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“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
“Sir Gawain”
a Medieval narrative poem
Author
unknown; the “Gawain poet”
Literary Structure:
 Strophes- stanzas of unequal length using a rhyme scheme; 4 stressed syllables per line and
any number of unstressed syllables

Bob- short line of 1, 2, or 3 syllables
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Wheel- 4 rhymed lines
Romance-
a narrative set in the world of knights, kings, and supernatural
creatures. It typically includes 3 stages:
1)
2)
3)
a dangerous quest
a test of honor or courage
a return to the point from which the quest began
The literary term romance can also be applied to any story that involves noble heroes, idealized love, or
fantastic events that seem remote from everyday life.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. MAKE SURE YOU EXPLAIN YOUR RESPONSES.
1. Brainstorm the word—HONOR. Suppose you hear someone say, “The student council president
should be a person of honor.” What qualities or ideals come to mind? Create a word web with
honor as the center word. Have a minimum of 5 ideas webbing off of the word—HONOR.
2. What kind of challenge does King Arthur at first think the Green Knight has in mind?
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3. What does the Green Knight call the Knights of the Round Table in lines 61-62?
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4. The Green Knight laughs at the members of the Round Table in line 98. Why?
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5. The Green Knight’s challenge has 2 parts:
A. What is Sir Gawain to do immediately?
B. What is he to do a year and a day later?
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6. What agreement does Sir Gawain make with his host, the lord of the castle? (See page 216)
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7. What does Sir Gawain do at the Green Chapel to cause the Green Knight to question his valor?
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8. Why does the Green Knight only scratch Sir Gawain with his ax?
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9. In lines 365 to 380, why is Sir Gawain upset?
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Understanding Medieval Romance
Most Medieval Romances:
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Embody the ideals of chivalry
Are set in a remote time or place
Emphasize rank and social distinctions
Convey a sense of the supernatural
Present a hero engaged in pure adventure
Have a loose structure, lacking unity
Include love as a major plot element
Features spontaneous, unmotivated fighting
10. A. Highlight the above characteristics that “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” DO NOT display.
B. In medieval romances, a hero seldom admits failure. Does Sir Gawain follow this tradition?
Explain.
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11. The setting is the time and place of the story. Details that describe sights, sounds and other
aspects of the setting can help make a story come alive. Find 5 phrases that appeal to your senses.
For each one of the five please be sure to note the line number(s), recopy the phrase, list which
one of the senses it appeals to, and also how it helps to set the mood.
SIGHT
SOUND
TASTE
SMELL
TOUCH
12. A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces that moves a plot forward. What would you say
are the key conflicts in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight? List at least three and note whether they
are internal conflicts or external conflicts.
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13. Gawain is faced with a difficult personal challenge. What personal challenges do you face in the
future? Think of the personal qualities necessary for meeting each of your personal challenges.
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14. A symbol is a person, place, or object that represents something beyond itself. For example, the
monster, Grendal, in Beowulf might be a symbol of the evil in the world. Find a symbol in this
story, and explain what it symbolizes and what clues led you to your determination.
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Extend Interpretations:
15. What might have happened if Gawain had refused to accept the sash? Explain your answer.
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16. Compare and contrast Gawain and Beowulf. In your opinion, who is the more honorable
character? Explain your answer.
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17. Human actions and motivations reflect the ideals of the society in which people live. Today a
community leader might laugh off the kind of challenge the Green Knight hurls at King Arthur.
King Arthur and his knights were judged by their conduct, specifically how well they followed the
code of chivalry. You can infer from the way Arthur and Sir Gawain react that in the age of
chivalry one took seriously such challenges to one’s courage.
A. What ideals of medieval society can you infer from Sir Gawain’s offer to accept the
challenge originally taken on by Arthur?
B. What ideals can you infer from Sir Gawain’s distress at the end of the poem, even after he
has withstood the blow of the ax?
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