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Reading schedule · Grades 6–9

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in 4 Weeks: A Reading Schedule

A four-week plan for reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one section a week. Each week gives the reading, a short summary of what happens, three discussion questions and the escape room that goes with it. For grades 6–9, in class or at home.

Pacing

Logic-stage readers (grades 6–9) can usually manage a section a week on their own, reading a few chapters most days. Use the questions to move from what happened to why it happened: motives, causes and consequences. A long section can take two weeks without spoiling the plan.

Each week ends with an escape room on that week's reading: seven self-checking locks that run in any browser, with no logins, and progress is saved, so a room can be finished another day. Every room has free taster locks to try, and members can open them all.

Print this schedule Escape rooms on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Week 1: Fitt 1

Read: Fitt 1

The poem begins with the founding of Britain after Troy, then moves to the Christmas feast at Camelot, where a green stranger rides in with a challenge. Gawain takes it up and strikes the blow, and the head speaks.

Discussion questions

1. Why does Gawain take the challenge in Arthur's place?
2. What does the green stranger's game test?
3. How does the court react when the head speaks?

Escape room: The Christmas Game (lockedlessons.com/rooms/sir-gawain-fitt-1/)

Week 2: Fitt 2

Read: Fitt 2

The year passes, and Gawain arms himself and sets out with his shield. After a hard journey through the wilderness he finds a castle on Christmas Eve, is welcomed by its lord and lady, and agrees to a bargain with the lord.

Discussion questions

1. What does the design on Gawain's shield stand for?
2. Why is the winter journey described so fully?
3. What does the bargain with the lord test?

Escape room: The Winter Journey (lockedlessons.com/rooms/sir-gawain-fitt-2/)

Week 3: Fitt 3

Read: Fitt 3

On three days the lord hunts deer, boar and fox while the lady visits Gawain. She offers him gifts, Gawain makes his confession, and on each of the three evenings he and the lord exchange what they have won.

Discussion questions

1. How do the three hunts mirror what happens in the castle?
2. Why does Gawain accept the last gift?
3. Is Gawain still keeping his word?

Escape room: Three Days of Hunting (lockedlessons.com/rooms/sir-gawain-fitt-3/)

Week 4: Fitt 4

Read: Fitt 4

A guide warns Gawain to turn back, but he goes on to the grim chapel and receives three strokes of the axe. The truth about the host, his wife and Morgan le Fay comes out, and Gawain returns to Camelot.

Discussion questions

1. Why do the three strokes fall as they do?
2. Why is Gawain so ashamed when he has survived?
3. How does the court at Camelot respond to Gawain's story, and why?

Escape room: The Third Stroke (lockedlessons.com/rooms/sir-gawain-fitt-4/)

Nothing in this schedule is quoted from any translation, so it can sit beside whichever one your class reads.