Sir Gawain/Le Morte d’Arthur Close Reading Guide
Pg. 230-232
1. What is the exposition of the story? (4th Period) (2nd Period
Starts Here)
2. What is being described in lines 1-12? (6th Period)
3. Which detail of medieval romance (refer to pg. 229) is being
exhibited? (1st Period Starts at #3)
4. What does the Green Knight bring with him?
Pg. 233
5. Describe the conversation between Arthur and the Green
Knight.
Pg. 234
6. What is the challenge? (6th Period) (7th Period)
7. How does the Green Knight provoke a response?
Pg. 235
8. Who stops Arthur from striking the Green Knight?
9. Give 3 traits that Gawain exhibits in lines 121-132. What shift
has occurred from the Dark Ages to now for British heroes?
Pg. 236
10. What does Gawain do with the ax?(1st Period on their own)
11. Which Medieval romance element (pg. 229) is exhibited in lines
168-171? (6th Period)
12. Name a popular American Folklore character the Green Knight
might be compared too.
Pg. 237
13. Why would Arthur and Gawain laugh in lines 185-189, BE
DETAILED? What kind of irony is this?
14. What deal do Gawain and the lord make?
15. What garment does the lord’s wife offer Gawain?
Pg. 239
16. Read Lines 220-226. What is the charm of the sash?
17. What moral dilemma is Gawain suffering?
Pg. 240
18. What dishonorable deed does Gawain commit?
19. What is Gawain wearing? Why can we question Gawain’s
bravery?
Pg. 241
20. What happens as the ax hits Gawain?
21. What is the Green Knight’s response to Gawain’s defensive
behavior?
Pg. 242
22. Which element of a medieval romance (pg. 229) is exhibited
throughout the page?
23. How does Gawain feel about his own actions?
Pg. 243
24. Read Lines 387-388. What words might have been said in their
goodbyes?
Le Morte D’Arthur Close Reading Guide
Pg. 248
1. Who is at conflict in the story’s opening?
Pg. 250
2. What are Launcelot and his lords discussing?
3. Identify the lines that exhibit the internal conflict Launcelot is
having.
4. What might this say about women during this time?
5. How is this Gawain different than the “Green Knight” Gawain?
List Two.
Pg. 251
6. How long has Gawain been tormenting the bravest knights of
the city? This conflict would be describe as Man vs. _______.
7. What forces Launcelot to finally meet Gawain (No it’s not
Gawain’s threat!)?
8. What is the irony when Launcelot rides out to meet Gawain?
Pg. 252
9. How does the author feel about the fight between
Gawain/Launcelot? What words let us know his/her feeling?
10. What characteristic of Medieval romance is exhibited in lines
97-101?
11. What internal conflict is Arthur having? What external conflict is
Arthur having? (Just on this page)
Pg. 253
12. What causes Arthur to leave France?
13. Provide a summary of the events that occurred in France.
14. Define usurp.
15. How has Modred been given authority to usurp the throne?
Pg. 254
16. What accusation has the priest made about Arthur’s family?
17. Define fickle. What other examples of fickleness have we seen
in literature predating this time?
Pg. 256
18. What kind of irony is exhibited in lines 210-215?
19. Summarize Gawain’s letter by identifying the author, title, the
main idea, setting, and order of events.
Pg. 257
20. Who came to Arthur’s aid?
21. What multiple-meaning words are in lines 256-260? List two.
22. What is Gawain’s request to Arthur? Why wouldn’t Arthur
follow this request?
Pg. 258-259
23. What action causes the peace to break?
24. How is Modred killed?
Pg. 260
25. When Kings die in British/Celtic literature, where are they taken
too? What can we compare this place too?