Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Part 3 Summary

Howard Pyle illustration from the 1903 edition of The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

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• In the morning, the lord and his men quickly eat their breakfast, attend mass, and then get ready for a day of hunting. They leave before daybreak.
• The lord and his men bring their hunting trumpets and their hounds and head off into the forest.
• They seem to be making quite a ruckus, and all the animals are terrified.
• The deer take off through the woods, but the lord's men and hounds hunt them down. Basically, it sounds like they take down every deer in the forest.
• The lord couldn't be happier.
• While the lord is out hunting, Gawain luxuriates in bed, enjoying the silk sheets.
• While he's dozing, the beautiful lady sneaks in. She creeps quietly to his bed, sitting down gently on it, then waits to see if he'll wake up.
• Gawain, feeling a little uncomfortable and embarrassed, pretends to be asleep for a bit longer. Finally, he stretches and opens his eyes and acts surprised to see the lady.
• She's all flirty, making comments about how he can't tell when someone sneaks up on him while he's sleeping, and how she has imprisoned him in his bed.
• He's flirty back, saying that he surrenders himself to her, but would like to get up and get dressed.
• She says no. She's going to tuck him into bed again and chat with him all by herself, while her husband and his men are away and while everyone else in the house is in bed. And while the door is locked.
• Hmm. What's going on here?
• The lady makes a fuss about Gawain, saying that she has in her house the gallant man that everyone loves and admires, and she wants to make the most of this opportunity.
• Gawain is all Mr. Modest, and says that he's happy to serve her in any way she wants.
• She gushes about how Gawain is handsome and kind and courteous (and etc.). She says that if she were the richest and worthiest woman in the world, and if she could choose to have any man in the world, she would choose him.
• He says that she's chosen a better man (meaning the lord, her husband), but says that he'll be her knight.
• The narrator tells us that Gawain and the lady flirt like this all morning.
• Gawain tries to be cautious, but also always polite. Still on his mind, also, is the idea that he has to face the Green Knight in a few short days.
• When the lady speaks of leaving, Gawain agrees at once.
• She doesn't leave though, and instead says that she doubts that he's actually Gawain.
• Gawain wants to know why she doubts him.
• She answers that Gawain wouldn't have talked with a lady for so long without begging a kiss from her by some hint or suggestion.
• Gawain says he'll kiss her if she wants him to. She kisses him and then scurries off.
• Gawain gets dressed, goes to mass, eats, and spends the rest of the day relaxing.

• Part 3, Lines 1319 - 1411 Summary

  • Meanwhile, the lord and his men are still out in the woods. They finish the hunt and start to divide up the deer.
  • We get lots of detailed description of the slaughter of the deer. About guts and gullets and hide and stuff like that. The butchering happens in a very specific, ordered way.
  • They throw some parts out for the ravens, feed the dogs with other deer parts, and the men take the rest.
  • The hunt has been a huge success, and by the time the sun has set, the men are back at the castle.
  • The lord finds Gawain inside, waiting contentedly by a bright, warm fire. The two men greet each other joyfully.
  • The lord asks everyone to assemble downstairs, including the two ladies (the lord's wife and the old lady) and their servants.
  • The lord shows Gawain some of the venison meat he's cut from the deer, and Gawain agrees that it's great quality meat.
  • The lord says that according to their agreement, he'll give all of his venison to Gawain.
  • Gawain says he'll give the lord what he's won today, also according to their agreement. So he kisses the lord, essentially turning over the kiss that the lady had given him earlier that day.
  • The lord wants to know how Gawain won this kiss, but Gawain refuses to tell him, saying that wasn't part of the bargain.
  • The lord and Gawain have a merry old time during dinner, then sit by the fire drinking wine and joking around.
  • They decide to extend their little game, exchanging tomorrow's winnings as well.
  • They seal the deal in front of the whole court with a pledge-drink.
  • Finally, they go to bed.

  • Part 3, Lines 1412 - 1560 Summary

    • The lord and his men are out of bed early again the next morning. Before the sun rises they're already out in the woods to spend the day hunting.
    • The hunters and the dogs again create a huge ruckus, with the hunters urging the hounds on with shouts and horns, and the dogs barking at some kind of wild animals.
    • The dogs take off and end up at a wooded knoll, which the hunters surround.
    • The hunters find the animal that the dogs have been chasing. It's an enormous boar.
    • The boar charges, knocks down some of the men, and even wounds some of the dogs.
    • The men shoot the boar repeatedly with arrows, but he continues charging.
    • Eventually, the lord rides up and lances the boar. Then the dogs pursue the wounded animal.
    • Meanwhile, Gawain is lying in bed at the castle.
    • Again, the flirty lady comes to his room, and they start to banter.
    • She teases him about how he's already forgotten the lesson she taught him yesterday. She says that a courteous knight should ask for a kiss whenever he sees through her behavior that a lady is willing.
    • Gawain again says that he's at the lady's service and will kiss her whenever she likes.
    • The lady bends down over Gawain and kisses him.
    • Then they talk for a while about the rewards and trials of love. The lady wants Gawain to teach her about the ways of true love. She asks why it is that knights are praised above all of for the practice of love. She says that when the deeds of knights are discussed, everyone always focuses on how they have risked everything for love, suffered dreadful times for their love-longing, and performed acts of valor to bring joy to their ladies with their winnings.
    • The lady goes on to wonder why Gawain, who has a great reputation for love, hasn't yet spoken to her of love. She asks again for him to teach her about love.
    • Gawain says that it would be an honor to teach her, though she's probably more of an expert on love than he is. Still, he promises to do his best.
    • The narrator tells us that Gawain and the lady laugh and kiss and have a good time, but Gawain continues to be cautious, and neither Gawain nor the lady commits any evil.
    • After the lady leaves, Gawain gets up, goes to mass, and eats. The he proceeds to spend the rest of the day with the beautiful lady and the old lady.

     

    Part 3, Lines 1561 - 1689 Summary

    • We're back in the woods and the lord is still chasing the fierce boar.
    • The men continue to surround and shoot the boar with arrows.
    • The boar is growing tired and foaming at the mouth. Still, it manages to make it to a safe hole by a rocky ledge.
    • No one dares to get too close, since the boar has already gored a bunch of men with its tusks.
    • The lord bravely rides up, though, unsheathes his sword.
    • The boar charges the lord, but the lord stabs the boar as deeply as he can, piercing its heart.
    • The hounds pounce and tear at the boar. Then the men start carving up the meat, again in an ordered fashion.
    • The lord and his men return home with the meat, and the lord presents it to Gawain, according to their deal.
    • The lord tells Gawain, the ladies, and the rest of the people in the castle the story of how they took down the boar. Gawain is impressed by the quality of the meat and the immense size of the animal. He's even given the boar's head.
    • Next Gawain offers the lord what he won during the day – another kiss.
    • Everyone sits down to a merry dinner, complete with singing and dancing.
    • The whole time, Gawain sits next to the beautiful lady. She keeps making eyes at him, and it makes him feel confused and angry with himself. But as a courteous knight, he can't rebuke her, so he tries to remain polite, even if his behavior might be misinterpreted.
    • Gawain and the lord spend some time together before going to bed. The lord wants to continue their little game tomorrow too.
    • Gawain, however, is feeling anxious because tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and the next day Gawain will need to go to the Green Chapel.
    • The lord assures Gawain once more that he will get Gawain to the Green Chapel in time. He convinces Gawain to relax again tomorrow while he goes hunting.
    • He says that he's tested Gawain twice already and found him faithful. Might as well continue the game, because the third time is a charm.
    • Gawain agrees, and they both head off to bed.

     Part 3, Lines 1690 - 1892 Summary

    • You know the drill: in the morning, the lord and his men go hunting.
    • This time the hounds catch the scent of a fox and rush after him.
    • The fox is wily and leads the lord and his huntsmen on a grand old chase over hills and dales all afternoon.
    • Meanwhile, Gawain sleeps deeply in his cozy room.
    • The lady wakes up early and heads to Gawain's room, as usual. She sets to teasing him immediately, and they playfully banter.
    • She's dressed quite seductively this morning and even lies next to him in the bed.
    • The narrator basically says that the lady is ambushing him and pushing him toward danger. Soon he'll be forced to either accept her love or rudely reject her. Gawain really doesn't want to be a traitor to the lord, who has been so generous to him, but we also know that Gawain really values being courteous and polite to ladies.
    • The lady is really cranking up the heat, and wants to know why he doesn't want her. Does he have some other lover that he prefers?
    • Gawain says that he doesn't have a lover, nor does he want one right now.
    • The lady is upset and asks for another kiss before leaving. He agrees.
    • Before she goes, she says that she wants a gift from him, to remember him by. Gawain says that he's on a quest and hasn't brought anything with him that would make a worthy love-token.
    • The lady wants to give him a parting gift anyway. She offers him one of her expensive rings, which he refuses since he can give her nothing in return. She presses him, but he swears to never accept it.
    • She's upset, but tries to offer him something less expensive, in case that's what's bothering him. She offers him the green silk girdle (a belt) that she's wearing.
    • He refuses again. The lady presses him again. She says that the person who wears the green girdle can't be killed.
    • Well, now that's interesting.
    • Gawain thinks about his impending encounter with the Green Knight, and decides to let the lady wrap her girdle around him.
    • She tells him never to take it off, and not to let the lord know about the girdle. It has to be their little secret. Gawain agrees.
    • At this point, the lady has kissed Gawain three times today.
    • She leaves and Gawain gets dressed.
    • He heads to the chapel and confesses his sins to a priest. The priest absolves him of his sins, which is good, since Gawain probably thinks he's going to die tomorrow.
    • Gawain feels much better and has a great time for the rest of the day. Everyone who sees him thinks that he's the happiest he's been since he arrived.

     Part 3, Lines 1893 - 1997 Summary

    • The lord is still of in the woods, chasing the fox.
    • A hound corners the fox, and the lord swoops the fox up and holds it over his head.
    • Everyone is happy. The men blow their horns and shout; the hounds bark.
    • The hunters skin the fox, and they all head home.
    • The lord meets Gawain, who has been happily hanging out by the fire among the women.
    • Gawain tells the lord that he'll be the first to offer his day's winnings this time. He kisses the lord three times (for the three kisses he received from the beautiful lady).
    • The lord comments that Gawain has had some good luck today, but that he (the lord) has not. All he won was a single ugly fox.
    • Gawain accepts the fox, and they settle down for another evening of food, drink, and merriment. Both Gawain and the lord are ridiculously happy.
    • Finally, it’s time for bed.
    • Gawain politely thanks the lord for all of his hospitality, but reminds the lord of his promise to help him find the Green Chapel tomorrow.
    • The lord assigns a servant to Gawain, who will lead him to the chapel.
    • Gawain says a tearful farewell to the beautiful lady and the old one. He also thanks the crowd and the servants.
    • Finally, Gawain heads to bed. The narrator says that he's not sure if the knight is able to get much sleep, since he has tomorrow's task on his mind.