1 What are some examples of acts of “errantry”? Who in The Lord of the Rings engaged in acts of errantry before the events in The Lord of the Rings began? 2. Explain the concept of courtly love. Who in The Lord of the Rings demonstrated courtly love as he wore tokens of his favored lady and defended her honor?
3. How was Arthur revealed to be the rightful king of all Britain? Why was he the rightful king? Did everyone recognize that right at once?
4. What are three ways in which Tolkien was involved in Arthurian scholarship and literature?
5. Why did Gawain continue to wear his green lace sash when he returned to King Arthur’s court? What did the other members start to wear green themselves when they heard the story?
Critical Thinking Questions:
1. What factors do you think contributed to the downfall of Camelot?
2. In what ways do you think the Fellowship of the Round Table and the Fellowship of the Ring are similar?
3. Why did the Green Knight not harm Gawain with the first two “feigned” (or pretend) strikes with the ax? Why did he draw blood the third time?
4. What two vices (Gawain calls them “the destruction of virtue”) did Gawain say that he committed as part of his adventure? In what way did he commit these vices?
5. After his adventure, when Gawain is invited back to the Green Knight’s castle in order to meet the women, why does he refuse? Why does he say that does not blame himself for being misled by a woman?