks him to stay for dinner

How is Gawain received in the castle?

he is welcomed and treated like a king

After residing at the castle, what does Gawain fear he will miss?

his deadline with the Green Knight

Why does Gawain keep the magic girdle after everything ends?

to remind him of his failures, he's not perfect, and that he is human

Hoe does the poet describe King Arthur?

young, courteous, kind