Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Grade Levels

Excerpt

Part I: Select the best response for each of the following:

• On what day does the Green Knight arrive in Camelot? a.) Christmas Eve b.) New Year’s Eve c.) Easter morning d.) All Hallow’s Eve

• What did the Knight carry in his hand as he arrived? a.) a red rose and a sword b.) a white lily and a bow/arrow c.) a sprig of holly and an axe d.) a white rose and a crossbow

• What is Arthur’s reaction to the Knight’s challenge? a.) He is angered and demands that the Knight leave. b.) He is frightened by the great size of the Knight. c.) He accepts the Knight’s challenge. d.) He laughs at the challenge and invites the Knight to dinner.

• Who is Gawain? a.) Arthur’s son b.) Arthur's youger brother c.) Arthur’s nephew d.) the youngest knight of the Round Table

• While on his travels, how did Gawain happen upon the castle? a.) He prayed for shelter and he suddenly saw it on the horizon. b.) He defeated a knight in the forest, and the knight took him home out of respect for Gawain. c.) He asked a beggar where he could find food, and the beggar led him to the castle. d.) It was in a large clearing in the middle of the forest where Gawain was wandering.

• The lady of the castle where Gawain rests before meeting with the Green Knight best represents which step of The Hero’s Journey? a.) Meeting the God/dess b.) Supernatural Aid c.) Meeting the Temptress d.) Help from Without

• Why does Gawain accept a gift from the King’s wife? a.) He is in love with her, and he wishes to carry a token with him. b.) He wishes to wield this secret weapon against the Green Knight in combat. c.) He plans to offer it to the Green Knight as a sign of peace. d.) He believes that the gift has the power to protect him in combat.

• What is Gawain’s Ultimate Boon that he comes away with from his journey? a.) His life b.) His new name, Gawain the Good c.) the green girdle d.) a ring

• Why doesn’t the Green Knight decapitate Gawain when he has the chance? a.) The Green Knight is afraid of the Knights of the Round Table retaliating. b.) The Green Knight does not want to waste his efforts on someone like Gawain. c.) The Green Knight admires Gawain’s courage. d.) The Green Knight wants to make Gawain suffer for lying to him about his wife.

• What is the name of the Green Knight? a.) Percival b.) Galahad c.) Bercilak de Hautdesert d.) Mordred

Part II: Answer each of the following in at least 4 complete sentences. Be sure to vary your sentence structure.

• Fully describe what happened between Gawain and the Green Knight in Arthur’s hall.

• How do the events of Gawain’s autumn journey foreshadow what lies ahead?

• Explain why Gawain savagely throws away the green girdle. Why does he put it on again

About

10 multiple choice followed by three short answer questions for "Gawain and the Green KNight" translated by Susan Thompson.