The Story of King Arthur and His Knights Comprehension Questions

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

Comprehension Questions (p.345-382)

Answer each question in complete and detailed sentences. Give a page reference for each question.

1. While King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the royal court were having lunch in the forest, what two animals did they see? Describe each animal in detail. What were these two animals doing?

2. After these two animals ran back into the forest, what other strange sight did Arthur and his court witness?

3. Why were Arthur and his court unable to help the wounded knight or keep the lady from being kidnapped by the knight on the black horse?

4. When Arthur asks his knights if there is anyone who would like to go on a quest to discover the meaning behind these two strange sights, who volunteers? Who does this knight take with him?

5. After Gawaine and Gaheris have travelled for awhile, they come upon two knights fighting. Why are these two knights fighting (there are two reasons)? What are their names?

6. After Sir Gawaine introduces himself to the two knights, what does he ask them permission to do? What is their response?

7. Why does Gawaine fight with the knight he meets at the river? Who wins the fight—Gawaine or the knight at the river? Who is this knight?

8. Where does Gawaine send the knight from the river and what does he tell him to do?

9. When Gawaine and Gaheris come to an open plain, what sad thing do they see? What is near this open plain?

10. What is the vow that Gawaine makes about the white brachet (the white hound)?

11. When Gawaine and his brother see the white hart again, where do they chase it and what does Gawaine do to it? How does he feel about his act later?

12. Who comes out after Gawaine kills the white hart? What does she do when she sees the white hart?

13. When the lord of the castle comes out, why does he challenge Sir Gawaine to a fight?

14. Describe the fight that occurs between Sir Gawaine and the lord of the castle. What happens in this fight that goes against the code of chivalry?

15. When the Lord of the castle sees his lady lying upon the ground, what does he think Gawaine will do to him? Why?

16. After the fight, what happens between Gawaine and the lord and the lady of the castle? What is the name of the lord of the castle?

17. What is the story behind the hart and the brachet and the knight and the lady? Who tells this story to Gawaine?

18. Describe the woman that gave the white hart and hound to the sisters. Who is she?

19. What does Gawaine ask Lord Ablamor of the Marise to do to the lady’s sister now that the hart and the hound are dead?

20. When Gawaine returns to Arthur’s court and tells the story of what happened with the white hound and deer, why is Queen Guinevere displeased? What does she think Gawaine should do with his sword?

21. When Gawaine hears Queen Guinevere say that he has a dishonored sword, what is his response? What does he decide to show her and what does he do with his sword?

22. When Spring came to Tintagalon, what did Arthur start to desire? What do he and his esquire Boisenard decide to do to have an adventure?

23. When Arthur and Boisenard go on their trip, what happens to them when they go into the forest? What does Boisenard do to solve their problem? What does he see?

24. When Arthur and Boisenard go towards the light in the forest, what do they find? Who meets them there? What do they ask this man for and what is his reply?

25. When Arthur and Boisenard are let in to the castle, what do they see? What is happening in the castle?

26. Describe the knight that is sitting at the head of the table in the mysterious castle’s feast.

27. What is the game that the mysterious knight of the castle wants Arthur to play with him? What is this game supposed to prove?

28. Does Arthur agree to play with the knight? What is the warning that Boisenard gives Arthur?

29. When Arthur and the mysterious knight of the castle start their contest, who gets to go first? Describe what happens in the first round of this strange contest.

30. When it is the mysterious knight of the castle’s turn to cut off Arthur’s head, is Arthur afraid? Why?

31. When the mysterious knight of the castle swings the sword several times but doesn’t cut Arthur’s neck, what does Arthur ask him not to do? What is the knight’s reply? Why would the knight want to swing at Arthur’s neck without cutting him (what is he trying to do to Arthur?)

32. Why does the knight offer Arthur a covenant? What is the covenant that the mysterious knight offers Arthur?

33. What is the second covenant that the knight offers Arthur? What is the riddle that Arthur must solve?

34. When Arthur and Boisenard leave the mysterious knight’s castle, what does Arthur command Boisenard?

35. After nearly a year passes and Arthur gets ready to return to the mysterious castle, Boisenard begs Arthur not to go. Why does Arthur say he must go?

36. As Arthur travels looking for the answer to the riddle, he comes to a small hut. Describe the person who lives in this hut.

37. When Arthur asks the old woman the riddle, what is her reply? What must Arthur do to get the answer? What is the answer to the riddle?

38. According to the old woman, who is the mysterious knight of the castle really? How can one kill this mysterious knight?

Chapter 3

39. When Arthur arrives at the mysterious knight’s castle and says the answer to the riddle, what is the new sport that Arthur wants to play with the mysterious knight? How does Arthur kill the mysterious knight?

40. When Arthur brings the ugly old woman to his castle, how does he treat her?

41. Which of Arthur’s knights does the old woman choose to be her husband? Why does this knight agree to marry her?

42. What happens when they dress the old woman in fine clothing to prepare her for her wedding? How do the people in Arthur’s court feel about Gawaine’s wedding?

43. After the wedding, where does Gawaine go and why does he shut himself away from everyone?

44. Describe Gawaine’s feelings about being married to the ugly old woman. Why does he decide to change his attitude about her and treat her with respect?

45. When Gawaine apologizes to the old woman for ignoring her, she tells him to turn on the lights. What does Gawaine see when he turns on the lights?

46. What is the disagreement that Gawaine and his new wife have once she becomes beautiful? Why does Gawaine agree to what his wife wants?

47. When Gawaine agrees to give his wife what she desires, what does she do to reward him?

48. Who is Gawaine’s wife? Why did she decide to put on a disguise and see if Gawaine would marry her?

49. What is the lesson that the author teaches the reader using Gawaine and his ugly wife as an example?