Did the Green Girdle Save Gawain’s Life?

Bill Benzon at The Valve sets up an interesting “quest” about Sir Gawain.

In this I don’t think we can forget the question of “youth.” Can it ascertain the “true” threat?

Part of the point or the answer has to do with what Gawain believes to be true at a given time. Gawain, good knight as that he is, doesn’t trust the girdle. What if he had?