Name:_____________
English IV
Mrs. Stevens
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Pre-Reading Guide
The Author

The author of the poem is known only as “The __________ Poet.”

Written in northwestern England around ________

The language and topics indicate that the author was most likely familiar with
_________, Latin, the ______________, and the medieval romance genre.
Medieval Romance Characteristics

embody the ideals of ___________

set in a _________ time or place

emphasize _______ and social distinctions

convey sense of ________________

hero engaged in pure ____________

include ________

feature spontaneous ___________
Stages of a Medieval Romance
1. Undertaking a dangerous ___________
2. Facing a _______ of honor or courage
3. A ____________ to the point from which the quest began
Poetic Devices

Heavy _______________

______ and ________verse: each section ends with a short line called a bob, followed
by the wheel, which are longer lines that rhyme.

Example:
That never should another know of it, the noble swore
Outright
Then often his thanks gave he
With all his heart and might,
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Name:_____________
English IV
Mrs. Stevens
And thrice by then had she
Kissed the constant knight.
Themes

Tests of _____________

The ________ of _________ to revive or destroy man

__________ to prove worthiness

_______/___________ opposition
Characters

Sir Gawain: A young ________ ready for ___________

The ______ Knight: A mysterious figure who proposes a _______

Lord ________: Allows Gawain to stay at his castle during his quest

_____ Bercilak: ________ Gawain

King ________: Leader of ___________
Sir Gawain

Sir Gawain is a Knight of the _______ _________ in the legends of King _________.

He is depicted as both a __________ warrior and a _______ and courageous man.

As a knight, Sir Gawain would have had to uphold the code of ________.
Code for Knights

Sir Gawain would have been expected to adhere to physical and nonphysical ideals.

____________ideals for knights:
- strength
-

___________________ ideals for knights:
- courage
- courtesy
Theories on the Meaning of the Color Green
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Name:_____________
English IV
Mrs. Stevens

fertility and _________

love

the devil or _______ (from early English folklore)

death

All are seen in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which could suggest a focus on the
_________________or the transitions from ________________.
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