“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”  Study Guide

1. What exactly is the Green Knight’s challenge to King Arthur’s court?

2. What is his agreement with Sir Gawain?

3. Describe the conflict Gawain faces in the castle.

4. How does Gawain break his promise to the lord of the castle?

5. Describe what happens when Gawain meets the Green Knight on New Year’s Day.

6. Who would you say finally wins the conflict between Gawain and the Green Knight?

7. Discuss the character of Sir Gawain.  How is he a superhuman epic-type hero?  How is he flawed, just as any real person may be flawed?

8. The figure of the Green Knight remains a puzzle in many ways to the reader.  Is he totally evil, or totally good, or somewhere in between?  What might he symbolize in the narrative?

9. Explore the possible symbolic use of the color green in this work.  Why do you think the meeting with the Green Knight takes place on New Year’s Day?
   
10. What might be the symbolism in Sir Gawain being tempted 3 times?

11. Why might the lord’s wife have had such power over Gawain?

12. How would you state the theme of this story?

13. In the romantic literature of the Middle Ages, women are often represented as  a) maidens, b) mothers, c) temptresses, or d) old hag crones. How is the lady in this story characterized?

	Ask a Question: This has NOT already been asked.		Leave a Comment: Name: Are you Human? (Not a Spam Bot)
Q&A: Question: (10/25/2009) How is he a superhuman epic-type hero? How is he flawed, just as any real person may be flawed? Answer: (10/26/2009) she can fly, but when she does, the unicorn goes away Question: (10/9/2009) why is the green kinght green? Answer: (10/19/2009) symbolize nature Question: (9/23/2009) green knight sir challenge Question: (9/23/2009) Why does Morgan Le Faye have so much hatred against Arthur? Answer: (10/7/2009) she always is evil Question: (9/18/2009) why is the Green Knight much more taller than the rest of the knights in Arthur's celebration? Question: (9/18/2009) what is the symbolism of the color green Answer: (9/21/2009) Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money. Green has great healing power. It is the most restful color for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance. Sometimes green denotes lack of experience; for example, a 'greenhorn' is a novice. In heraldry, green indicates growth and hope. Green, as opposed to red, means safety; it is the color of free passage in road traffic. Use green to indicate safety when advertising drugs and medical products. Green is directly related to nature, so you can use it to promote 'green' products. Dull, darker green is commonly associated with money, the financial world, banking, and Wall Street. Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy. Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy. Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection. Olive green is the traditional color of peace.		Comments:   No comments Yet!