The Exchange of Winnings

This thread follows the castle agreement that measures Gawain’s honesty against the lord’s daily hunts.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Bargain Proposed

The Bargain Proposed A Courteous Contract Bertilak proposes that each man give the other whatever he wins during the day. Gawain agrees without knowing the full design. Parallel Pursuits The arrangement sets the hunt outside against the lady’s visits inside, binding separate scenes together.

The Deer Returned

The Deer Returned A Straightforward Exchange Bertilak returns from the hunt with deer, while Gawain receives and returns a kiss from the lady. He gives the kiss to his host. Trust Established The exchange appears easy, encouraging confidence in the rules before the stakes rise.

The Boar and Two Kisses

The Boar and Two Kisses Greater Danger Outside Bertilak pursues a fierce boar, while Gawain endures a more assertive visit from the lady. The separate contests intensify together. The Agreement Kept Gawain returns two kisses, preserving the exchange even as the temptation becomes harder to manage.

The Fox and Three Kisses

The Fox and Three Kisses The Final Hunt Bertilak pursues a fox, whose evasive survival contrasts with the certainty of the coming appointment. Gawain receives three kisses. One Secret Withheld He gives the kisses to Bertilak but conceals the green girdle, breaking the agreement at its most consequential point.

The Exchange Judged

The Exchange Judged A Partial Reckoning Bertilak receives the kisses but does not yet expose the missing girdle. The game continues under a surface of friendly humor. Meaning Revealed Later At the Green Chapel, Bertilak identifies the omission as the reason for the third cut, revealing the agreement’s moral purpose.

The evening before Gawain’s first day at Hautdesert

The first day at Hautdesert

The second day at Hautdesert

The third day at Hautdesert

After the third day’s hunt