Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Introduction, Parts 1 and 2)

Answer the questions in this quiz to see how well you've read and understood this unit.

When you're through, just click on Check answers to check your answers. If you want to start over, just click on Start over.

Your name Your handle (use the exact same handle
you created in the questionnaire)		 Your e-mail (if you want your
results e-mailed to you)
  1. Concerning the poet of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:
    His or her name is not known, but the poet probably lived 150 miles northwest of London.
    He was named William Langland and lived 150 miles northwest of London.
    The poet's name unknown, but he apparently lived in London and was probably friendly with Chaucer.
  2. The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight opens on:
    Christmas Eve
    Christmas Day
    New Year's Eve
    New Year's Day
  3. Concerning the language in which Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is written:
    It is very similar to that of Chaucer, although it is much easier for us to read.
    It is very different from the language of Chaucer was difficult even for Londoners of Chaucer's time.
    It is originally in French.
  4. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was probably written:
    At about the same time as Chaucer was writing, the late 1300s
    At about the same time as Beowulf was written, the late 1000s
    At about the time Shakespeare was writing his early comedies and histories, the late 1500s
  5. The action in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight opens:
    In London
    In a mysterious green castle
    In Denmark
    In Camelot
  6. In a line like "You have bound yourself boldly my bidding to do...," the important poetic feature to notice is:
    Alliteration: repetition of consonant sounds
    Rhyme: repetition of consonant sounds
    Alliteration: repetition of vowelconsonant sound groups
    Rhyme: repetition of vowelconsonant groups
  7. At the very beginning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the poet focuses on
    How an ancestor of Aeneas founded Britain
    How the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invaded and settled Britain
    How the Celtic tribes were driven out of Britain or into the Welsh area
  8. The intruder into the hall is dressed all in
    Green and gold
    Green and blue
    Red and blue
  9. The Green Knight is carrying two things:
    An axe and a shield
    An axe and a holly bough
    A shield and a holly bough
    A sword and a shield
    A sword and a holly bough
  10. The Green Knight enters the hall by:
    Striding in, waving his sword
    Riding on on his green horse
    Floating in mysteriously like a ghost
    Suddenly appearing before their eyes without anyone noticing
  11. The Green Knight dares anybody in the hall to:
    Strike the Green Knight with the ax and in twelve months take the same from him
    Face him one on one in a jousting match
    Try to find his castle
  12. The person who takes the dare and gives the first blow of the axe is:
    Sir Gawain
    King Arthur
    Sir Lancelot
    Beowulf
  13. When the Green Knight has taken the blow of the ax:
    He picks up his head, reminds his adversary of his promise, and rides out of the hall.
    He turns into an old witch who then curses Sir Gawain.
    He vanishes into thin air, leaving Sir Gawain to wonder whether he must keep the promise.
  14. Sir Gawain leaves to fufill his promise the day after:
    All Saints' Day
    Christmas
    New Year's
    Michaelmas
  15. Sir Gawain's horse is named:
    Hrunting
    Neagling
    Gringolet
    Guenevere
  16. On Sir Gawain's shield is:
    A cross
    A pentangle
    A lion rampant
    A castle
  17. The symbol on his shield stands for:
    Truth
    Justice
    Love
    Courage
  18. Sir Gawain is characterized in this story as follows:
    Lusty, hard-fighting, hard-drinking, rebellious
    Pure, faithful, faultless, virtuous, devout
    Impersonal, professional, mercenary, indifferent toward ethical values
  19. Sir Gawain is the one who play the "game" with the Green Knight because:
    Sir Gawain says he is the strongest and the bravest.
    Sir Gawain says he is the weakest and of the least worth.
    The Green Knight picks him.
    King Arthur selects Sir Gawain.
  20. The game that the host of the castle asks Sir Gawain to play is that:
    Whatever the host and Sir Gawain win each day, they will swap with each other that night.
    Whoever kills the most game will get to dance with the queen.
    Whoever finds the Green Chapel will get the lucky red garter.

   

Programs and information provided by davidm@austincc.edu.