Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo

It's Christmas at Camelot and King Arthur won't begin to feast until he has witnessed a marvel of chivalry. A mysterious knight, green from head to toe, rides in and brings the court's wait to an end with an implausible challenge to the Round Table: he will allow any of the knights to strike him once, with a battle-axe no less, on the condition that he is allowed to return the blow a year hence. At the centre of the story of the challenge and its consequences is Arthur's brave favourite, Sir Gawain. Three epic poems from 14th century England speak of life during the age of chivalry. Translated from medieval English. Contains 2 pages of abbreviations and a substantial glossarypp.[161]-230.