Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Study Guide Questions
Is Honor worth dying for? Medieval knights were expected to follow a code of chivalry that represented a
combination of Christian and military ideals, including faith, modesty, loyalty, courtesy, bravery, and honor. Perhaps
the most important virtue for a knight in the age of chivalry was what is called “trawthe” which meant a knight should
not only be faithful in keeping his word but in keeping his vows taken at the ceremony of knighthood. The
characteristics of a medieval romance include: idealized or larger-than-life characters, a hero who faces a challenge or
test, exotic settings and supernatural/magical elements and hidden or mistaken identity.
1. What details in lines 1-23 make the Green Knight a larger-than-life figure?
Richness in appearance in both the knight and his horse: hair of both was intertwined with threads of gold, both wore
band of green bedecked with jewels; the description of his horse as “monstrous;” and the statement that no man as
mighty as the Green Knight has ever been known before
2. In lines 37-45, how does the Green Knight’s greeting appeal to King Arthur’s sense of honor?
In his greeting, the Green Knight speaks of Arthur’s fame, glorious castle, brave and skilled nobles, and courtly
standards. In essence, the Green knight is challenging Arthur to give him a hearing and treat him well, lest Arthur
violate his reputation as an honorable king.
Lines 59-75:
3. What is the Green Knight’s attitude as he presents his challenge to the knights?
He feels an amused disdain for them; he mocks them by calling his challenge a “game” (line 63) and implying
that the knights are children
4. What motives or emotions may lie beneath the surface of the Green Knight’s cordial exterior?
The Green Knight may be a bully; he may be hostile to King Arthur and his court; he may be testing King
Arthur and his knights for an unknown, private reason
5. Why does the Green Knight taunt Arthur and his knights in lines 88-94?
The Green Knight taunts Arthur and his knights to insult their bravery and so goad them into accepting his challenge.
Lines 120-134:
6. According to Gawain, why should he take King Arthur’s place?
Gawain should take King Arthur’s place because it is not right, according to the chivalric code, for the king to
answer a challenge; Gawain is the least important of the knights; Gawain is Arthur’s nephew; and Gawain has
been the first knight to step forward to take Arthur’s place.
7. What details in Gawain’s response show his obedience to the rules of chivalry?
Obedience to the rules of chivalry are seen in Gawain’s concern for his king, in deference to his “liege lady”
and in his modest description of himself.
8. Gawain’s self-description in lines 131-134 seems falsely modest. Would a modern-day hero
describe himself in this way? Why or why not?
No. Gawain’s false modesty may be understandable in the context of chivalry, but it seems obsolete today.
9. Reread the Green Knight’s parting words in lines 172-180. Is Gawain’s sense of honor so extreme that it
becomes foolishly self-destructive?
Yes, because Gawain probably will be killed by the green Knight one year from now. No, because Gawain
may sense that the Green knight’s challenge is a test that he can survive.
10. Which characteristics of medieval romance are reflected in lines 161-174?
The larger-than-life figure of the Green Knight and the element of the supernatural in his surviving the blow reflect
characteristics of medieval romance.
Lines 190-208:
11. State two reasons why the lady might be trying to seduce Gawain.
The lady might be trying to seduce Gawain because she finds him attractive or because she is testing his
chivalric virtue.
12. What might Gawain gain by giving in to this temptation? What might he gain by resisting?
By giving in, Gawain might gain pleasure and even love; by resisting, he might gain self-esteem and the
respect of his host.
13. “Gleaming gold” (line 205), “glistening green” (line 84) and “Tied around her fair tunic” (line 204) are
examples of what literary element? This literary element is used throughout the poem to create a rhythmic or
“musical” effect. Alliteration
14. In lines 209-217, what does Gawain’s refusal of gifts suggest about his character?
Gawain’s refusal of gifts suggests that he is honorable and strives to live up to his agreement with the lord.
15. Reread lines 227-236. Why is Gawain distressed when he learns about the sash’s magical powers? What
reason or reasons would Gawain have for accepting the gift of the sash? In what way would accepting the sash
be dishonest? Gawain is distressed because he realizes that although the sash could save his life, taking it would
require him to deceive his host by keeping the gift a secret. He also may be distressed because using the gift would
mean trusting in magic for help instead of depending upon his own strength and virtue.
16. In lines 247-260, is it a lack of honor that makes Gawain flinch? Why or why not?
Yes, because a perfectly honorable knight would value honor above his own life. No, because flinching is a reflex;
despite the flinching, he is brave in risking his life and following through on his promise.
17. Reread lines 271-275. Why does the Green Knight stop his axe from falling a second time?
The Green Knight stops because he is testing Gawain to see if Gawain is a truly brave knight.
18. What is ironic about Sir Gawain’s acceptance of the sash from the lady of the castle? What happens to
Gawain when the Green Knight swings his ax the third time? Gawain hopes that the sash will protect him from the
ax blow; ironically, he ends up being slightly wounded by the ax for accepting the sash. The Green Knight’s blade
breaks the skin of Gawain’s neck, spilling a little blood.
19. Why is Gawain happy after he is cut by the blade? How does Gawain’s behavior in this scene help define
what it means to be a hero? Gawain is happy because he has fulfilled his vow to the Green Knight without
experiencing death. Gawain’s behavior suggests that a hero may not be completely selfless or perfect; rather, a hero is
someone who keeps his or her word, regardless of the danger or stress involved in doing so.
Lines 324-339:
20. Why did the Green Knight cut Gawain on the third stroke after feinting twice?
The Green Knight feinted the first two times out of a sense of sport and out of respect for the fact that Gawain
had fulfilled his agreement with the lord for the first two knights. He cut Gawain the third time because
Gawain had concealed the sash on the third night.
21. Did Gawain really fail the Green Knight by not revealing the secret of the green sash? If so, how
severe a failure was it? Was the punishment proportionate to the failure?
In the minds of modern readers, Gawain’s fault was a slight one, and therefore deserved the slight kind of
punishment that he received.
22. Paraphrase lines 357-365. What ideals of chivalry does Gawain believe he has betrayed?
Because I was afraid, I made a deal and acted unworthily for a knight. I am flawed and a liar, and I curse the lies and
deceit that I fear, I am obviously guilty; but if you will give me your good will, I will be more careful from now on.
Gawain believes that he has been cowardly in coveting the sash and in being disloyal to his host.
23. Reread lines 366-392. What judgment does the Green Knight pass on Gawain? How does Gawain react?
What is the resolution? What is the resolution that results from this final scene?
The Green Knight absolves Gawain of his sins and invites him back to his castle. Gawain thanks him, but opts to move
on. They affectionately bid each other goodbye. Sir Gawain, restored and revitalized, returns home.