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

2. How many man does Sir Orfeo take with him on the day the king is to return for Lady Heurodis?

3. When does the Green Knight accuse Sir Gawain of failing?

4. Where does Pearl say is wrong with the narrator's mind?

5. In stanza ten of "Pearl," what does the narrator say fills the pool?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sir Gawain say as he leaves "the lord's" castle for the Green Chapel?

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

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

4. Why does Pearl say that the narrator is not a gentle jeweler?

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

6. Since losing the pearl, what has the "Pearl" narrator done?

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

8. Why does Sir Gawain not heed the advice of "the lord"?

9. What does "the lord" tell Sir Gawain will happen if he goes to the Green Chapel?

10. Describe the gown worn by Pearl.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

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)

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