Gawain Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Hawk of May

In the Welsh legends, Gwalchmai's (Gawain's) brother is called Gwalchafed, meaning "Falcon of Summer". "Bear Hero" is the closest English translation of the Welsh name for Arthur (Arth Gwr in Welsh), and "Fair Hands" (or Beaumains) was the nickname of Gawain's brother Gareth.

Answer: Ceingalad

Ceingalad in English means "Hard Back", and in the English versions of the tales Gawain's horse is called Gringalet. Cabal was the name of Arthur's dog, Twrch Trwyth was a legendary boar Arthur hunted, and Sleipnir was the name of Odin's (from Norse mythology) eight-legged horse.

Answer: He chopped off his head

In the tale "Gawain and the Green Knight", Gawain was challenged to give the Green Knight an injury that would be returned to him in a year's time. Gawain chose to chop off the Green Knight's head, thinking it would kill him, but instead he survived. You will have to read the tale for yourself if you want to find out what happened next.

Answer: She was an ugly hag

Gawain married the loathsome Ragnell because of his duty to find out the answer to the riddle. It turned out that she was not really an ugly hag but a beautiful maiden under a spell cast by Morgan Le Fay.

Answer: True

After Gawain's father King Lot died, Gawain inherited his kingdom. No one is really quite sure where it was, but it was most likely the joint kingdom of Orkney and Norway. It had also been linked to Lothian, Gododdin, and other parts of Scotland. Gawain it seems was an absent King, spending most of his time at Arthur's court.

Answer: Gawain was his nephew

According to Malory's Morte Darther, Gawain was the son of Morgause, Arthur's half sister, making Gawain Arthur's nephew.

Answer: Mordred

Mordred was the child of Morgause (Gawin's mother) and Arthur. Arthur was unaware that Morgause was his half-sister when he met her, as he had been raised by foster parents. Mordred eventually killed Arthur at the battle of Camlann.

Answer: Gareth

Gareth had not seen his brother Gawain for a number of years and so was unrecognisable when he arrived at court. He wanted to prove that he was worthy to be a knight on his own, not just because he was a king's son. Arthur put him to work in the kitchens, and because his hands were unused to hard labour he was nicknamed "Beaumains" or "Fair Hands".

Answer: He writes a letter to Lancelot forgiving him.

Lancelot and Gawain fell out over Lancelot's affair with Guinevere, Arthur's wife. They fought a duel after Lancelot had killed many of Gawain's family and friends (in an attempt to save Guinevere from being burnt at the stake). When Gawain was found dying after a battle with Mordred he forgave Lancelot by dictating a letter to him.

Answer: He became a religious hermit

Another legend has it that he was also the sixth-century Welsh Saint Govan who spent his later years as a religious hermit on the Pembrokeshire Coast. His hut still exists today and St. Govan/Gawain is buried under the altar.