Sir Gawain & the Green Knight
GAWAIN PARTS 1-2: ASSIGNMENT G1
1. Read the front page of the Sir Gawain packet. IF YOU WERE ABSENT TODAY, click HERE for a copy of the Gawain packet.
2. Read the Introduction to Gawain — see the white pages in the Gawain Packet right before the text of the poem
3. Read parts 1 and 2 (from pp. 202-225 in the Norton Anthology, 6th ed.). BIG HINT! You may want to read the poem aloud!
4. Do WA 17 Some Preliminary Thoughts on Gawain parts 1 – 2
A. After you have read the text, think about these ideas :
a. the significance/associations of the color green
b. why Gawain was chosen for this “quest”
c. how the “imperfect human is really the perfect human”
d. comparisons and contrast between these three characters: Arthur, Sir Gawain, the Green Knight
e. the symbolic significance/associations that are conjured up in your mind with the following animals: a deer, a boar, a fox. You may have been given a chart in which to write down these animal associations. Jot down your ideas in the first column the chart
f. how does Gawain qualify as a representative “medieval romance”
g. what similarities and differences do you see between Beowulf and Gawain and the Green Knight.
B. For the journal, jot down your ideas on these:
o •reading the introduction,
o •what happens in parts 1 and 2,
o •at least three of the ideas listed above (a-g)
5. Be prepared for a quiz on the Intro., the information in the hand-out, & Gawain parts 1 and 2.
- Bring GREEN TREATS for FHGFY! — Fantastic Healthy (?) Green Food Friday!
- DUE FRIDAY! GAWAIN PARTS 1-2: ASSIGNMENT G1 1. Read the front page of the Sir Gawain packet. IF YOU WERE ABSENT TODAY, click HERE for a copy of the Gawain packet.
2. Read the Introduction to Gawain — see the white pages in the Gawain Packet right before the text of the poem Be prepared for a quiz on the Intro., the information in the hand-out, & Gawain parts 1 and 2.
3. Read parts 1 and 2 (from pp. 202-225 in the Norton Anthology, 6th ed.). BIG HINT! You may want to read the poem aloud! Be prepared for a quiz on the Intro., the information in the hand-out, & Gawain parts 1 and 2.
4. Do WA 17 Some Preliminary Thoughts on Gawain parts 1 – 2
A. After you have read the text, think about these ideas :
a. the significance/associations of the color green
b. why Gawain was chosen for this “quest”
c. how the “imperfect human is really the perfect human”
d. comparisons and contrast between these three characters: Arthur, Sir Gawain, the Green Knight
e. the symbolic significance/associations that are conjured up in your mind with the following animals: a deer, a boar, a fox. You may have been given a chart in which to write down these animal associations. Jot down your ideas in the first column the chart
f. how does Gawain qualify as a representative “medieval romance”
g. what similarities and differences do you see between Beowulf and Gawain and the Green Knight.
5. Be prepared for a quiz on the Intro., the information in the hand-out, & Gawain parts 1 and 2.
GAWAIN PARTS 3-4: ASSIGNMENT G2 and G3 (depending on your NOVEL GROUP)
1. Read parts 3 and 4. (pp. 258-288 in the Norton Anthology, 5th ed. Or pp. 225-254 in the Norton Anthology, 6th ed.). BIG HINT! You may want to read the poem aloud! Be prepared for a quiz on the Intro., the information in the hand-out, & Gawain parts 1 and 2.
2. Fill out the Comparison / Contrast Chart of the 3 Animals/Hunts/Temptations/Blows. Click HERE for a copy of the chart. For a copy of the Gawain packet, click HERE.
After all the boxes are filled, look for ways the columns associate with each other.
a. In the first column in the boxes under the word “Animals,” jot down what symbolic significances/associations are conjured up in your mind with these animals: a deer, a boar, a fox.
b. In the second column in the boxes under the word “Bercilak’s hunt,” jot down what characterizes each hunt (how it is gone about, what methods are used, the results, etc.).
c. In the third column in the boxes under the word “temptations,” jot down what characterizes each of the three temptation experiences. Look at both the strategies/reactions/results in terms of Sir Gawain and the Lady.
d. In the fourth column in the boxes under the word “blows,” jot down what characterizes each confrontation between Gawain and the Green Knight.
3. Do WA 18 “Gawain Closure Topics” (a minimum of one side – 5 pts.)
Do the journal topic assigned to your NOVEL GROUP!
Analytic Journal Entry on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Devote at least a page to your topic or whatever it takes to fully explore the topic. Choose one of the two topics described below:
GROUP A FRANKENSTEIN CHOICES:
A1 Would Sir Gawain be considered a hero, even after his “mistake”?
A2 Either agree or disagree. Gawain came through the challenge successfully. Give support.
GROUP B BEOWULF CHOICES:
B1 If Gawain was reincarnated, what would we think of today’s society or today’s society think of him? Is he admirable?
B2 Discuss why Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is considered by many to epitomize the medieval romance.
GROUP C TALE OF TWO CITIES CHOICES:
C1 How does Gawain’s fate and success/lack of success reflect on the Knights of the Round Table?
C2 How does Sir Gawain and the Green Knight reflect Christian values?
GROUP D HAMLET CHOICES:
D1 Is dishonor worse than death in medieval society? Is this still reflected in society today?
D2 Why do you think women are considered to be the “root of all evil” in Sir Gawain? How does this relate to courtly love and its rules?
GROUP E THINGS FALL APART CHOICES:
E1 What is so important about the sash? Why does Gawain wear it forever? What does this symbolize? How does it differ from the nick on the neck?
E2 Is this a happy or unhappy ending? Justify your answer.
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WA 18 TOPICS FOR THE OTHER GROUPS ARCADIA, OWEN MEANY AND HEART OF DARKNESS
Note! You can choose whichever character’s letter (characters are Arthur, Gawain, Morgan, or Felicia) you want to write!
ASSIGNMENT G3: THE GREEN LETTERS
For this journal, you are to write a letter based on SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT.
This is ALSO WA# 18: _______________’s (name of character writing letter) Letter
GROUPS ARCADIA, OWEN MEANY AND HEART OF DARKNESS: Choose one of the four scenarios below upon which to base a letter you will write. Make sure you defend your viewpoint using examples (quotations are also welcome!) from the text. Please keep plot summary to a minimum. As always, your entry (the letter) must be a minimum of one page. Circle the letter you choose, and write its title (“Arthur’s Letter,” for example) at the top of your page.
For Arthur’s and Gawain’s letters, base your viewpoint on this quote:
“Gawain is the ideal man because he demonstrates that he cannot be the ideal–he’s a man.”
1. Arthur’s letter
Sir Cameron is a young knight currently studying in France. He is one of Arthur’s favorites and most promising knights. Arthur knows that word has reached him about Sir Gawain’s adventure with the Green Knight, and he also knows that Sir Cameron is very eager to learn to live his life according to the code of chivalry. Arthur thinks he can learn a valuable lesson from Gawain’s adventure and perhaps see Gawain as somewhat of a model. Using the philosophy in the quote, write the letter Arthur might send to Sir Cameron to convince him of Gawain’s success. Start out your letter, “Dear Sir Cameron.”
2. Gawain’s letter
Gawain has been home a few months now and has had time to reflect on his adventure with the Green Knight. He still feels he has failed both himself and Arthur’s court. He knows of Arthur’s young and promising favorite, Sir Cameron. He genuinely likes Sir Cameron and feels he may be the key to the future of Camelot and the perpetuation of the code of chivalry. He decides to write a letter to his young friend hoping to convince him not to make the same mistakes he made and to not view his life as ideal. Refuting the philosophy of the quote, write the letter Gawain might send to Sir Cameron to convince him that he would be wrong in seeing the adventure of the Green Knight as successful. Start out your letter, “Dear Sir Cameron.”
For Morgan’s and Felicia’s letters, base your viewpoint on this quote:
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“Gawain …starts out as the perfect knight and moves downward ending as an imperfect ‘fol chevalier’ (chivalric fool or foolish gentleman) who is the object of laughter rather than admiration.”
3. Morgan’s letter
Morgan LeFay is convinced that her scheme was successful in showing the weakness and failure of Gawain and Arthur’s court. She decides to write a letter to her cousin Felicia convincing her that she has triumphed and Gawain has ultimately fallen. Using the philosophy of the quotation, write the letter from Morgan to Felicia. Start out your letter, “Dear Felicia.”
4. Felicia’s letter
Felicia has received the letter Morgan has written to her as described in question 3. However, she believes Morgan is wrong and that her conclusion about Gawain ending up a fool and an object of ridicule rather than admiration is ludicrous. She knows the story well and decides to write a letter back to Morgan convincing her that Gawain did not start out perfectly or move downward to end up the way the quote described. Refuting the philosophy of the quote, write the return letter from Felicia to Morgan. Start out your letter, “Dear Morgan.”
AP English 12 