Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 8

Study Guide Questions for Stanzas 80-90

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Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Light vs. Darkness, Wilderness vs. Civilization, Benediction, Needing a Guide, Temptation, Courage, Fate, Faith, Honor

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. How is the weather described on New Year’s morning?

2. According to the text, what were not among the reasons why he put on the girdle?

3. What was Gawain’s attitude towards the people of the house whom he left behind?

4. What prayer did the porter offer for Gawain as he left the house?

5. How did Gawain’s guide describe the Green Knight?

6. What did Gawain’s guide swear he would keep secret?

7. With what did Gawain say he would “comply”?

8. What did the Green Chapel turn out to be?

9. What sound greeted Gawain as he entered the chapel?

10. How wide was “the cruel cutting-edge” of the ax?

11. What did Gawain tell the Green Knight that he should “restrain” himself to?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Why would Gawain put on his full armor to meet the knight when he knows that it’s part of the deal that he should offer no defense?

2. Why do the attendants, the porter, and the guide all show so much care for Gawain whom they’ve known for just a short time?

3. Why did Gawain reject his guide’s warning and offer to keep a secret for him?

4. Why is the fact that the Green Chapel is actually a “barrow” significant?

5. When the Green Knight says to Gawain, “Now, sirrah fair, I true at tryst thee know” what does he mean by that?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. How important is it for people to keep their promises? What are some of the consequences of not keeping promises? Think about this on an individual level and a societal level and respond to the question as it pertains to both.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Compare and contrast 1 Samuel 17 with our present reading in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Particularly as it relates to preparing to go before the giant enemies they were about to face, what is similar and what is different in their preparations? Who was the more courageous and why do you think so?