Who the Green Knight is
The Green Knight rides into Camelot on a horse as green as he is. His skin, clothes, hair and beard share the colour, and the startled court wonders whether he is a phantom or magic.
He carries a holly branch in one hand and a massive axe in the other. These signs of peace and war make his arrival puzzling before he even explains his game.
What the Green Knight wants
He says he comes for a Christmas game rather than a fight, pointing out that he wears no armour. He invites a knight to strike him once, provided that knight agrees to seek him out and accept a return blow.
When nobody answers, he mocks the courage of Arthur's famous knights. His challenge tests whether the court's proud reputation holds when its knights face real danger.
The Green Knight and the others in the story
King Arthur reaches for the axe, but Gawain asks to take his place and protect his king. The Green Knight binds Gawain to a promise that sends him searching for the Green Chapel.
Questions
Who is the Green Knight?
The Green Knight is a mysterious green visitor who brings an axe game to Arthur's feast at Camelot.
What does the Green Knight's colour mean?
Green can suggest nature, spring and renewal, or the dangers of the fairy world. The poem leaves its meaning open.
How does the Green Knight challenge Gawain?
He offers to receive an axe blow in exchange for giving one back later. Gawain accepts the bargain in Arthur's place.
