CliffsNotes on

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Search this CliffsNote

About the Poet

Personal Background

About the Poem

Introduction
The Verse Form of SGGK
A Brief Synopsis
List of Characters
Character Map

Summaries and Commentaries

Lines 1–36 (Stanzas 1–2)
Lines 37–249 (Stanzas 3–11)
Lines 250–490 (Stanzas 12–21)
Lines 491–619 (Stanzas 22–28)
Lines 763–1,125 (Stanzas 33–45)
Lines 1,126–1,411 (Stanzas 46–56)
Lines 1,411–1,689 (Stanzas 56–67)
Lines 1,690–1,996 (Stanzas 68–79)
Lines 1,998–2,159 (Stanzas 80–86)
Lines 2,160–2,388 (Stanzas 87–95)
Lines 2,389–2,478 (Stanzas 96–99)
Lines 2,479–2,530 (Stanzas 100–101)

Character Analyses

Gawain
The Green Knight
Bertilak (or Bercilak) of Hautdesert
The Lady of Hautdesert
The Guide
Morgan le Fay
King Arthur
Queen Guenevere

Critical Essays

Symbolism and Medieval Literature
The Structure of SGGK

Study Help

Quiz
Essay Questions
Practice Projects

Cite this Literature Note

Which is better, the Twilight books or the movie?

The books.
The movie.

View Results

Study Help

Quiz

1:  What color is most closely associated with Gawain?

a. Green

b. Red

c. White

d. Gold
2:  Who is Gawain’s patron saint?

a. The Virgin Mary

b. St. George

c. St. Julian

d. St. Peter
3:  Which of these is not a feature the Green Knight?

a. Bushy beard

b. Green skin

c. Wearing armor

d. Carrying an axe
4:  What does the lady not offer Gawain?

a. Herself

b. A belt

c. A ring

d. A feast
5:  What Classical civilization was the legendary ancestor of the kingdom of Britain?

a. Troy

b. Rome

c. Greece

d. India
6:  What is Gawain’s emblem in the poem?

a. Bird

b. Knot

c. Belt

d. Pentangle
7:  Who is the Green Knight?

a. Bertilak

b. Morgan le Fay

c. Sir Bors

d. Gawain
8:  What does the Lady ask Gawain to teach her?

a. Dancing

b. Courtly love

c. Poetry

d. Knot-tying
9:  Why does the Green Knight not strike Gawain the first two times?

a. His axes slips.

b. Gawain tries to run away.

c. Gawain fairly repaid him on two days.

d. He is not ready.
10:  The poet calls the pentangle a symbol of

a. Mercy

b. Wisdom

c. Love

d. Truth
11:  What animals does the host hunt?

a. Deer, birds, boar

b. Deer, boar, fox

c. Bear, deer, fox

d. Boar, birds, fox
12:  Gawain sees the castle of Hautdesert after

a. praying to the Virgin Mary

b. waking up from a dream

c. praying to his guardian angel

d. asking for directions
13:  In what holiday season does most of the action take place?

a. Easter

b. Lent

c. Christmas

d. All Saints’
14:  What does Gawain give the lord in exchange for his hunting prey?

a. Praise

b. Jewels

c. A horse

d. Kisses
15:  What is the Green Chapel?

a. A church made of green stone

b. A cave-like structure

c. A grassy field

d. A mountain



Previous page
Next page
Resources

Tools & Resources

Ask Cliff

Read More About

Study Guides To-Go!
Get the complete text from CliffsNotes guides on your video iPod®.
Learn more!
cover
Learn the Words You Should Know
Vocabulary Puzzles is the fun way to ace the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT & more!
The Ultimate Learning Experience!
WATCH the film and READ the lit note for a fast way to study!
Learn more!