This image is the scene of the beheading contest between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This picture is of the Green Knight riding on the horse, who loses his head to Sir Gawain but retrieves it before riding off. Even though his head is severed, he talks to Sir Gawain with his wide-open eyes. The Green Knight tells Sir Gawain to come back and look for the Green Knight and the Green Chapel one year and a day later.

In King Arthur's court in Camelot, King Arthur, Sir Gawain, who is a nephew of King Arthur, and all the other knights and ladies are having New Year's feast, which has continued for 15 days. People are enjoying themselves with the jousting,  tournaments, and kissing games.

However, when they are having dinner at the Round Table, the feast is suddenly interrupted by a fearsome looking knight. He is all green with red eyes and long hair, a giant of a knight sitting upon a green horse, the Green Knight. King Arthur's court is interrupted by the challenge of the Green Knight, a challenge to behead him. The Green Knight behaves rudely, and yells, "Where is Arthur?" Although the knights under Arthur are supposed to protect their King, they are all too afraid of the Green Knight to answer the challenge. King Arthur is ashamed of having cowards for knights so he himself tries to take up the Green Knight's challenge. Then, Sir Gawain stops Arthur, and courteously asks for permission to take up the Green Knight's challenge instead. The Green Knight's challenge, the beheading contest, is to strike the other's head off with an axe.

After getting  permission from King Arthur, Sir Gawain receives an axe from him. As Sir Gawain tries to strike the Green Knight, the Green Knight shows off his neck, holding his hair up, taunting Sir Gawain. In front of King and other knights, Sir Gawain cuts the Green Knight's head off, which falls to the floor.