Men+and+Women+Handout+1

  Handout 1

Sir Gawain and the Lady      Lancelot was riding his horse in the forest when he met the Black Knight. The Black Knight had an enormous sword but Lancelot was unarmed. “I can kill you, but I´m an honorable man,” the Black Knight said. “I am going to ask you a question, you have to answer this question in a week. If the answer is right, I will forgive you. If the answer is wrong, I will kill you.” <span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“All right,” said Lancelot in fear. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Now, the question is: What do women want?” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Ah?” said Lancelot. “What do women want?” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Yes,” said the Black Knight. “What do women want? That is the question” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   The Black Knight went away on his horse and Lancelot decided to go back to the castle. On his way to the castle, he saw a horrible witch sitting under a tree. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“I know the answer to the question!” she said. “Ahh!! Ahhh!” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“OK, tell me, please!” said Lancelot. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“To give you the answer I must marry a knight,” she said. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">Lancelot thought for a moment and he decided to continue his trip to the castle. He didn´t think a knight could marry a witch. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   In the castle, he asked a lot of people. He asked men, he asked women, he asked children. And the problem was that they gave him lots of different answers. Some people said chocolates, others said love, men, children, flowers. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">The days passed by and Lancelot was desperate. Tomorrow was the day when he had to meet the Black Knight. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">Finally, he talked with King Arthur. King Arthur thought this was a difficult problem and he called the Knights of the round table for a meeting. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">During the meeting, Lancelot explained his problem. All the Knights were serious. In the end, Sir Gawain talked. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“You must ask the witch for the answer and one of us must marry her,” he said. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“But who will marry her?” Lancelot asked. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">All the Knights looked down. They were silent. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“I will marry her,” said Sir Gawain. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   Lancelot was shocked. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   “What a true friend you are!” said Lancelot. Everyone was amazed. Sir Gawain was loyal and a true friend but this action was heroic. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   Immediately after, Lancelot went to the forest and talked to the witch. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“OK, please, tell me the answer to the question!” he said, “My friend Sir Gawain will marry you”. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Women want decision,” said the witch. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Decision?” asked Lancelot. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Yes, decision,” said the witch. “Now take me to the castle,” she said. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   So Lancelot took her to the castle and then he returned to the forest. In the forest he met the Black Knight. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“What women want is decision,” he said. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">The Knight turned pale. He was shocked. Lancelot had the right answer. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“You win this time,” he said, “but next time…” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">The Black Knight went away angry on his horse. Lancelot returned to the castle and once in the castle, all the preparations for the wedding started. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   The wedding took place. Sir Gawain married the witch. The witch wore a beautiful dress but she still looked horrible. Everybody celebrated. They all danced, sang, ate and drank. The party finished and everybody left but Sir Gawain stayed with the witch. They went to Sir Gawain´s bedroom. Sir Gawain felt sick. He closed the door trembling and he spent long minutes closing the door as he heard: <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“Come with me, darling!” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">In the end, he turned round and he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   “Wow!” he said. “Who are you? Where´s the witch?” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">“I am her,” she said. “I am the witch.” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   The beautiful lady explained it all. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   “I offended a witch some years ago, and she cast a spell on me. She turned me into a horrible witch. But the spell is not completely broken, I´m afraid,” she said. “For twelve hours I will be beautiful and for twelve hours I will be horrible. Tell me Sir Gawain, What do you prefer? Do you want me to be beautiful by day and horrible by night or horrible by day and beautiful by night?” <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e2d0d0;"><span style="display: block; color: #7c4141; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #fcfcfc; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #ece9e9; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; color: #7d3b3b; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: #e7e4e4; text-align: left;">   Sir Gawain thought for a moment and then he said the words that broke the spell completely and for ever. He said: “YOU DECIDE”.