Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Key Terms & Quiz Answers

Posted on Jan 13, 2026 in English Studies

Key Terms and Literary Devices

A set of idealized ‘rules’ that outlined
Courtly Love
A dialect of a language which is
Vernacular
Writing which uses discursive units such as
Prose
Writing which uses meter as its
Poetry
A contrast between expectations and reality
Irony
A literary movement in the medieval era
Alliterative Revival
The use of objects, things, and people
Symbolism
A stanza form consisting of a group
Bob and Wheel
The way in which a writer reveals
Characterization
When an author reveals a character’s personality
Direct Characterization
A literary device where the setting and/or
Pathetic Fallacy
A group of 5 Medieval Romances written
Vulgate Cycle
A work by Sir Thomas Malory which
Morte d’Arthur
During the late Medieval period, this was
The ‘Nine Worthies’
A history book written by Geoffrey of Monmouth
A History of the Kings of Britain
A set of rules, or code, that
Chivalry
When an author uses description, dialogue, action,
Indirect Characterization
A person, place, thing, or event that
Symbol
A larger-than-life figure who usually has
Romance Hero
Historically, a medieval verse narrative chronicling the
Romance

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Quiz Answers

  1. 1. Time of year when Green Knight arrives: Christmastide
  2. 2. First to accept challenge: Arthur
  3. 3. How long Gawain has to find him: A year and a day
  4. 4. Inside of Gawain’s shield: Picture of Mother Mary
  5. 5. How Gawain is related to Arthur: Arthur’s nephew
  6. 6. Items Green Knight holds: Axe and holly bough
  7. 7. Pentangle represents all except: Gawain’s leadership
  8. 8. Five Joys of Mary: Annunciation, Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension, Assumption
  9. 9. Five Chivalric Values: Friendship, Chastity, Courtesy, Generosity, Piety
  10. 10. Final of the 5 Fives: 5 Wounds of Christ
  11. 11. Two symbols in SGGK: Gawain’s shield & Green Knight
  12. 12. Not a main theme: Importance of Heredity
  13. 13. “Romance” in “Romanz” (T/F): True
  14. 14. SGGK begins with: Founding of Rome and Britain
  15. 15. What’s happening at Camelot: Feast for celebration
  16. 16. When Gawain accepts challenge: He chops off the Green Knight’s head
  17. 17. Golden emblem on shield: Pentangle
  18. 18. Game proposed by the lord: Exchange whatever they gain each day
  19. 19. Christmas game proposed: Beheading game
  20. 20. Why Gawain lies about the girdle: Fearfulness
  21. 21. What the Green Knight tests: Virtue of a knight of the Round Table
  22. 22. Why Gawain keeps the girdle: To remind him of his cowardice
  23. 23. What saves Gawain’s life: Green Knight’s mercy
  24. 24. Flaws Gawain admits: Dishonesty and cowardice
  25. 25. Who is the Green Knight: Bertilak
  26. 26. Why not struck first time: Gawain fairly repaid him on two days
  27. 27. Animals hunted: Deer, boar, fox
  28. 28. Name of Gawain’s horse: Gringolet
  29. 29. Exchange on second day: Two kisses for a wild boar’s head
  30. 30. Lady Bertilak says about girdle: It protects from death
  31. 31. What guide tells Gawain: He won’t tell anyone if Gawain quits
  32. 32. Sound confirming Green Chapel: Scythe against grindstone
  33. 33. Strike that draws blood: The third
  34. 34. Who Morgan le Faye is: Gawain’s aunt & Arthur’s half-sister