After reading · Section 4
Section 4The Green Chapel and the Girdle
Summary
Gawayne rides through a winter storm to the Green Chapel, rejecting his guide’s offer to conceal an escape. The Green Knight feints twice: Gawayne flinches at the first stroke but stands firm at the second. The third stroke only cuts his neck. His opponent then identifies himself as Bernlak, the castle’s lord, and explains that the three strokes correspond to the three days of their exchange agreement. Gawayne faithfully returned the first two days’ kisses, but concealed the girdle on the third; the cut answers that failure, though Bernlak judges it a small fault born from love of life.
Ashamed, Gawayne confesses and accepts the girdle as a reminder of his fault. Bernlak reveals that Morgne la Faye arranged the marvel to test the Round Table’s reputation and frighten Guenever. Gawayne refuses Bernlak’s invitation, returns to Arthur’s court, and recounts everything. Although he treats the green belt as a mark of dishonesty, the court comforts him and adopts green baldrics in fellowship, turning his private sign of shame into a shared badge of honor.
Who’s who
- Sir Gawayne — Arthur’s knight, determined to keep his covenant but deeply ashamed that fear for his life led him to conceal the girdle.
- Bernlak de Hautdesert / the Green Knight — Gawayne’s host and challenger; he supervised the test and matches its three strokes to the three exchange days.
- Morgne la Faye — Arthur’s half-sister, Gawayne’s aunt, and the power behind Bernlak’s transformation and the original challenge.
- King Arthur and his court — Gawayne’s community, who welcome him home and adopt his green emblem.