Translated by Marie Borroff

Background  Legend of King Arthur-  Based on the life of a Celtic warrior who fought the Anglo-Saxon invaders of England in the late fifth and early sixth centuries  Defender of England – made him a hero to the Britons (the island’s Celtic inhabitants)  Arthurian Legends –  Transformed into written literature, and by this time, the Britons had been defeated by the Anglo-Saxons  Tales came from a vanished world – fueled their power in literature  Arthurian stories – set an ideal for knights; ideals are never truly realized in the present; their true home may be the legendary past, or a future yet to come.  From Sir Gawain and the Green Knight –  Begins at the start of the New Year’s Eve feast at King Arthur’s Court in Camelot  Before eating, the festivities are interrupted by an enormous Green Knight at the hall door  The knight rides a green horse and is armed with a gigantic ax

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight What to expect from this medieval reading selection 1. Perils & adventure that characterized medieval legends 2. A hero that faces challenges testing his courage, loyalty, and honesty, virtues all knights of King Arthur’s Court should possess 3. Suspense & excitement as we await the challenge between Gawain and the Green Knight

The Medieval Knight

A Quick Synopsis  An enormous green knight bursts into Arthur’s hall and challenges King Arthur to strike the first blow in a duel, provided that in a year’s time he seek out the Green Knight and allow him to deal the first blow.  Gawain takes the challenge on Arthur’s behalf and promptly chops off the intruder’s head.  To his astonishment, the intruder picks up his head, repeats his challenge, and leaves.  A year later, Gawain sets off on his adventure in the course of which his loyalty, honesty, and bravery undergo various tests.

Reading Strategy: Summarizing #1.) What are three main points of the Green Knight’s speech in lines 34-51?

Answer The Green Knight has heard glowing reports of King Arthur and his knights, he comes in peace, and he would enter into a contest with Sir Arthur.

Reading Check #2.) What is uncanny(mysterious or weird) about the Knight who enters Arthur’s court?

Answer Both the great size of the knight and the fact that he is green are uncanny.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance #3.) What aspect of medieval romances does the Green Knight’s appearance illustrate?

Answer The description combines realistic and supernatural elements.

Critical Viewing #4.) From this picture, what can you infer about a knight’s readiness for challenges of skill, such as tournaments?

Answer With armor head to toe, helmets on, and swords ready, it seems that knights were eager and ready to take on challenges of skill.

Reading Check #5.) What challenge does the Green Knight make to Arthur’s court?

Answer The knight will allow Arthur to strike him with an ax, provided that in a year and a day, Arthur will allow the Green Knight to strike him one blow with the same weapon.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance #6.) In what way are Gawain’s words in lines consistent with the ideas of chivalry?

Answer Gawain’s words reflect the ideal qualities of humility, respect for the king, and courtesy.

Reading Strategy: Summarizing #7.) How would you summarize the event in lines ?

Answer  The Green Knight bows his head and bares his neck.  Gawain picks up the ax and deals a sharp blow, cutting off the Green Knight’s head.  The head rolls across the floor.  To everyone’s surprise, the knight reaches out with one arm, grabs the head, and mounts his horse.

Reading Check #8.) What does Gawain do to the Green Knight?

Answer  Gawain cuts off the Green Knight’s head.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance #9.) What two characteristics of a medieval romance are reflected in lines 214 – 231?

Answer Sir Gawain’s honor is being put to the test. The dramatic language and supernatural actions are also characteristics of medieval romance.

Reading Strategy: Summarizing #10.) Sum up Arthur’s reaction to the Green Knight’s visit.

Answer  Arthur was uneasy about the entire event, but held his true feelings in check.  He then urged all to dance and eat, and watch the entertainment.

Critical Viewing #11.) Does the simple, stylized look of this woodcut suit the style of the selection? Explain.

Answer  Yes, the style suits the selection.  It evokes the era of tales and gives just enough details to enhance, but not overwhelm, the story.

Reading Check #12.) What happens after Gawain chops off the Green Knight’s head?

Answer  After Gawain chops off the Green Knight’s head, the knight gathers his head and mounts his horse.  He then reminds Gawain that he must find him in a year, reveals that he is the Knight of the Green Chapel, and gallops off.

RECAP! During a New Year’s Eve feast at King Arthur’s court, a strange figure, referred to only as the Green Knight, pays the court an unexpected visit. He challenges the group’s leader or any other brave representative to a game. The Green Knight says that he will allow whomever accepts the challenge to strike him with his own axe, on the condition that the challenger find him in exactly one year to receive a blow in return.

RECAP! Stunned, Arthur hesitates to respond, but when the Green Knight mocks Arthur’s silence, the king steps forward to take the challenge. As soon as Arthur grips the Green Knight’s axe, Sir Gawain leaps up and asks to take the challenge himself. He takes hold of the axe and, in one deadly blow, cuts off the knight’s head. To the amazement of the court, the now- headless Green Knight picks up his severed head. Before riding away, the head reiterates the terms of the pact, reminding the young Gawain to seek him in a year and a day at the Green Chapel. After the Green Knight leaves, the company goes back to its festival, but Gawain is uneasy.

RECAP! Time passes, and autumn arrives. On the Day of All Saints, Gawain prepares to leave Camelot and find the Green Knight. He puts on his best armor, mounts his horse, Gringolet, and starts off toward North Wales, traveling through the wilderness of northwest Britain. Gawain encounters all sorts of beasts, suffers from hunger and cold, and grows more desperate as the days pass. On Christmas Day, he prays to find a place to hear Mass, then looks up to see a castle shimmering in the distance. The lord of the castle welcomes Gawain warmly, introducing him to his lady and to the old woman who sits beside her. For sport, the host (whose name is later revealed to be Bertilak) strikes a deal with Gawain: the host will go out hunting with his men every day, and when he returns in the evening, he will exchange his winnings for anything Gawain has managed to acquire by staying behind at the castle. Gawain happily agrees to the pact, and goes to bed.

Reading Strategy: Summarizing #13.) How would you summarize the description of the setting in lines ?

Answer  The area is wild and rugged.  It is not what Gawain expected.  Instead of a formal church, he finds a grass mound with entrance holes, much like a cave.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance and Legend #14.) In what way does Gawain’s speech in lines add a dimension to the story that might not have been present in the original legend?

Answer  There is more imagery and alliteration here than would normally be found in the telling of an adventure tale.  The bleakness of the place reflects the bleakness of Gawain’s feelings and situation.  The alliteration is a tool used throughout this poem to make it memorable and entertaining.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance and Legend #15.) Which details in lines strike you as belonging to the legend retold by the poem? Which details sound more literary?

Answer  Gawain’s calling out, the Green Knight sharpening his ax, and the knight coming out to greet Gawain all seem to be likely elements of the original legend.  The considerable amount of detail about the process of sharpening the ax, as well as its appearance, may have been added to increase suspense.  More details about the Green Knight also add to the suspense, by reminding us how large and powerful he is, and may have been added.

Reading Check #16.) What is the Green Knight doing when Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel?

Answer  The Green Knight is grinding, or sharpening, his ax in preparation for dealing Gawain a blow.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance #17.) In what way do Gawain’s actions in lines fit the ideals of knighthood? In what way might they depart from those ideals?

Answer  The ideals are shown in Gawain’s baring his neck for the blow and in his promise not to flinch the second time.  He departs from them when he winces.

Critical Viewing #18.) Compare the scenes in the picture with the text. What episodes are included or omitted?

Answer  The scenes depict Gawain departing from the King and Queen, and riding along on his journey to find the Green Knight.  The third panel shows him arriving at the castle.  It does not show the Green Knight or the beheading.

Reading Strategy: Summarizing #19.) What is the key point of Gawain’s speech in lines ?

Answer  The key point in Gawain’s speech is that the Green Knight has taken his one blow; any more blows would lead to combat.

Reading Check #20.) What happens on the Green Knight’s third stroke with the ax?

Answer  The third stroke leaves a scratch on Gawain’s neck.

Literary Analysis: Medieval Romance #21.) What theme of medieval romance is suggested in lines ?

Answer  The lines suggest the medieval themes of honor.

Reading Strategy: Summarizing #22.) How would you summarize Sir Gawain’s response to the Green Knight in lines ?

Answer  Gawain admits to his failure to live up to his end of the pledge.  He is angry with himself and ashamed, and he asks for forgiveness.

Review and Assess Questions PG. 175 QUESTIONS: #s 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5, & 6