Kirkland English 271: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Literature 271- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

By: Kassidy Mask & Natoya Williams

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 10 Terms

By: Natoya Williams

Pentangle – a pentagram, a figure believed to have mystical powers

Carrion – the decaying flesh of dead animals

Carouse (page 1941) – to drink a lot of alcohol and behave in a loud exuberant way

Precipice (page 1947) - a very steep rock face or cliff, typically a tall one

Cosseted (page 1948) – care for and protect in an overindulgent way

Uncouthness (page 1954) – crude, awkward or clumsy, archaic, unfamiliar

Nithering (page 1959) -- to be oppressing

Bludgeoning (page 1961) – force or bullying someone to do something

Covetousness (page 1967) – feeling or showing a very strong desire for something that you do not have and especially for something that belongs to someone else

Reverberate (page1923) – a return or re-echo

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Summary

By: Natoya Williams

At King Arthur’s castle, on New Year’s Eve, the Green Knight arrives and issues a challenge to any brave knight. The game was that he will let someone chop his head off, but they must wait a year to receive the same punishment. Sir Gawain accepted the challenge and axed the Giant’s head off. The Knight took his head and reminds Gawain about his promise. Gawain waits a year and a day and heads off to find the Knight, on his way there, he wishes that he could find a place to have Mass. He arrives at the Green Chapel, and they make a deal that for the next three days, they will trade whatever winning they have at the end of the day.
During his stay at the castle, the host’s wife comes visits Sir Gawain in his room while he is asleep and seduces him. At the end of her visits she would kiss him, and then he would return those kisses back the host, mistaking those as his winnings. The host would return his hunts for the day, while Gawain gave him kisses. On the third day, the host’s wife came for another visit and gave him a girdle and asks for something in return, but he refuses. She said that the girdle is supposed to protect whoever wears it from death. Sir Gawain is so caught up in himself, and believes her. Later he gives the kisses to host, but doesn’t give the girdle away. When he goes to meet the Knight face to face, the Knight fakes two tries on Gawain neck and barely cut him on the third try. He explains that he is the “host”, Bertilak. Sir Gawain feels ashamed and wears the girdle symbolizing his sins.

Pictures

By: Natoya Williams

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

This is a picture of Sir Gawain presenting his neck to the Green Knight to have his head chopped off as part of the deal they made a year and one day ago.

Sir Gawain

This is showing the Green Knight appearing at King Arthur's castle approaching Sir Gawain.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

This picture shows that the Green Knight is holding his head that Sir Gawain chopped off with the knight's axe.

Sir Gawain Discussion Questions

By: Kassidy Mask

1. Where does the Green Knight first appear? Why?

The Green Knight first appears to King Author’s New Year Eve feast in the Court of Camelot. The Green Knight comes to find a brave warrior.

2. Why does the Green Monster choose King Author’s court? What does the want from the court?

The Green Knight chooses King Author’s court because he has heard that he has the bravest warriors. The Green Knight wants someone who is strong and brave to use his ax to chop his head off and in return a year from the day his head is chopped off the warrior will find the Green knight for the revenge from the Green Knight.

3. Who first accepts the Green Knight challenge initially? Who stands up and follows through? Why do you think this is so?

King Author initially accepts the offer. Sir Gawain participates in the challenge. I think that Sir Gawain stopped King Author from the challenge because he is very brave and has great respect and love for King Author so much so that he is willing to lose his life to this knight.

4. Describe the knight and his horse at the beginning of the story.

The knight is covered in green clothing, his skin is green, and even his horse is green. His armor is in gold and ivory colors.

5. If Sir Gawain accepts the challenge, what must he do?

Sir Gawain has to seek the Green Knight and allow the Green Knight at his blow. Sir Gawain must find the Green Knight within a year and a day.

6. Why does Sir Gawain say that he is the best qualified to accept the challenge?

Sir Gawin says that he is weakest solider and is most likely to be the least missed by the army during a fight.

7. Does Sir Gawain find the Green Knight? If so, what happens after the first hit or attempted hit?

Yes, Sir Gawain does find the Green Knight. The Green Knight tries to hit Sir Gawain, but he flinches so the Green Knight as if he is scared.

8. How many times does the Green Knight swing the axe?

The Green Knight swings three times.

9. Why does the Green Knight give the three blows of the axe?

The first time Gawain flinches, the second time the Knight wants to make sure that Gawin will not flinch again, and on the third try the Knight leaves a minor gash.

10. Why is Sir Gawain happy when he sees his blood on the snow?

The Knight only gashed him with the axe, instead of killing him. Also, Gawain says he counts that a strike and is happy because he will not have to endure the fill force of the Knight’s blow.

11. Does the Green Knight forgive Gawain? If so, why?

Yes, because he confessed his faults and offers to do self-punishment.

12. How does Sir Gawain exemplify both heroic and humble?

Sir Gawain exemplifies being heroic by being such a brave and gallant knight by standing up for King Author, keeping his words, and also confessing his faults. All while being heroic he also is able to face his mistakes and learn from them.