Discussion Questions

  1. In what ways are the Christmas and New Year’s festivities described in this story similar to festivities today?
  2. What chivalrous qualities are evident in King Arthur at the beginning of the story?
  3. How does the Green Knight taunt the brave knights of the Round Table?
  4. Why does Gawain offer to take up the Green Knight’s challenge?
  5. Why does Gawain set off to find the Green Chapel?
  6. What trials does Gawain experience on the trail to fulfill his obligation?
  7. What conflicting codes must Gawain reconcile when he is tempted by the Bertilak’s wife?
  8. How do the hunting scenes and bedroom scenes complement each other in the last part of the story?
  9. Why does Gawain keep the sash when he should have given it to Berlilak?
  10.  What is admirable about Gawain?  Does he have any faults?
  11.  What might the Green Knight represent symbolically?