In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Green Knight is Bertilak of Hautdesert, the lord of the house in which Gawain lodges in the story, and his purpose was to challenge to the Knights of the Round Table in order to test their mettle. In the story, the Green Knight comes to Camelot with a challenge for the knights of the Round Table. One of them must take his axe and cut off his head, and if they cannot, they must meet him in a year and let him try and cut of their head. King Arthur rises to the challenge first, but Sir Gawain offers to take his place. Sir Gawain cuts off the head of the Green Knight, but the Green Knight puts it back on. Thus, Gawain sets out almost a year later in search of the Green Knight. He ends up lodging with Bertilak
