Sir Gawain and the Green Poet

Question 1

physical ideals of knights?

Answer 1

strength, skills at arms, horsemanship

Question 2

non-physical ideals of knights?

Answer 2

courage, humility, courtesy, loyalty

Question 3

what is courtly love and how did it develop as an idea?

Answer 3

Developed partly out of the cult of Mary; elevated women; object of love was to be worshipped from afar as an ideal; only noble people were worthy of love

Question 4

what is its poetic structure?

Answer 4

alliteration, usually on stresses

Question 5

what genre does it belong to?

Answer 5

Arthurian romance

Question 6

What are the sections divided into?

Answer 6

four fitts

Question 7

what is a bob and wheel?

Answer 7

structure of poetry used in Sir Gawain; short, usually two-syllable line, followed by longer lines with internal rhyme

the wheel (three stressed in line but with end rhymes, closing quatrain AB AB)

Question 8

Sir Gawain

Answer 8

a knight; Arthur’s nephew; never portrayed as Christian; alienated from other knights; courteous and chivalric; flaw is that he lacks loyalty; accepts the challenge of the Green Knight, whom he must behead, then seek out next year

Question 9

when was it written

Answer 9

late 14th century

Question 10

what type of poem is it?

Answer 10

alliterative

Question 11

how is it conventional?

Answer 11

• Set in the past, king authors court
• Royal and aristocratic characters
• Individual knight takes part in quest/adventure
• Clear engagement with the supernatural

Question 12

What is the history of it?

Answer 12

Only one manuscript survived - restricted circulation, few copies, or copies were damaged, l destroyed or deteriorated over time

Question 13

as an alliterative poem, what does this mean for literature at the time?

Answer 13

Iliterate verse, closely related to old English and Anglo Saxon poetry, Northern England and West Midlands, rethinking of these forms for a modern audience.

Alliterative revival - around 1350 - shifted English poetry away from the dominance of rhyme toward a focus on alliteration as a primary structural element. This change allowed poets to explore themes rooted in Anglo-Saxon traditions while creating a distinct rhythmic quality. Writers rekindled the ancient tradition of using repeated consonant sounds, reviving the rich and rhythmic structure.

Question 14

form of the poem?

Answer 14

Shaping and sound of each line, not organised by syllable count out stressed unstressed syllables, no organised by end rhymes, no rhyming couplets etc.

Based on regular number of stresses in each line, linked by iterating sounds.

Each line split into two - A verse and B verse - primary part of narrative in A, commentary or reflection in B Operates in one long line mostly

Four stresses in each line, Iteration tends to come on the opening letter of significant words (nouns and adjectives, some verbs)

Unstressed syllables varies BUT stressed syllables usually consistent

Question 15

Fitt 1

Answer 15

Takes place entirely at Camelot, in a single evening

Plot moved on by place of location

Literate representation of round table, community and feasting

A lot of the text is about Governance and control

Ideas of exile is worst possible punishment

Question 16

Fitt 2

Answer 16

Camelot - wilderness - Hautdesert

Move from warmth and hospitality of Athurt’s court to hardship of long journey in harsh landscape with no clear direction or end destination, finds castle

Harshness of natural world and welcoming of castle

Defense to imprisonment

A lot of chimneys = a lot of private rooms = intimate conversations can take place

Question 17

Fitt 3

Answer 17

The hunt, the bedchamber, exchange of winnings

Host is pulling him away into different settings and conversations, who can see and hear those behaviours, host is controlling him

Question 18

Fitt 4

Answer 18

Hautdesert, Green Chapel, Camelot

Wants to return back to Camelot

Poem ends physically and geographically of where it engines

Chapel is disorienting and disappointing

Deep sense of shame of being found out for his dishonesty, can’t continue to accept hospitality, must face what he’s done and take accountability in Camelot.

Question 19

What are the five virtues of Sir Gawain?

Answer 19

Fraunchise (generosity)
Felawschype (friendship, companionship)
Courtaysye (social grace)
Pyty (compassion, pity)
Cleanness (Chastity)

Question 20

What does chastity mean?

Answer 20

Chastity does not mean abstaining from sex but sexual acts to remain in the conventions of the time ie. within marriage, at certain points and times, restricted by the church in the week and year.