Gawain is required to chop the Green Knight's head off with the ax because the code of chivalry requires a knight to never refuse a challenge offered by another person, to protect the honor of fellow knights, and to obey requests made by an elder who has authority. The Green Knight challenges all of the Knights of the Round Table to cut off his head but Arthur takes the challenge because the Green Knight mocks Arthur's silence but Gawain asks Arthur if he could cut the Green Knight's head off instead because he is the most noble of all the knights at the Round Table. Gawain is required to chop off the Green Knight's head because the Green Knight did not honor Gawain and his fellow Knights. The Green Knight mocked Arthur and the knights so Gawain decide to step up and cut off the Green Knight's head for Arthur. "'What, is this Arthur's house,' said that horseman then, 'whose fame is so fair in far realms and wide? Where is now your arrogance and your awesome deeds, your valor and your victories and your vaunting words? Now are the revel and renown of the Round Table overwhelmed with a word of one man's speech, for all cower and quake, and no cut felt!'" (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 309-315). The Green Knight dishonors the Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur by questioning …show more content…
"'Sir Gawain,' said the Green Knight, 'By God, I rejoice that your fist shall fetch this favor I seek, and you have readily rehearsed, and in right terms, each clause of my covenant with the king your lord, save that you shall assure me, sir, upon oath, that you shall seek me yourself, wheresoever you deem my lodgings may lie, and look for such wages as you have offered me here before all this host'" (Sir Gawain 390-397). According to the code of chivalry a knight can never backdown from a challenge, and this trait is shown in Gawain in this scene with the Green