Nielsen Name______
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Reading Questions
1. When the Green Knight arrives in Camelot, what challenge does he pose to King Arthur and his knights? Be specific.
2. Why does King Arthur become so angry in lines 99-101?
3. Why does he ultimately accept the Green Knight’s challenge?
4. What does Sir Gawain offer to King Arthur in lines 123-125? Why does he decide to do this?
5. What happens to the Green Knight when Sir Gawain strikes him a blow with the ax?
6. How does this elevate the conflict between Gawain and the Green Knight? In other words, what have we learned about the Green Knight at this point?
7. Is the hit-for-hit game still fair? Why or why not?
8. What agreement does the lord of the castle strike up with Gawain? How well does Gawain follow this agreement?
9. What does the lady of the castle attempt to do?
10. Why do you think she is so persistent in her actions?
11. What does Sir Gawain finally accept from her? Why do you think he takes this gift?
12. Why does the Green Knight mock Sir Gawain (lines 260-270)?
13. Why does he say that he is a better man than Gawain?
14. What does the Green Knight admit in lines 350-355?
15. What does the Green Knight mean by his simile, “As a pearl is of greater price than dry white peas,/ so Gawain indeed stands out above all other knights” (lines 356-357)?
16. What does Sir Gawain admit in lines 371-372?
17. What is the denouement or resolution of this poem?
18. Do you think Gawain fulfilled his vow to the Green Knight? Why or why not?
19. What do you think would have happened if Gawain did not take the lady’s gift?
20. Does Sir Gawain follow the chivalric code throughout the poem? Give two examples to support your reasoning.
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