Question

both selection 1 and selection 2 conclude by telling the reactions of gawayne/gawain and king arthur to the episode. what does the contrast between the two versions suggest about the historical context of each passage?

a. ○ selection 1 has arthur mistaking gawaynes silence for dread of death, when gawayne is really grieving lady elfinharts rejection of his love. selection 2 has gawain and arthur laughing at the oddness of events. the contrast effectively shows the greater interest in psychological complexities in lewiss time.

b. ○ selection 1 has gawayne and arthur terrified at the prospect of gawaynes death. selection 2 has gawain and arthur scornfully laughing at the threat of death. the contrast effectively shows the greater acceptance of death in medieval times.

c. ○ selection 1 has arthur mistaking gawaynes silence for a dread of failure, when gawayne desires to best the green knight for the sake of honor. selection 2 has gawain and arthur laughing at the peculiar turn of events without a care. the contrast effectively shows a fixation in lewiss time on success.

d. ○ selection 1 has gawayne and arthur solemnly accepting gawaynes likely fate. selection 2 has gawain and arthur acting as if nothing has happened. the contrast effectively shows the more relaxed attitude toward life in medieval times.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option B: The description of "scornfully laughing" and "greater acceptance of death in medieval times" doesn't align with typical medieval attitudes or the text.
• Option C: The idea of "fixation on success" in Lewis's time is not supported by the contrast given.
• Option D: "Acting as if nothing happened" is inaccurate for the second selection's laughter at odd events.
• Option A: Selection 1 shows Arthur misinterpreting Gawayne's silence (grief over love rejection, not death dread), Selection 2 has them laughing at odd events. This contrast shows Lewis's time (modern) had more interest in psychological complexities (understanding Gawayne's true grief vs Arthur's misinterpretation).

Answer:

A. Selection 1 has Arthur mistaking Gawayne's silence for dread of death, when Gawayne is really grieving Lady Elfinhart's rejection of his love. Selection 2 has Gawain and Arthur laughing at the oddness of events. The contrast effectively shows the greater interest in psychological complexities in Lewis’s time.