Sir Gawain and the Green Knight belongs to which broad literary tradition?

• A. Arthurian legend
• B. Renaissance comedy
• C. Norse saga
• D. Latin epic

Answer: (A)

This item tests your ability to place a work within its broader literary tradition based on setting and themes. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is firmly part of the Arthurian legend tradition: it centers on King Arthur’s court at Camelot, features knights of the Round Table like Gawain, and emphasizes chivalry, moral testing, and quest-like challenges—hallmarks of medieval Arthurian romance. It isn’t a Renaissance comedy, which derives from later theatrical satire; it isn’t a Norse saga, which centers on Viking-age heroes in a Norse world; and it isn’t a Latin epic, which would be a classical-style epic in Latin about ancient heroes. So the best fit is Arthurian legend.