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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who sings of "many a marvelous thing" in line three of "Sir Orfeo"?

2. What does Sir Gawain do at the Green Knight's first blow?

3. What does "the lord" tell Sir Gawain that the Green Knight knows nothing about?

4. What does Sir Orfeo say has torn Lady Heurodis's face?

5. What month is it in stanza four of "Pearl"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pearl say happens to all whom enter the kingdom of God?

2. According to Chapter IV of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," what is happening as New Year's draws near?

3. Why is the narrator of "Pearl" concerned with resigning to die?

4. What does "the lord" say regarding his refusal to accompany Sir Gawain to the chapel?

5. What does the "Pearl" narrator see at the base of the crystal cliff?

6. What happens when Sir Orfeo plays his harp in the woods?

7. Why is the Green Knight green?

8. Why does Sir Orfeo leave his kingdom with only a beggar's cloak?

9. When Lady Heurodis disappears, what does Sir Orfeo do?

10. Why do Sir Orfeo's grandparents possess the names that they do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Symbolism is used in various ways throughout the text. Choose three different images (animals, castles, fabric, armor decoration) and explain what the object symbolizes, why it is important to the text, and the meaning of the object's use.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the importance of the action of the text taking place over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Why does the action of the text take place at this time? What is important about each of the holidays in regard to the actions in the text? What do both holidays represent?

Essay Topic 3

In "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" there is an overwhelming sense of the importance of imagery in its relation to constraint. The girdle, armor, and even food cause feelings of constraint. Discuss three specific constraints as detailed in the text. What is the object? Why is it considered a constraint? How does Sir Gawain succeed at destroying the constraint that the object produces?

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