Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Study Guide
What two women does Gawain meet after evensong? How are they described? How does Gawain behave with the women?
- The Lady of the castle and an old "crone" - The Lady of the castle is young and beautiful, while the ancient dame is old and withered - He shows them both respect - hugging and slightly kissing the Lady and bowing to the old Dame
What animal does the lord hunt the third day?
A fox
When does Gawain leave Arthur's court?
After All-Saints Day (November 1)
How well does Gawain maintain his Christmas Eve fast?
He eats and drinks because he is hungry, but he only eats fish
What does the Green Knight propose? (Note the language he uses in lines 273 and 283.)
He says, "If you're half as honorable as I've heard then you'll grant me a game" and Arthur replies saying, "If you're looking for a fair, unarmored fight then we'll take you up on it." Then the Knight comes back saying he's not looking for scrap (a fight), especially not against Arthurs "bum-fluffed" "lightweight" men because they couldn't handle him, that he's just interested in a game celebrating the "time of youthfulness."
What tone does the Green Knight maintain throughout Gawain's encounter with him?
His tone is courageous and intimidating
What war does the story begin with?
The Trojan War
What happens the second time the Green Knight raises the ax? What is Gawain's response?
The second time was really more of a test to see if he would flinch again, but he didn't and Gawain took offense to it, basically telling him if you're going to do it, then do it, stop messing around
What do the castle residents expect once they know it is Gawain (lines 908-927)? In other words, what is Gawain well-known for?
They expect to watch and learn the ways of a proper and honorable knight
Who is the Green Knight? Who is the old woman at the castle? Why is she so much more important to the poem than she appeared to be? What did she want to do to Arthur's knights? What did she want to do to Arthur's queen?
- Bertilak de Hautdesert - Morgan le Fay: Gawain's aunt/Arthur's half-sister, learned magic from Merlin - She set up the whole plan of disguising the Lord into the Green Knight to test the Knights of the Roundtable to see if they were who they say they are - She really just wanted to scare Guinevere to death
What happens to Gawain the third day? What is the meaning of the narrator's warning in lines 1768-1769? What choices does Gawain have (lines 1770-1775)? Notice that line 1775 brings in another element, Gawain's oath. What is in question here is his "troth" or truth. (In the original, line 1775 says that he would be "traytor" to the man that owned that dwelling.)
- Gawain has a dream about his destiny with the Green Knight, but is woken up again by the Lady - this time who is dressed in a revealing robe - If Mary wasn't "with" Gawain, then they'd both be in a sticky situation - He could either love her (which would make his stay a lot less welcoming) or turn her away again - He makes the decision and swears to himself that he shall not cave in
What is Gawain's attitude when he returns to court? What is the court's attitude? What happens to the girdle? What does the court do about it?
- Gawain is disappointed in himself, but the court was happy to have him back home safe and sound - He chooses to wear the girdle across his chest like a sash to remind him of his failure, and the court adopted the green sash in honor of Gawain and his deeds
What happens to Gawain the second day? How does he respond differently this time? Why does the lady complain? What does she ask him to do (lines 1533-1534)? What is suggested by the narrator's comments in lines 1549-1551? What does the lady give him?
- Gawain is woken up by the Lord's lady once again, but he welcomes her in on this day - She asks him to "perform for her before her husband comes home" - The Lady once again tries to seduce Gawain and he respectfully rejects her again - She gives him two kisses on this day
Why does Gawain tell the lord he has to leave? What surprising news does the lord have for him? What does Gawain then decide to do?
- Gawain says he needs to find the Green Chapel and the Green Knight and that he is running out of time to do so - Surprisingly, the King knows where the Green Chapel is (that it's near) and invites him to stay a couple more days - Gawain took his offer
How is Gawain received in the castle? How does the lord of the castle respond? How would you describe the lord of the castle?
- He is welcomed in to stay as long as he wishes - The King of the castle tells him to make himself at home - Tall, strong, and red-faced with a reddish-brown beard, "in his prime"
What does Gawain do differently after the lady leaves? What is ironic about lines 1883-1884? What should Gawain have included in his confession that he probably didn't because it was only planned at that point but hadn't actually occurred?
- He went to the chapel to confess his sins, it's kind of ironic that the priest says he's so clean and pure and that the Day of Doom could be in the morning - He should've included him planning to lie to the Lord about what all he received or "won" from that day
What season of the year is it as the actual story begins? Why is that significant? What night is it when the main events of Part 1 take place (line 60)?
- It's winter, more specifically Christmas time - It's significant because it talks of the feast, all the guests, their clothing, and the joy in the hall - representing the New Year they're celebrating - It's New Year's Day when the main events take place
How many knights initially offer to undertake the Green Knight's challenge? What arguments does Gawain finally use in asking to be given the challenge?
- King Arthur was the first to take him up on his offer because he felt that someone needed to, so why not him, then Gawain stood up before the King attacked. - Gawain basically tells the King to sit back down and stop embarrassing the Queen, he also says that any of Arthurs warriors that are seated should be jumping at this challenge. That it's almost a shame that he, the weakest warrior would take on this challenge, but it may also be better because the loss of his life wouldn't change much compared to the loss of a better warrior's life
What does the lady give Gawain during her visit? What does the lady ask for as she leaves? What can Gawain give her? Why doesn't he accept the ring from him? What object does he accept from her? Why does he accept it? What does it look like? (Should line 1832 remind you of anything?)
- She suggests he give her some gift, but he has none of his precious belongings, so she tries to give him one of her rings, but he rejects because he refuses to get something and not give anything with the same kind of value - Instead she gives him her green a girdle trimmed in gold, not wanting it at first until she told him that whoever wears it will be protected from death - then leaves by kissing him a total of three times
What surprises do we and Gawain get in the Green Knight's explanation of the three tries (lines 2345-2357)? What additional surprise appears in lines 2358-2361?
- The Green Knight is the Lord and the three tries represent the 3 days that Gawain and the Lord played the game, the first two he was fully truthful, which is why the Green Knights first two swings never touched him, but that third day Gawain hid the truth which is why the Green Knight nicked him on the third try. - He also knows everything that went down between Gawain and the Lady because he was the one that set it up to test Gawain's loyalty and honor
How does the Green Knight judge Gawain's performance during his tests? How does Gawain judge his own performance? Whom does Gawain blame (lines 2411-2428)?
- The Green Knight thinks Gawain's performance was honorable, and that he only failed a little - Gawain on the other hand is very harsh on himself, and thinks he's is a fool - Gawain first blames himself, then blames women
What happens when Gawain cuts off the Green Knight's head (lines 425 ff)? What do the colors in line 429 remind you of?
- The Green Knight's head hits the floor and rolls around under the feet of the king's knights, while the body of the green man is totally unphased - The colors described remind me of Christmas colors
What happens in the last part of the second day's hunt? What does the lord give Gawain when he returns home? What does Gawain give the lord? What do they agree on for the third day? What is bothering Gawain? (See lines 1657-1663.) Note that one part of the pentangle ("cortaysye") is in opposition to another part ("clannes") and remember what might happen if any part of the pentangle fails.
- The Lord kills and guts the wild boar, giving Gawain it's severed head - They agree that Gawain stay one more day, and they make the same agreement for the next day - Gawain is beginning to worry about the Green Knight
What happens to Gawain while he is still in bed? What does he pretend to do? What happens when he finally "wakes up"? What metaphor do the lady and Gawain use in lines 1210 ff.? What does the lady seem to have in mind? How does Gawain respond? Why, as the lady is leaving, does she say, "But our guest is not Gawain" (line 1293)? What does she give Gawain?
- The Lord's lady woke Gawain up when she snuck into his room and he pretends to be asleep while he gathers his thoughts - When he "wakes" they flirt a little bit, and she tries to seduce him saying she's "trapped" him, like he's her captive - Gawain acted like a gentleman and respectfully turned her away - She's basically thinking, "there is no way this is really Gawain, how could a man like him reject her" - She convinces him to kiss her out of politeness and leaves him be that night
What does the guide say about the Green Knight? What does he tell Gawain to do? What is Gawain's response?
- The guide says the Green Knight is the worst creature in the world, and that Gawain should spare his own life and just go back home - Gawain refused because he was not going to be taken as a coward
What is the most unusual thing about the man who rides into the hall? In what interesting way does the author bring us that information? What is the man carrying in his hands (lines 206-208)? How does the man behave when he enters? Whom does he ask for? What initial response does he get?
- The man who rides in the hall is covered in green from his head to his toes, including his beard, hair, and even the horse he rode in on - The author really goes into details of this fully green man (lines 151-202) - The man is carrying a sprig of holly, and a big axe· - He comes into the hall confident and a little proud asking for the man in charge of this gathering - King Arthur speaks up saying he's the one in charge and welcomes him in, inviting the Green Knight to take a seat and take part in the feast
What appears on the outside of his shield? What appears on the inside? What does the pentangle stand for? What, especially, do the fifth five mean? (In the original, the five are fraunchyse, felawschyp, clannes, cortaysye, and pité.) The author stresses that all of the fives are linked (lines 656-661). What happens in such a structure if any one of the elements gives way?
- The outside: a pentangle (five-pointed star), aka the endless knot - The inside: The shape of Mary, Jesus's mother - The pentangle represents that he is faithful in 5 ways 5 times over - Fifth Five: friendship, fraternity, purity, politeness, and pity - It would lose its balance and fail
What happens differently when the lord returns home on the third day? Why? Does Gawain meet the terms of his oath? How well does Gawain sleep that night? Why?
- Their exchange happened a lot faster, first with Gawain kissing the Lord quickly 3 times and no meat was exchanged. There was also no mention of the girdle. - He kept his oath by not having sex with the Lady, but I believe Gawain felt guilty about having the secret girdle, and also anxious to find the Green Knight the next day (he doesn't sleep well because of this)
How old (more or less) are Arthur and his knights when the story takes place? How do you know?
- They are young adults, probably around their 20's - The Green Knight says he has no interest in fighting young and puny knights
What happens in the last part of the first day's hunt? What does the lord give Gawain when he returns home? What does Gawain give the lord? What do they agree on for the second day?
- They skin the deer and get all its meat ready to take home to then give to Gawain - Gawain in return gives the Lord a kiss (which is what he "won" during the day) and they make the same agreement for the next day
What happens the first time the Green Knight raises the ax? What does he tell Gawain in line 2270? Have we heard that before?
Gawain flinches at first, the Green Knight tells him he's a coward, similar to when he told him and the knights of the Roundtable in Part 1
The "Christmas Eve" of line 734 is actually the evening of December 23. What does Gawain fear he will miss on December 24 (lines 750-762)? What happens after Gawain's prayer?
He prays to find a place that might have Christmas Eve mass - then a castle appears basically out of no where
What is Arthur's response once the Green Knight has left?
Deep down he was kind of in shock, but he tried to overlook what had just happened and encouraged everyone to continue their merriment, also making it a point that he could finally eat his meal.
What animal does the lord hunt the first day?
Deer
Is the Green Chapel what Gawain expected it to be? What is it?
No, it's a cave - he says it looks like a place where the devil would be worshipped
Why won't Arthur eat his dinner yet?
Originally, he was waiting until his guests were served, then it seems as though he was waiting for something excited to be said or done
What color is Gawain's armor? (See lines 603, 619.)
Overall it was mostly gold
Gawain puts on the girdle in lines 2030-2036. Does the combination of colors in lines 2035-2036 remind you of anything?
Reminds me of the Green Knight's clothing from Part 1 of the story, but the combination of reminds me of Christmas colors
What animal does the lord hunt the second day?
A wild boar
What happens the third time the Green Knight raises the ax? What is Gawain's response?
The Green Knight finally swung the axe, barely nicking Gawain's neck, and Gawain makes it a point that, that was his one swing, no more
What happens in the last part of the third day's hunt? What color is "Sir Reynard" the fox, and how is he treated? Does his color remind you of anything?
The Lord kills and brings Gawain a red fox, and it was killed by a sword and hounds
What arrangements does the lord propose for Gawain and himself for the next day? How does Gawain respond?
The Lord proposes a challenge or "game" - he'll go hunting every day and give his "winnings" to Gawain, in return Gawain stays in the castle and anything that he "wins" throughout the day he has to give to the Lord
