Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight


It was New Year at the court of King Arthur. The King Queen and all the knights of the Round Table were celebrating. Suddenly the door opened and everybody turned round. A knight rode into the room on a magnificent horse. The knight and his horse were completely green!
The strange green knight got off his horse and spoke. `I know that King Arthur and his knights are famous for their bravery. I have come to test their bravery with a little game. Here Is my axe. One of you brave knights must try to cut off my head. But next year on the same day t will try to do the same to that knight:
A brave and honest knight Sir Gawain stood up and said: ‘I will do it: With no hesitation he took the axe and cut off the Green Knight’s head. Then the strangest thing happened. The Green Knight picked up his head got on his horse and left the room!

Ten months later Sir Gawain went off to find the Green Knight. He came to a magnificent castle. The lord of the castle invited him to stay for the New Year. Sir Gawain and the lord made an agreement. They agreed to give each other anything they received.
The next day the lord of the castle went out hunting. Sir Gawain stayed in bed. Suddenly the lady of the castle the lord’s wife came into his room. She was beautiful. She kissed Sir Gawain
and then left. When the lord of the castle returned he gave Sir Gawatn a deer he had caught. Sir Gawaln gave the lord a kiss.
The next day the same thing happened. On the third day the lady of the castle kissed Sir Gawain and then gave him a special belt. She said it would save his life. Sir Gawain did not give the belt to the lord of the castle because he thought it might be useful when he went to see the Green Knight.
On New Year’s day Sir Gawain went to meet the Green Knight. As they had agreed the Green Knight took the axe. He was going to cut off Sir . Gawain’s head when suddenly he stopped. He tried a second time but again stopped. The third time he cut Sir Gawain’s neck a little but didn’t hurt him.
Sir Gawain was angry. He said: `Why did you try three times? We agreed only oncei’ The Green Knight told him that he was in fact the lord of the castle. `i didn’t cut you the first two times because you were honest for two daysl But on the third day you didn’t tell me about the belt. So 1 had to cut you!’
Sir Gawain returned to King Arthur’s court. He was sad because he had not been honest. He decided to wear the belt around his neck for the rest of his life. He told King Arthur: `When i become arrogant I can look at the belt and remember that I am not a perfect knight.