Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
A knight issues a bizarre challenge to King Arthur and his court.
?1375
A knight issues a bizarre challenge to King Arthur and his court.
?1375
One New Year’s Eve, a knight rode into King Arthur’s hall. He was green, all over, and he made a strange offer.
ONE New Year’s Eve, a knight rode into King Arthur’s hall. His clothes and armour were all green; even his skin was green.
Anyone who wished, cried the strange knight, could take one free swing at him with an axe — provided that he could then do the same in return.
Sir Gawain at once agreed. He seized the axe, and with one triumphant blow swept off the green knight’s head.
But the smile was wiped from Sir Gawain’s face when the green knight picked up his head, mounted his horse, and rode away, stopping only to summon Gawain to the Green Chapel in a year and a day, to fulfil his side of the bargain.
So it was that, the following autumn, Sir Gawain set out to find the Green Chapel, and learn his fate.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
What was the bargain to which Sir Gawain agreed?
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
A knight rode into Arthur’s hall. He issued a strange challenge. Sir Gawain at once accepted it.