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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. What color is Sir Gawain's shield?

2. What image, other than the pentangle, does Sir Gawain have on his shield?

3. What day is the third hunt to fall on?

4. Whom does "the lord" say will sit with Sir Gawain while he is away?

5. At the opening of Chapter II of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, what color have the groves turned?

Short Essay Questions

1. What two things does the Green Knight hold in his hands?

2. Why does "the lord" tell Sir Gawain that he does not need to leave for the Green Chapel so soon?

3. How is the castle of "the lord" described?

4. Why does Sir Gawain believe that he has been able to make his journey instead of dying prior to finding the Green Chapel?

5. How is the Green Knight described as he first enters Arthur's castle?

6. What happens between Sir Gawain and "the lady" during the second day of the hunt?

7. What happens at the first baying of of the hounds during the first day of the hunt in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"?

8. What do the guests at Arthur's do to gain the presents?

9. Why does Sir Gawain refuse to tell "the lord" where he got his kiss from?

10. What animal does "the lord" decree should not be harmed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Truth is a main theme in both "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Pearl." Choose one of the texts and explain: 1) Why "truth" is so important and 2) How the message of truth is portrayed, and 3) If being truthful is the key to success.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

In what ways is the supernatural highlighted in both "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Sir Orfeo"? How are the illustrations of the supernatural similar? Is the use of the supernatural consistent within both texts? Which text takes the supernatural to a more extreme level? For what purpose does it serve?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 766 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample