1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Part 1
What are the archetypal elements of a quest that we see reflected in this part of the poem?
What does the contractual language suggest about the nature of his quest?
Lines
What evidence of chivalry and courtly traditions do we find in Part 1?
How does the relationship between lord and knights in this poem compare and contrast with the relationship between lord and thanes in Anglo-Saxon poetry?
What archetypes are found in the first part, and what meaning do they create?

2. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Part 2
What do the first two stanzas of Part 2 reflect?
How does this relate to armoring we’ve seen before? What has that armoring indicated before? (Link back to the Iliad and the beginning of aristeias.)
What items are included?
What does Gawain going to mass reflect?
The Shield of Gawain – THE PENTAGLE KNIGHT (pp )
What element do we have at work here? (ekphrasis)
What are the five fives and what do they each represent?
What does this reveal/suggest about Gawain?
How have the knights (including Gawain) behaved or not behaved in light of these principles/mandates? Keep these issues in mind throughout the rest of the poem.