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a code of honorable behavior |
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anonymous traditional stories about the past that may have been inspired by real events and people |
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adventure stories with kings, knights, and damsels in distress |
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Legends often feature what 3 things |
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1. heroic figures and memorable deeds 2. quests, or searches for something important; contests; and tests 3. patterns, such as events repeated three times |
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medieval writers created romances by adding to legends such elements as |
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vivid descriptions plot twists accounts of the reactions and motives of characters |
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request solemnly; appeal to earnestly |
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with physical or mental skill |
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made an earnest appeal; pleaded |
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exposure to harm or injury |
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a system both of government and of land ownership. In exchange for a nobleman's oath of loyalty, a king would give him lands. The nobleman rules these lands, judging legal cases, imposing taxes, and maintaining an army - powers granted him in exchange for his promise of loyalty to his king |
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code that demanded that knights be brave warriors and virtuous Christians who would selflessly fight for justice |
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King Arthur and his knights |
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the ideals of chivalry gave rise to legends and songs, such as the tales of King Arthur and his knights of the Round table. In the eleventh century, as feudalism established itself throughout Europe, stories about Arthur's court became widespread |
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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight |
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In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a medieval poem, the chivalry of Gawain, Arthur's loyal nephew, is tested by three challenges. In meeting them, Gawain proves admirable but not invulnerable. As one critic writes, the hero "gains in human credibility what he loses in ideal perfection". The poet, Sir Gawain, wrote with a combination of humor and fervent details and helped shape an enduring vision of personal integrity |
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What is the setting at the beginning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight |
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It begins at the start of a New Year's Eve feast at King Arthur's Court in Camelot. Before anyone started eating, the festivities are interrupted by an immense green knight who suddenly appears the the hall door. The knight rides a green horse and is armed with a gigantic ax. |
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King Arthur's nephew and one if his most loyal knights. He is modest and seeks to improve his inner self in the poem. |
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Gawain had humility, piety, integrity, loyalty and honesty but his only flaw was that he loves his own life so much that he will lie in order to protect himself. Gawain leaves the Green Chapel penitent and changed. |
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Who was the Green Knight? |
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mysterious visitor to Camelot. He says he comes in friendship, not wanting to fight, but the friendly game he proposes it quite deadly. He places great importance on verbal contracts. He seems to symbolize the natural world, in that he is killed and reborn as part of a cycle. In the end the reader discovers that the Green Knight is actually Bertilak. |
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In the opening scene, what holiday is being celebrated? |
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When Gawain departs to find Green Knight a year later, which holiday does he spend with Bertilak (Green Knight)? |
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What is the big surprize for Gawain at the end of the story? |
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The Green knight is Bertilak |
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half sister of King Arthur and the old woman at Bertilak's castle; she controlled the poem's action from beginning to end. As she often does in Arthurian lit, Morgan appears as an enemy of Camelot, one who aims to cause as much trouble for her half brother and his followers as she can. |
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what is king Arthur's initial reaction to the Green Knight's challenge |
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Stunned at first but then he steps forward to take the challenge (bravery). |
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What is Gawain's horse's name |
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Why does Gawain wear the green girdle at the end of the poem? |
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He lied on the third day to Bertilak. He told him about the 3 kisses but not the girdle. out of shame is wears the gridle from then on. The other knights and the king also wear them to support Gawain. |
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Where do Gawain and the other knights wear the girdle? |
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What were some of the virtues Gawain had? |
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Honesty, integrity - even though he didn't know about the Green Knight's supernatural powers at the start of the deal, he didn't back out of the committment. He has fears and anxiety, but his desire to maintain his personal dignity is stronger |
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What was so special about the green girdle? |
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Bertilak's wife tells Gawain that is has magical powers and will protect him. But it eventually becomes a symbol of his sin (lying) and he wears it and that is a symbol of goodness. |
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How does Gawain change by the end of the poem? |
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he is humbled and realizes his own faults and has to live up to the fact that he will never live up to his own high standards |
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Does the Green Knight die when Gawain beheads him? |
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no, he picks up his head, continues talking and rides away |
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How does the Green Knight character change from the start of the poem to the end? |
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In the beginning he is a supernatural scary character. In the end he is a polite host of the castle and treats Gawain very well. |
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a year later, where does Gawain go to find the Green Knight? |
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Green Chapel - which is Bertilak's castle |
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How do the knights first respond to the Green Knight's challenge |
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They are all very quiet and scared. Then after a few minutes King Arthur accepts the challenge but Gawain jumps up and takes it first (he is extremely loyal to the king) |
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famous author who was also a convicted felon who spent much of his life in jail |
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Why does King Arthur travel to France in Morte D'Arthur? |
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Gawain insisted so that he could besiege his former friend and knight, Lancelot, for his involvement with Queen Geunevere |
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Is King Arthur sucessful at punishing Lancelot? |
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not really, at first it is half-hearted and then he gives up all together because he learns that Mordred,his illegitimate son has seized control of England. Arthur leads his forces back to England and Mordred attacks them upon landing. Gawain is killed, but before he dies, he manages to get word to Lancelot that Arthur is in need of his assistance. |
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What is the relationship between Arthur and Mordred? |
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Mordred is Arthur's illegitimate son. |
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