Question

In this excerpt from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, what does the description of the attire of the strange man say of his social status?
And in guise all of green, the gear and the man:
A coat cut close, that clung to his sides,
And a mantle to match, made with a lining
Of furs cut and fitted—the fabric was noble

A. The man was a peasant
B. the man was a vassal
C. The man belonged to the nobility
D. The man was a commoner

Answer 1

He has furs C. The man belonged to the nobility

Answer 2

Answer: The right answer is the C) The man belonged to the nobility.

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that since the man was wearing a green outfit, cut close and that clung to his sides—so it was made specifically for him—and a matching mantle, lined with furs, it is possible to infer that he was a nobleman or an aristocrat. In the Middle Ages, when the romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was composed, the use of furs to line the garments as well as of the color green in clothing was associated with the gentry and with wealthy citizens, since they were both expensive materials.