Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

True or false: It is known for a fact that King Arthur actually existed

false

What do scholars believe about King Arthur?

that he was real but myths were built around him

How did Tudors in the Renaissance justify their reign?

by tracing their lineage back to King Arthur

Where was King Arthur supposedly born?

Cornwall

Where are stories about King Arthur taken from?

Gregory of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (1138)

What idea was King Arthur against?

“might makes right”; essentially that just because you have the power to do it doesn't mean it’s right

What did King Arthur try to do during his reign?

make Britain more civilized and protect it from tyranny

Who founded the Round Table?

Who wrote the Code of Chivalry?

King Arthur

What set of rules did the Round Table follow?

the Code of Chivalry

What did the Round Table do?

undertake dangerous quests and protect ladies and damsels

Who are some of the most famous knights of the Round Table?

Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad

When were the tales of the Arthurian romance told?

6th century

Who were the Arthurian romance tales appropriated by?

storytellers

What are characteristics of Arthurian romance?

adventure, courtly love, chivalry, history, myth, magic

True or false: Tales of Arthurian romance are far-fetched and open to interpretation

true

How were stories of Arthurian romance first told?

as part of oral tradition

What type of English did writers later begin writing tales of Arthurian romance in?

Middle English

Who wrote Sir “Gawain and the Green Knight”?

the Pearl poet

What happens in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?

a magical creature challenges Arthur’s men to a dangerous task and Sir Gawain agrees to complete the task

Where does “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” begin and end?

King Arthur’s castle

Who does “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” involve?

the knights of the Round Table

True or false: The real name of the Pearl poet is unknown

true

Where was the Pearl poet from?

the English midlands

Who was the Pearl poet a contemporary of?

Chaucer

When did the Pearl poet write?

in the late 14th century in Middle English

Who was Simon Armitage?

English poet and playwright

What is Simon Armitage’s connection to “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?

he translated it from Middle English

Step 1 of a Hero’s Journey

hero receives call to adventure

Step 2 of a Hero’s Journey

hero leaves their ordinary world

Step 3 of a Hero’s Journey

hero faces trials, ordeals and crisis

Step 4 of a Hero’s Journey

hero comes close to death

Step 5 of a Hero’s Journey

hero obtains treasure

Step 6 of a Hero’s Journey

hero returns to ordinary world

Step 7 of a Hero’s Journey

hero has changed/improved

When/where were chivalric romances popular?

Medieval Europe

What do chivalric romances involve?

a “knight errant”

What are characteristics of chivalric romances?

• knight in search of adventures to prove himself and rescues “damsels in distress”

• heroes and villains sometimes have superhuman abilities

• heroes battle monsters and giants

What are the knightly virtues?

• liberality

• glory

• courtesy

• honor

• unselfishness

• bravery

• good faith

• pride

• loyalty

Who is Queen Guinevere?

the wife of King Arthur

How is Queen Guinevere portrayed?

as beautiful but weak and opportunistic

Who does Queen Guinevere later fall in love with?

Lancelot

What is Queen Guinevere sentenced to?

being burned at the stake

Who is Morgana Le Fay?

antagonist to Arthur and Guinevere

What does the name Morgana Le Fay mean?

wood nymph fairy

What is Morgana Le Fay known as?

sorceress, priestess, witch, healer and shapeshifter

What is Morgana Le Fay’s connection to King Arthur?

she is his half-sister

True or false: Morgana Le Fay plays a minor role in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”

false

How is Sir Gawain related to King Arthur and Morgana Le Fay?

he is their nephew

What does Sir Gawain appear in?

all major Arthurian tales

How does Sir Gawain change from story to story?

his personality and demeanor varies

True or false: Sir Gawain plays a supporting role in the quest for the Holy Grail

true

What is alliteration?

the use of repetitive consonant sounds in a line

What is alliteration adapted to?

old English meter

What was the original purpose of alliteration?

to help the “singers” of the story to remember the lines

How does alliteration help enhance a story?

it increases emotional draw to/interest in the story and makes it more poetic

When did the French language/style of writing begin influencing English writing?

after the French Normans invaded England in 1066

What did the French language emphasize?

beginning syllables and end rhymes

What is the result of French influence on “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?

a text heavily relying on alliteration, rhyme, and stanza structure

What is the bob and wheel structure in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?

it consists of 1 line of 2 syllables and a quatrain

What is the purpose of the bob and wheel structure in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?

it provides commentary, summarizes, transitions from one line to the next, and creates a moment of suspense

What are the parts “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is divided into and how many are there?

fitts; 4

What are the plotlines of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?

• the beheading game

• the exchanging of winnings

• Gawain’s temptation

• Morgana’s hatred of Camelot

Troy

ancient city in Turkey

Aeneas

mythical hero during Trojan War

Romulus

founder/first king of Rome

Felix Brutus

descendant of Aeneas

joust

a fight, often for entertainment

dais

throne

ebullience

cheerfulness

stalwarts

loayl and reliable supporter

warbled

bird singing

brawn

physical strength

emblazoned

adorned, inscribed with

verdant

green

vestments

gear/clothing

fettle

condition

burnished

polished

hauberk

piece of armor

bairns

babies

skittled

move sideways quickly

scuppered

ruined, thwarted

undaunted

not afraid or willing to give up

smite

to strike down

reap what you sow

get what you put forth

How does the poem begin?

with a brief mythological account of how Britain was founded

Who founded Rome?

Romulus

Who founded Tuscany?

Ticius

Who founded Britain?

Brutus

When and where does the poem begin?

Christmastime at King Arthur’s castle

How long have the lords and ladies been feasting?

15 days

What is going on at when the poem begins?

Camelot’s lords and ladies are playing games and exchanging gifts to celebrate New Year’s

Why doesn’t Arthur eat dinner?

he refuses to begin eating until he hears a marvelous story

Who is Guinevere sitting next to?

Gawain

What 2 items does the Green Knight hold?

a holly bob and a green and gold axe

What colors is the Green Knight wearing?

green and gold

What is the first thing the Green Knight does?

demand to see the person in charge (King Arthur)

How does Arthur respond to the Green Knight?

he invites him to join the feast and tell his tale

What “game” does the Green Knight propose?

someone will strike the Green Knight with his own axe, then a year and a day later they seek him out and allow him to strike them back

Why does the Green Knight put forth this challenge?

the knights of the Round Table have a reputation of being brave and heroic and virtuous and he wants them to prove it