A-B

Bravery – After King Arthur accepts the Green Knight’s challenge,

Gawain is the only knight to volunteer to take his King’s place, agreeing
to be struck in the head by the Green Knight a year later.
C-D
Decapitation – The Green Knight was decapitated by Gawain, one of
King Arthur’s knight. Gawain’s action sets off his adventure into the
forest to look for the Green Chapel and the Green Knight as well as the
tests for his chivalry.
E-G
Failings – Despite his chivalry, Gawain has multiple failings in the poem.
He accepted the magical belt as a gift from the lady of the castle and
concealed it from his host. He also betrays his bravery and flinches
when the Green Knight strikes his for his first blow.
H-J
Honor – Even though Gawain dreaded meeting up with the Green
Knight in a years’ time and fears for his life, he nevertheless adheres to
the code of chivalry and honor the agreement.
K-M
Loyalty - When King Arthur accepted the challenge from the Green
Knight, Gawain alone volunteers himself, saying that it is beneath the
King to take such challenge, knowing that he may lose his life as a
result.
N-P
Pride – The Green Knight challenges King Arthur’s knights to a deadly
Christmas game. When nobody comes forward, the Green Knight insults
Arthur and his knights for their supposed bravery. King Arthur’s
wounded pride propels him to accept the challenge. Gawain then steps
forward to take the challenge instead.
Q-R
Responsibility - After Gawain was confronted by the Green Knight of the
concealed belt, he was ashamed and accepted responsibility for his
actions. He admitted his deceptions and was remorseful. To repent, he
decided to wear the belt for the rest of his life.
S-T
Temptation – Gawain was tempted numerous times by the beautiful
lady of the castle with sexual advances and gifts. He never gives in to
the advances but finally accepts a magical belt, not for its material
value, but for its magical power that might save his life.
V-Z
Virtue – One of Gawain’s many virtues is his strong moral values.
Despite numerous seductions by the beautiful lady of the castle, he
continues to refuse her advances. This virtuous act saves his life at the
hand of the Green Knight.
Theme
The theme of the story is about the code of chivalry, especially truth,
honor and loyalty, and how it affects the actions of the knights.
Exchange of winnings
The lesson Gawain learns as a result of the Green Knight’s challenge is that, at a basic level, he is just a
physical being who is concerned above all else with his own life. Chivalry provides a valuable set of ideals
toward which to strive, but a person must above all remain conscious of his or her own mortality and
weakness. Gawain’s time in the wilderness, his flinching at the Green Knight’s axe, and his acceptance of
the lady’s offering of the green girdle teach him that though he may be the most chivalrous knight in the
land, he is nevertheless human and capable of error.

Gawain curses the girdle as representing cowardice and an excessive love of mortal life. He wears it from
then on as a badge of his sinfulness. To show their support, Arthur and his followers wear green silk
baldrics that look just like Gawain’s girdle.

King Arthur’s court at Camelot is defined by a chivalrous code, in which fighting spirit, bravery and
courtesy are vital to a man’s character and standing, and cowardice is looked down upon as a severe
defect. The Green Knight's challenge is thus a challenge not just to each individual knight but to the
entire Arthurian chivalric code, and that code is shown to be hollow when none of the knights accept the
challenge…