Sir Gawain/Green Knight Fit 2: Discussion Questions
Sir Gawain/Green Knight Fit 2: Discussion Questions
1) Look at the progression of each stanza in this section and briefly list/discuss in order what every stanza is about.
Stanzas:
22. Change of seasons (Winter to Summer) and with it, the change in the surroundings of the setting.
23. A whole year goes by, and winter approaches again. This brings the time for Gawain to fight with the Green Knight.
24. King Arthur throws a farewell celebration for Gawain; where knights renowned to the people come to counsel him, and Gawain expresses his preparedness.
25. This stanza shows the weaponry and defense that Gawain is going to be carrying into his fight with the Green Knight.
26. The decoration that has been put up on Gawain's accessory and his horse; the grandeur of it and how greatly the King has taken preparation from his side, to give his thane a farewell for a cause he might not return from.
27. Gawain is given the Pentangle embossed shield, with its five points forged with gold. Each point representing a quality of a great knight. And the King sees Gawain fit for such an honor.
28. This stanza shows what the 5 points depicted: Liberality, Lovingkindness, Continence and Courtesy and Piety--along with why Gawain was ultimately cheered up and satisfied with how he was leaving the castle. The stanza also shows Gawain's grand farewell.
29.After Gawain's leave, people start mourning and wondering how good of a knight he could have been for the kingdom had he not agreed to die such a horrific death; some people are already considering he's going to lose, and mourning for it.
30. This stanza describes Gawain's path to the Green knight. He is seen coursing through different kinds of lands with many different landscapes. Whenever he asks someone if they have seen the Green Chapel or a person like the green knight, they deny it because they haven't ever seen a person with that hue.
31. Gawain is on his way to the Green Chapel and in the way he has to go through many adverse conditions, including not only bad weather but also different kinds of animals. At last he is seen begging to Mary to show him the correct path to the chapel. Gawain's struggle and exhaustion is shown in this passage.
32. As Gawain is traveling, Christmas arrives, and his spiritual connection to God is revived; so he gets emotional with devotion and exhaustion.
33. Gawain arrives at a glorious and very protected castle in the middle of the woods; he is grateful for the mercy God has shown him by bringing him to that knight's castle.
34. Gawain enters the castle, befuddled by its decorations and security. He feels lucky to be arriving on Christmas Day, and is then showed forward with an inhabitant of the castle.
35. As Gawain enters the castle and asks for lodging, the prince of the castle welcomes him to remain there as long as he pleases. The inhabitants of the castle let him in with a grand welcome, and behave very hospitably; helping him get settled in. This behavior may be considered courteous, but also suspicious, given the context.
36. Gawain shows admiration about the prince's behavior towards him. Around the castle, people consider him a godly creature in terms of his beauty, and he is shown into a room with the most luxurious arrangements for his stay.
37. Gawain is given a large celebration or a feast for his arrival to the castle.
38. Everyone learning about Gawain's true identity start admiring him even more; and hope that his reputation as a great knight will improve their castle as well.
39. Gawain meets the Lady of the castle, and the matron. He thinks very highly of the Lady in terms of her beauty.
40. Gawain spends his leisure with the Lady of the castle and behaves chivalrously.
41. During breakfast in the castle, Gawain and the Lady become closer.
42. As the celebrations for Christmas ends, many people leave, and so does Gawain intend to do; but he is stopped by the knight who requests him to stay longer.
43. Bertilak asks Gawain his purpose for coming to the castle; and knowing it he tells him the Chapel is close from the castle, but Gawain is only allowed to leave after New Years'.
44. The knight of the castle tells Gawain to rest in his home while he goes to hunt for a day. His wife shall keep him company, as he says.
45. Before heading to bed, the knights make a deal. Whatever Bertilak wins in the hunt is Gawain's and whatever Gawain gets in that day is Bertilak's.
22. Change of seasons (Winter to Summer) and with it, the change in the surroundings of the setting.
23. A whole year goes by, and winter approaches again. This brings the time for Gawain to fight with the Green Knight.
24. King Arthur throws a farewell celebration for Gawain; where knights renowned to the people come to counsel him, and Gawain expresses his preparedness.
25. This stanza shows the weaponry and defense that Gawain is going to be carrying into his fight with the Green Knight.
26. The decoration that has been put up on Gawain's accessory and his horse; the grandeur of it and how greatly the King has taken preparation from his side, to give his thane a farewell for a cause he might not return from.
27. Gawain is given the Pentangle embossed shield, with its five points forged with gold. Each point representing a quality of a great knight. And the King sees Gawain fit for such an honor.
28. This stanza shows what the 5 points depicted: Liberality, Lovingkindness, Continence and Courtesy and Piety--along with why Gawain was ultimately cheered up and satisfied with how he was leaving the castle. The stanza also shows Gawain's grand farewell.
29.After Gawain's leave, people start mourning and wondering how good of a knight he could have been for the kingdom had he not agreed to die such a horrific death; some people are already considering he's going to lose, and mourning for it.
30. This stanza describes Gawain's path to the Green knight. He is seen coursing through different kinds of lands with many different landscapes. Whenever he asks someone if they have seen the Green Chapel or a person like the green knight, they deny it because they haven't ever seen a person with that hue.
31. Gawain is on his way to the Green Chapel and in the way he has to go through many adverse conditions, including not only bad weather but also different kinds of animals. At last he is seen begging to Mary to show him the correct path to the chapel. Gawain's struggle and exhaustion is shown in this passage.
32. As Gawain is traveling, Christmas arrives, and his spiritual connection to God is revived; so he gets emotional with devotion and exhaustion.
33. Gawain arrives at a glorious and very protected castle in the middle of the woods; he is grateful for the mercy God has shown him by bringing him to that knight's castle.
34. Gawain enters the castle, befuddled by its decorations and security. He feels lucky to be arriving on Christmas Day, and is then showed forward with an inhabitant of the castle.
35. As Gawain enters the castle and asks for lodging, the prince of the castle welcomes him to remain there as long as he pleases. The inhabitants of the castle let him in with a grand welcome, and behave very hospitably; helping him get settled in. This behavior may be considered courteous, but also suspicious, given the context.
36. Gawain shows admiration about the prince's behavior towards him. Around the castle, people consider him a godly creature in terms of his beauty, and he is shown into a room with the most luxurious arrangements for his stay.
37. Gawain is given a large celebration or a feast for his arrival to the castle.
38. Everyone learning about Gawain's true identity start admiring him even more; and hope that his reputation as a great knight will improve their castle as well.
39. Gawain meets the Lady of the castle, and the matron. He thinks very highly of the Lady in terms of her beauty.
40. Gawain spends his leisure with the Lady of the castle and behaves chivalrously.
41. During breakfast in the castle, Gawain and the Lady become closer.
42. As the celebrations for Christmas ends, many people leave, and so does Gawain intend to do; but he is stopped by the knight who requests him to stay longer.
43. Bertilak asks Gawain his purpose for coming to the castle; and knowing it he tells him the Chapel is close from the castle, but Gawain is only allowed to leave after New Years'.
44. The knight of the castle tells Gawain to rest in his home while he goes to hunt for a day. His wife shall keep him company, as he says.
45. Before heading to bed, the knights make a deal. Whatever Bertilak wins in the hunt is Gawain's and whatever Gawain gets in that day is Bertilak's.
2) Look at the motif of games and discuss how it works in this section.
Though different games are played throughout the story, this section shows only some games played during the holidays. The game that is most important from this section is the one that knight Bertilak proposes, where he says that when he goes for the hunt after Christmas, his winnings he will give to Gawain. And in return, whatever Gawain receives that day, he must give to the knight.
3) Other than the pentangle describe a symbol in this section and relate it to a theme. Discuss how this symbol reinforces the theme.
Gawain's attraction to the lady of the castle when and after he first sees her is a symbol for weakness in the context of a well-mannered and trained knight. This may be used to show that no matter how trained Gawain was in the aspect of self-control and behaving courteously, he gives in to his human instinct to be attracted to Lady Bertilak and prefer her more than other women.
4) How is Gawain different in this section as compared to the last?
In the previous section, Gawain was shown as unsure of himself and under-confident with his abilities to take on the Green Knight; as well as his virtues not being as appreciated. Contrarily, in this section, gradually through his travel he becomes more confident in himself and the great reception by the inhabitants of Bertilak's castle makes him more ambitious.
5) Discuss the setting.
The setting in this section begins with the different kind of adversities that Gawain has to break through in order to reach his destination, to the point where he is so exhausted he is begging for help from God. But then it gets much more merry as he reaches Bertilak's castle and is received as a brave knight due to his reputation and for what he is about to do.
Though different games are played throughout the story, this section shows only some games played during the holidays. The game that is most important from this section is the one that knight Bertilak proposes, where he says that when he goes for the hunt after Christmas, his winnings he will give to Gawain. And in return, whatever Gawain receives that day, he must give to the knight.
3) Other than the pentangle describe a symbol in this section and relate it to a theme. Discuss how this symbol reinforces the theme.
Gawain's attraction to the lady of the castle when and after he first sees her is a symbol for weakness in the context of a well-mannered and trained knight. This may be used to show that no matter how trained Gawain was in the aspect of self-control and behaving courteously, he gives in to his human instinct to be attracted to Lady Bertilak and prefer her more than other women.
4) How is Gawain different in this section as compared to the last?
In the previous section, Gawain was shown as unsure of himself and under-confident with his abilities to take on the Green Knight; as well as his virtues not being as appreciated. Contrarily, in this section, gradually through his travel he becomes more confident in himself and the great reception by the inhabitants of Bertilak's castle makes him more ambitious.
5) Discuss the setting.
The setting in this section begins with the different kind of adversities that Gawain has to break through in order to reach his destination, to the point where he is so exhausted he is begging for help from God. But then it gets much more merry as he reaches Bertilak's castle and is received as a brave knight due to his reputation and for what he is about to do.
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