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Name________________________________Date___________Period____
Sir Gawain & The Green Knight
Study Guide
Directions: Answer the following questions, in complete, detailed sentences utilizing quotes for
support.
1. Why does the poem begin with the Trojan War, not with King Arthur or Sir Gawain?
2. What season of the year is it as the actual story begins? Why is that significant? What
night is it when the events take place?
3. Why won’t Arthur eat his dinner yet?
4. Describe the Green Knight. Use adjectives (other than green!) in your answer. What is he
carrying in his hands?
5. How does the Green Knight’s behavior contrast with the behavior of Arthur’s court?
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6. What is the “game” the Green Knight challenges Arthur’s court to play?
7. Who volunteers to challenge the Green Knight? What reason does he give for being
allowed to challenge the Green Knight?
8. What is the astonishing (and gory) outcome of the contest?
9. What is to happen a year from now? Be specific and give details!
10. When does Arthur head out on his journey?
11. Describe Arthur’s attire. Describe his shield and the symbolism behind it.
12. What sort of adventures does he encounter enroute?
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13. What happens after Gawain’s prayer?
14. How is Gawain received at the mysterious castle?
15. Describe the lord of the castle. Describe the two ladies of the castle.
16. Why does Gawain tell the lord he has to leave? What is the lord’s response?
17. What is the unusual agreement/proposal that Sir Gawain and the lord of the castle make?
18. What animal does the lord hunt the first day?
19. What happens to Gawain that morning? How does he respond?
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20. What does the lord give Gawain when he returns home? What does Gawain give the
lord? What agreement is made?
21. What animal does the lord hunt the second day?
22. What happens to Gawain on the second morning? How does he respond?
23. What does the lord give Gawain when he returns home the second day? What does
Gawain give the lord? What agreement is made for the third day? What is bothering
Gawain?
24. What animal does the lord hunt the third day?
25. What happens to Gawain on the third day?
26. What gift does Gawain finally accept from the lady of the castle? What magical power
does it have?
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27. In what ways does Sir Gawain fail when he accepts and conceals the present described in
the previous question?
28. Where does Gawain go after the lady’s visit? Why is it ironic?
29. What happens differently between the lord and Gawain after the hunt?
30. Did Gawain meet the terms of his oath? Why or why not?
31. Gawain puts on the girdle from the lady. What do the colors remind you of? Why would
that be significant?
32. What does the guide say about the Green Knight? What proposal does the guide give
Gawain?
33. Describe the Green Chapel.
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34. What happens the first time the Green Knight raises the ax? What does he call Gawain?
35. What happens the second time the Green Knight raises the ax? How does Gawain
respond?
36. What happens when the Green Knight tries to strike Gawain with the ax for a third time?
How does Gawain respond?
37. What is revealed by the Green Knight? (There’s a lot! List them all!)
38. How does the Green Knight judge Gawain’s performance during his tests? Why is
Gawain ashamed?
39. Why is the old woman so much more important to the poem than she appears to be?
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40. How does Gawain feel when he returns to court? What does Gawain do with the girdle?
How does the court respond?
41. What is the effect or purpose of the last part of the last stanza?
Critical Thinking
1. Most romances have similar plots. A hero battles an evil enemy and ultimately wins.
During the course of the story, the hero is usually tested to determine whether he really
has heroic qualities. What was Gawain’s test, and how well do you think he met it?
2.
In what way is the challenge that the Green Knight proposes unfair?