Le Morte d’Arthur: Class Notes

Notes trace the adventures of King Arthur, Gareth, Tristram, and the knights on the Grail quest.

By Rick Reed

The Tale of King Arthur and the Emperor Lucius

I. Lucius Challenges Arthur

A. Lucius sends ambassadors to demand tribute from Britain.
- They threaten annexation if tribute is refused.
- Arthur guarantees the ambassadors’ safety.
B. Arthur consults his counselors.
- They recommend war against Rome.
- Arthur asserts Britain’s claim to the imperial title.
C. Lucius prepares for war.
- He gathers allies.
- He secures assistance from the Giants of Geen.
D. Arthur prepares his kingdom.
- He appoints Sir Constantine regent.
- He names Constantine heir to the throne.
E. Arthur dreams of a dragon and a bear.
- The dragon defeats the bear.
- The dragon is seriously wounded in the victory.

II. Arthur’s Campaign

A. Arthur encounters the Giant of Geen.
- The giant has kidnapped Lady Howell.
- He has murdered more than five hundred children.
- Arthur kills the giant.
- Arthur attributes the victory to God.
- He commissions a church on Mount St. Michael.
B. Sir Berell and Sir Bors are captured.
- Idres and Gawain free them.
C. The King of Libya kills Sir Berell.
- Launcelot, Cador, and Bors destroy many of the king’s knights.
- Cador kills the king.
D. Launcelot establishes his reputation.
- He has only recently been knighted.
- Bors and Lyonel likewise are newly knighted.
E. Arthur avenges Sir Kay’s grievous wounding.

III. Arthur’s Victory

A. Arthur kills Lucius.
B. Arthur honors the Roman dead.
- He sends Roman ambassadors home with the bodies of noble Romans.
C. Priamus joins Arthur.
- Priamus wounds Gawain with a magical sword.
- Gawain wounds Priamus.
- They are reconciled.
- Priamus heals them with the Four Waters of Paradise.
- Priamus defects to Arthur’s side.
D. Arthur lifts the siege of Florence.
- He responds to the plea of the Grand Duchess.
- He forbids plundering.
E. Arthur is crowned emperor.
- The coronation occurs on Christmas Day.
- The event recalls Charlemagne’s imperial coronation.

The Tale of Sir Gareth

I. First Assignment

A. Gareth arrives at Camelot in disguise.
- He requests three gifts of Arthur.
- The first gift is food and lodging for one year.
- He postpones requesting the other two gifts.
B. Kay names him Beaumains.
- Kay refuses to treat him as a nobleman.
- He assigns him to the kitchen.
- Launcelot and Gawain are ashamed of Kay’s conduct.
- Beaumains remains in the kitchen for a year.
C. Lynet seeks aid.
- She asks Arthur to rescue her sister from the Red Knight.
- Beaumains requests the adventure for himself.
- He asks to be knighted by Launcelot.
- Lynet protests indignantly.
D. Gareth proves his worth.
- He defeats Kay.
- He takes Kay’s spear and shield.
- He challenges Launcelot.
- Launcelot acknowledges Gareth’s superiority.
- Gareth reveals himself as Gawain’s brother.
E. Gareth’s Journey
- He defeats six thieves.
- He kills the Black Knight.
- He defeats the Green Knight and gains thirty followers.
- He defeats the Puce Knight and gains sixty followers.
- Lynet gradually abandons her insults.
- Gareth admits her criticism strengthened his resolve.
F. Gareth explains his disguise.
- He spent a year in the kitchen to identify true friends and enemies.
- Lynet asks forgiveness.
G. Gareth defeats additional opponents.
- He defeats the Indigo Knight.
- He rejects Persaunte’s daughter.
- Lynet reveals their destination as Castle Dangerous.
H. Gareth defeats the Red Knight.
- Lynet warns that the knight’s strength peaks at noon.
- Gareth insists on meeting him at full strength.
- The Red Knight explains his enchantment.
- Gareth spares him.

II. Second Assignment

A. Sir Ironside submits to Arthur.
- He confesses his wrongdoing.
- He yields to Arthur, Launcelot, and Gawain.
B. Lyoness tests Gareth.
- She demands a year of knight-errantry.
- Gareth reluctantly agrees.
C. Gryngamour investigates Gareth’s lineage.
- He abducts Gareth’s dwarf.
- The dwarf reveals Gareth’s ancestry.
- Lynet cites Gareth’s conduct as proof of noble birth.
D. Gareth arrives at Gryngamour’s castle.
- He challenges Gryngamour.
- Lyoness prevents combat.
- She disguises herself.
- She seeks Gareth’s affection.
E. Gareth and Lyoness fall in love.
- Lyoness admits her love.
- Gareth remains as a guest.
- They arrange a secret meeting.
F. The Spectral Knight
- A spectral knight wounds Gareth.
- Gareth beheads him.
- Lynet restores the knight.
- The event repeats ten days later.
- Gareth’s wound remains unhealed.
G. Gareth is rediscovered.
- Margawse appears at court.
- Arthur begins searching for Gareth.
- Gareth proposes a tournament for Lyoness’s hand.
H. The Tournament
- Knights gather from throughout the realm.
- Lyoness gives Gareth a magical ring.
- Gryngamour gives Gareth his father’s horse, armor, and sword.
- Gareth defeats twelve knights.
- Arthur asks Launcelot to challenge him.
- Launcelot declines.
- Gareth later spares Launcelot.
- Launcelot recognizes Gareth’s identity.
- Gareth is eventually identified publicly.
I. Gareth’s Final Adventures
- He stays with a duchess loyal to the Duke de la Rowse.
- He mortally wounds Sir Bendalayne.
- He defeats twenty attackers.
- He kills the Brown Knight.
- He defeats the Duke de la Rowse.
- The duke submits with one hundred knights.
J. Gareth and Gawain
- Gawain wounds Gareth in combat.
- Lynet reveals their identities.
- The conflict ceases.
K. Marriages
- Gareth marries Lyoness.
- Gaheris marries Lynet.
- Aggravayne marries Lawrell.

The Book of Sir Tristram of Lyoness

I. Tristram and Ireland

A. Tristram defeats Sir Marhaus.
- The duel determines Cornwall’s tribute to Ireland.
B. Tristram journeys to Ireland.
- He assumes the name Tramtris.
- He seeks healing for his wounds.
C. Iseult heals Tristram.
- She falls in love with him.
- She remains ignorant of Marhaus’s death.
D. Tristram wins a tournament.
- He defeats Palomides.
- He reveals his identity.
E. King Angwyshaunce banishes Tristram.

II. Tristram, Mark, and Iseult

A. Tristram and Mark quarrel.
- They admire the same lady.
B. Mark sends Tristram to Ireland.
- He seeks Iseult’s hand in marriage.
C. Tristram serves Angwyshaunce.
- He defeats Sir Blamore.
- He spares Blamore’s life.
- He requests Iseult as his reward.
D. Tristram and Iseult drink the love potion.
- They become secret lovers.
E. Mark discovers their relationship.
- Tristram humiliates him.
- Reconciliation follows.
F. The Drinking Horn
- Sir Lamerok brings the horn to Cornwall.
- Iseult fails its test.
- The accusation is dismissed as sorcery.
G. Tristram and Iseult flee.
- Andret exposes them.
- Tristram kills Andret.
- The lovers hide in the forest.
- Mark later recovers Iseult.
- He imprisons her.
H. Tristram marries Iseult of the Fair Hands.

III. Tristram and Other Knights

A. Launcelot criticizes Tristram.
- He questions Tristram’s devotion to Iseult.
B. Tristram and Lamerok become allies.
- They defeat Nabon le Noire.
- They later unknowingly fight one another.
- Their friendship is renewed.
C. Palomides defeats both men.
D. Tristram becomes jealous.
- He discovers messages exchanged with Iseult.
- He loses his reason.
- Mark exiles him.
E. Launcelot recognizes Tristram as his equal.
F. Tristram rescues Palomides.
- He saves him from Sir Breuse sans Pité.
G. Tristram jousts with Launcelot.
- The encounter fulfills Merlin’s prophecy.
H. Tristram joins the Round Table.

IV. Mark’s Villainy

A. Mark repeatedly seeks Tristram’s death.
B. Lamerok excels at a tournament.
- Gawain and his brothers become envious.
C. Gaheris kills his mother Margawse.
- He discovers her with Lamerok.
D. Modred and Aggravayne attack Dynadin.
- He is a friend of Lamerok.
E. Mark slanders Arthur and Gwynevere.
- He sends letters accusing Gwynevere of treason.
F. Dynadin composes a satire against Mark.
G. Mark murders Alexander the Orphan.
- He had already murdered Alexander’s father.

V. Toward the Grail Quest

A. Galahalte sponsors a tournament.
- The event is designed to kill Launcelot.
B. Mark sends Tristram.
- He hopes Tristram will be mistaken for Launcelot.
C. Mark imprisons Tristram.
- Percivale rescues him.
D. Launcelot gives Joyous Gard to Tristram and Iseult.
E. Gawain and Gaheris murder Lamerok.
- Gareth refuses involvement.
F. Dynadin increasingly mocks courtly love.
G. Launcelot visits King Pelles.
- Pelles guards the Holy Grail.
H. Elaine conceives Galahad by Launcelot.
- Lady Brusen’s sorcery enables the deception.
I. Bors hears a prophecy.
- Several knights will surpass Launcelot spiritually.
J. Tristram and Palomides fight.
- They become friends.
- Palomides converts to Christianity.

The Tale of the Sangreal

IV. “Sir Launcelot”

A. Launcelot encounters a hermit.
- 1. The hermit shows Launcelot the corpse of another hermit in a white shirt.
- 2. A fiend reveals that the dead man is saved.
  - a. The fiend tells the story of Sir Aguars’ quarrel with the Earl de Vale.
  - b. The hermit in the white shirt, Sir Aguars’ uncle, helps Aguars win.
  - c. The earl’s nephews attempt to kill Aguars’ uncle but could not cut or burn him.
  - d. The next morning the first hermit found the corpse unburned.
- 3. The hermit reiterates that Launcelot’s sin prevents him from even seeing the Holy Grail.
  - a. Launcelot is the greatest knight on earth - save for his sin.
  - b. The hermit gives Launcelot three instructions.
    - 1) Wear the dead hermit’s hair next to his skin to increase his virtue.
    - 2) Abstain from meat and wine.
    - 3) Go to mass whenever possible.
B. Launcelot encounters a young noblewoman on a white palfrey.
- 1. She advises him that he is now nearer his goal.
- 2. She predicts that he will find no lodging this night but will the next.
C. Launcelot camps beside a cross and dreams.
- 1. His dream is a vision of a gold-crowned man surrounded by stars and leading seven kings and two knights up to the cross where all kneel and pray.
- 2. God blesses the seven kings but only one knight.
- 3. God charges the other knight with selfish use of his gifts and worldliness and demands return of the gifts.
D. Launcelot re-encounters the knight he saw healed by the Grail.
- 1. He challenges the knight.
- 2. Having bested him, Launcelot takes back his horse.
D. Launcelot re-encounters the knight he was healed by the Grail.
- 1. He challenges the knight.
- 2. Having bested him, Launcelot takes back his horse.
E. Launcelot spends the night at a hermitage.
- 1. The hermit interprets Launcelot’s dream: the kings and knights are descendants of Joseph of Arimathea.
  - a. Nappus, a holy man and king
  - b. Nacien, a holy man and king
  - c. Hellyas le Grose, a king
  - d. Lysays, a king
  - e. Jonas, a king
    - 1) Left his country to go to West Britain
    - 2) Married Manuell’s daughter, thereby becoming King of England.
  - f. Launcelot, our Launcelot’s grandfather and king
  - g. Ban, King of Benwick
  - h. Launcelot, our knight but not of the others’ fellowship.
  - i. Galahad, a knight (represented by a lion because he shall surpass all earthly knights).
- 2. The most remarkable of all earthly knights both for his virtue and his vices.
- 3. Galahad would defeat Launcelot in battle.
F. Launcelot comes upon the tournament between the black knights and white knights.
- 1. Launcelot sides with the black knights because they are losing.
- 2. The white knights wound Launcelot severely and carry him off the field.
G. Launcelot lies down to sleep beneath an apple tree where an old woman chastises him (perhaps in a dream).
- 1. She interprets this tournament.
  - a. The black knights of Augustus were bound to earthly sins.
  - b. The white knights of Eliazar, Pelles’ son, acted in a state of grace.
- 2. She reveals the nature of the quest for the Holy Grail: The quest is the challenge of evil which each knight must transcend in order to participate in the holy mysteries which God shall vouchsafe to the righteous.
- 3. She interprets the old man’s words.
  - a. Launcelot does not belong to the blessed.
  - b. He fights only for worldly ends.
  - c. If he does not change, he is bound for Hell.
I. Launcelot encounters a black knight who kills Launcelot’s horse.

V. Sir Gawain

A. Gawain meets Ector de Marys
- 1. Both complain of encountering no adventures.
- 2. Gawain recognized Launcelot, Galahad, Percivale, and Bors as the greatest of knights.
- 3. Gawain acknowledges the futility of his quest.
B. Gawain and Ector find, enter, and pray in a deserted chapel and fall asleep after talking.
- 1. Gawain dreams of 247 black bulls, 2 white bulls, and a white bull with 1 black spot.
  - a. The black bulls run about and leave the meadow.
    - 1) Some return exhausted.
    - 2) Others never return.
  - b. The two white bulls are tied together by two cords.
- 2. Ector dreams of himself and his brother Launcelot in two chairs.
  - a. They descend and mount two horses, declaring, “We shall now seek that which we shall not find.”
  - b. A man strips and beats Launcelot then dresses him in knotted clothes and places him on an ass.
  - c. Launcelot dismounts at a well and tries to drink but the water recedes.
  - d. Launcelot returns to his chair.
  - e. Ector enters a rich man’s house during a wedding.
  - f. A king says Ector has no place there.
  - g. Ector returns to his chair.
- 3. An arm appears clasping a candle and supporting a bridle and a voice proclaims that these symbols have failed the two knights.
C. Gawain and Ector seek out Nacien to interpret the visions.
- 1. Gawain jousts an unknown knight, mortally wounds him, and takes him to an abbey where the knight reveals he is Sir Uwayne.
- 2. Nacien interprets each symbol.
  - a. Feeding rack = the Round Table.
  - b. The bulls = the Knights of the Round Table.
  - c. Flowery meadow = the patience and humility upon which true chivalry is founded.
  - d. Black bulls = sin-dominated knights.
  - e. Two white bulls = Galahad and Percivale (who are virgins, sinless, and humble).
  - f. White bull with one spot = Bors who sinned once.
  - g. The returning bulls = knights who failed to seek absolution before beginning the quest.
  - h. Nacien predicts that only Bors will return from the quest (the other two will die).
- 3. Nacien interprets Ector’s dream.
  - a. Chairs = high estate to which he is heir but from which he has descended.
  - b. Fruitless quest = quest for the Holy Grail.
  - c. Launcelot has sinned for twenty-four years and must do penance for twenty-four days.
- 4. Nacien interprets their vision.
  - a. Arm = chastity of the Holy Spirit.
  - b. Bridle = abstinence.
  - c. Candle = the light of Christ.
  - d. Gawain and Ector lack chastity, virtue, and faith.
- 5. Nacien predicts that Launcelot will die a holy man.
D. Gawain departs to catch up with Ector rather than stay and receive instruction from Nacien.

VI. Sir Bors

A. At the outset of the quest, Bors encounters a holy man
- 1. The holy man advises that Bors confess - which Bors does.
- 2. The holy man advises Bors to eat only bread and water.
- 3. The holy man predicts that Bors will achieve the quest.
- 4. He gives Bors a “garment of chastisement” to wear.
- 5. He knows that Bors’ transgression was the impregnation of King Brandegoris’ daughter.
B. Bors sees a bird sacrifice itself by feeding its young its blood but does not understand.
C. Bors sups with and agrees to champion a young gentlewoman who is assailed by the former mistress of her late overlord, King Anyause.
- 1. The older noblewoman’s champion is Sir Prydan le Noyre.
- 2. That night Bors has a vision of two birds.
  - a. The white bird (a swan?) promises Bors the “greatest riches on earth” and to make him white.
  - b. The black bird (a raven?) declares that its “blackness shall prevail against all that is white.”
  - c. A holy man prevents two white lilies from strangling each other but does nothing to save a rotten tree.
  - d. He warns Bors to be wary when “like circumstances befall” him.
  - e. Bors jousts with Sir Prydan le Noyre.
    - 1) Prydan yields after fierce fighting.
    - 2) Bors refuses any reward.
D. Bors chooses to save an unknown noblewoman assailed by her cousin instead of his brother Lyonel who is in dire straits.
- 1. After saving her, Bors is told by a false priest that Lyonel is dead.
- 2. The false priest urges Bors to yield in order to save Launcelot.
- 3. The lady promises worldly riches, but Bors refuses to become her paramour out of respect for this vow of chastity.
- 4. When she and her ladies threaten suicide, Bors chooses to save his own soul rather than yield to her.
- 5. He crosses himself, and the castle vanishes.
E. Bors lodges at an abbey where a priest interprets his experiences.
- 1. The bird that sacrificed itself is an image of Christ and His Passion.
- 2. King Anyause also represented Christ, the young noblewoman His Church, and the old woman the old church (Druidism?/paganism?)
- 3. The black bird was the power of the Church of Christ; the white bird was the hypocrisy of the old church.
- 4. The false priest was a fiend who lied about Lyonel’s being dead.
- 5. The temptress noblewoman was Lucifer himself.
- 6. The rotten tree is Lyonel (a murderer and a traitor to his vows).
- 7. The lilies were the knight and maid Bors rescued instead of Lyonel.
F. Bors heads for a tournament between the forces of the Earl of Playnes and Sir Hervyn in hopes of seeing Round Table knights.
G. Bors encounters Lyonel.
- 1. Lyonel attempts to kill Bors for desertion. [His reasons are unchivalrous.]
- 2. Lyonel refuses Bors’ request for mercy.
- 3. Lyonel beheads a hermit who attempts to stop him.
- 4. Lyonel beheads Sir Colgrevaunce when he attempts to stop him.
- 5. Bors seeks God’s forgiveness for his attacking Lyonel.
  - a. A voice warns him to flee rather than kill Lyonel.
  - b. The voice instructs Bors to meet Percivale by the sea.

VII. “Sir Galahad”

A. Galahad comes upon a tourney
- 1. He joins the party of the castle.
- 2. He wounds Gawain in the head.
  - a. Gawain sees the wound as the fulfillment of Launcelot’s prophecy concerning Balin’s sword.
  - b. Gawain declares his participation in the quest at an end.
B. Galahad lodges at the hermitage of Sir Ulphyne.
- 1. A young noblewoman invites him on “the highest adventure that can befall a knight.”
- 2. She leads him to a castle where the castle’s lady gives him a richly made shield.
- 3. The young woman then leads Galahad to the ship wherein lie Percivale and Bors.
C. Galahad departs with Percivale and Bors and the young woman on the ship that sails itself until they reach a second ship.
- 1. The second ship is named Faythe.
- 2. The noblewoman reveals that she is Percivale’s sister, a daughter of King Pellinore.
- 3. Only the perfectly faithful may enter the second ship.
- 4. Sir Galahad boards first.
D. Galahad discovers a strange sword.
- 1. The solid stone pommel gleams with many colors in each of which reside a particular virtue.
- 2. The hilt is made of two bones.
  - a. One from the Fiend’s Serpent of Calydone with the power to prevent weariness and injury.
  - b. The other form the Ertanax fish with the power to give the wielder dispassionate resolve and to prevent weariness.
- 3. Only Galahad can draw it from its sheath.
- 4. He causes a second inscription to appear.
E. Percivale’s sister relates the story of the sword.
- 1. King Labor, father of the Maimed King, warred against King Hurlaine, a Saracen converted to Christianity.
- 2. King Hurlaine boarded faith during the battle, and when Labor pursued him, Hurlaine killed Labor with the sword.
- 3. Hurlaine struck the Dolorous Stroke that laid waste two kingdoms.
- 4. The inscriptions indicate the sword’s mystery.
  - a. They describe the qualities of anyone who would hold it.
  - b. They warn against praising it.
- 5. When Nacien attempted to use the sword, it broke.
- 6. King Mordrayns restored it.
- 7. The next to handle the sword was King Pelles, a righteous king.
  - a. He withdrew the sword from its sheath partially.
  - b. A spear from out of nowhere wounded both his thighs.
  - c. The wounds never healed.
  - d. Pelles came to be called the Maimed King.
F. Percivale’s sister tells the story of the bed.
- 1. Three of the spindles that hold up the canopy were hewn from wood from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
  - a. One is snow white - the color the bough turned when Eve planted it (because she was a maiden.)
  - b. One is emerald green - the color the tree turned when Adam and Eve conceive Abel beneath it.
  - c. One is blood red - the color the tree turned when Cain slew Abel beneath it.
- 2. Solomon made the bed.
  - a. A voice prophesied that “of your lineage shall be born a maid [Sir Galahad] who will bring to men a hundred times greater joy than you have sorrow” over your wicked wife.
  - b. Solomon’s wife suggests building the ship.
  - c. She also proposes the making of the sword.
    - 1) The blade is from King David’s sword.
    - 2) The pommel is made of many stones worked to appear as one.
    - 3) She makes the girdle (belt) herself from hemp.
  - d. The carpenter who cut the spindles draws blood from the tree.
  - e. Angels blessed the ship, sword, and bed and wrote the various inscriptions.
  - f. The ship departs on its own when Solomon is afraid to enter it.
  - g. A voice declares that Solomon’s last descendant will sleep on the bed.
  - h. Percivale’s sister makes a new girdle for the sword from her own hair shaved when she became ordained for the quest.
  - i. The sword is called the Sword of the Straunge Gurdyls.
  - j. The scabbard is called the Mover of Blood.
  - k. Galahad declares the sword the most precious Virgin of all times and buckles it on.
G. They return to the first ship.
H. They first stop near the castle of Carteloyse in Scotland.
- 1. They kill all the castle’s knights as agents of God’s wrath.
- 2. A priest relates a tale of the incestuous and murderous sons of Earl Hennox. [He calls them Anti-Christs.]
I. The Grail knights see a vision of four lions leading a white hart.
- 1. The hart that transformed into a man and sat by the altar represents Christ.
- 2. The lion that transformed into an eagle is the evangelist St. John. [The eagle symbolizes Christ’s ascension because of Revelation 4:2, 4:7, and 7:9-17.] It also symbolizes sight.
- 3. The lion that transformed into an ox is St. Luke the evangelist. [The ox symbolizes Christ’s self-sacrifice because Luke’s gospel opens with the sacrifice made by Zacharias.]
- 4. The lion that transformed into a man is St. Matthew the evangelist. [The man symbolizes Christ’s human nature because Matthew’s gospel opens with genealogies.]
- 5. The lion that remains a lion is St. Mark. [The lion symbolizes resurrection because lion cubs were believed to lie dead for three days until their father brought them to life by breathing in their faces. Mark’s gospel opens with the voice crying in the wilderness, an allusion to the lion.]
- 6. The passage of all of them through a window without breaking it symbolizes the Virgin Birth.
J. They stop next at the castle of the sick princes.
- 1. When the castle’s knights ask for blood of Percivale’s sister, the Grail Knights slay 72 of them.
- 2. Percivale’s sister submits to giving her blood in order to end a history of bloodshed, though she knows it will kill her.
- 3. Her body is placed on a barge that she prophesies will find its way to Sarras.
- 4. Galahad parts from them to aid a dwarf.
- 5. Bors and Percivale return to the castle to find it in ruins.
- 6. Percivale and Bors part company.

VIII. The Castle of Carbonek

A. Sir Launcelot boards the sweet-smelling barge that bears the body of Percivale’s sister.
- 1. He is sustained by the grace of the Holy Ghost.
- 2. One night on shore he meets Galahad.
- 3. They live together on the barge for six months.
- 4. A white knight calls Galahad back to the quest for the Holy Grail.
- 5. A voice declares that they will not meet again until the “day of doom.”
- 6. Launcelot departs the ship at the Castle of Carbonek.
B. Launcelot enters the castle.
- 1. A dwarf prevents his killing two guardian lions.
- 2. Launcelot thanks God for the reproof.
- 3. He sees the Grail, but it is draped in red samite.
- 4. He swoons when he attempts to enter the room to save a man though a voice has forbidden him entry.
- 5. He remains unconscious for 24 days (one for each year of his adultery).
- 6. He is told his quest is ended.
- 7. He puts on the hermit’s hair, a fine linen shirt, and a scarlet robe.
C. King Pelles greets Launcelot.
- 1. On his last day they receive a visitation of the Grail in its aspect as cornucopia.
- 2. Sir Ector de Marys demands entry but is refused for serving the devil.
D. Launcelot returns to Camelot.
- 1. They visit King Bagdemagus’s tomb (the first of the Round Table knights to die on the quest and at the hands of Gawain). [Note the closing of a structural circle.]
- 2. He is received joyfully by Arthur and Gwynevere.
- 3. Ector, Gawain, and Lyonel are already there.

IX. The Miracles of Galahad

A. Galahad rejuvenates the ancient and wounded body of King Mordrayns.
- 1. By the power of the white lily: purity … and
- 2. By the power of the burning rose: martyrdom.
B. By his chastity, Galahad cools the waters of the well that boiled by the power of lust.
C. Galahad visits King Bagdemagus’s tomb in Gore (where also lie the sons of Joseph of Arimathea).
- 1. He extinguishes the flames of a tormented corpse by his very presence.
- 2. He buries the corpse, one of his kinsmen.
D. Percivale and Galahad rejoin each other at Carbonek.
- 1. Prince Elyazar brings them the broken spear with which Joseph of Arimathea had been wounded in the thighs.
  - a. Bors swoons when he touches the pieces.
  - b. Percivale cannot mend them either.
  - c. Galahad restores the spear.
  - d. They agree to give the spear to Bors in recognition of his unfailing faith and courage.
- 2. The spear appears blazing above all at supper.
  - a. A voice expels all diners except Pelles, his niece, Prince Elyazar, and the three Grail Knights.
  - b. Nine new knights enter the hall.
    - 1) Three from Gaul.
    - 2) Three from Ireland.
    - 3) Three from Denmark.
  - c. Four gentlewomen bring in the Maimed King.
  - d. A voice expels Pelles and Elyazar.
  - e. Four angels descend with Joseph of Arimathea.
    - 1) He celebrates a mystical mass involving both the Grail and the Spear.
    - 2) Christ himself serves the Grail Knights communion (his flesh).
    - 3) Christ announces that the Grail now departs Logres for the Spiritual Palace in Sarras.
    - 4) He instructs Galahad to anoint the Maimed King with blood from the spear and heal him.
    - 5) He sends them to Sarras but foretells that one will return to Logres as his apostle.
  - f. The Maimed King, healed, departs to become a holy hermit.
E. The Grail Knights return to their ship.
- 1. On board they find the Grail draped in red samite on a silver table.
- 2. Sir Galahad prays to die.
  - a. He craves union with God.
  - b. A voice says his prayer will be granted.
- 3. Galahad lies on the bed.
F. They land in Sarras.
- 1. They see Percivale’s sister’s barge.
- 2. Galahad heals a cripple.
G. King Estorause, a pagan, imprisons them.
- 1. The Grail succors them in prison for a year.
- 2. The king begs their forgiveness on his deathbed.
H. A voice instructs the citizens of Sarras to select Galahad as their new king.
- 1. Galahad ordains a gold storage chest for the Grail.
- 2. They pray before it daily.
I. Joseph of Arimathea comes to take Galahad.
- 1. A hand appears and withdraws the Grail and the Spear to Heaven.
- 2. The city mourns.
J. Percivale leaves the city to become a hermit.
- 1. He dies 14 months later.
- 2. Bors buries him next to his sister in the Spiritual Palace.
K. Bors returns to Logres.
- 1. He is received joyously.
- 2. His tale is recorded in the library of Salisbury.
L. Launcelot begs never to be parted from Bors, his cousin.

The Book of Sir Launcelot and Queen Gwynevere

I. The Poisoned Apple

A. Launcelot, despite spiritual travail, returns to his love for Gwynevere.
- 1. The vituperative Aggravayne speaks openly of their love.
- 2. Launcelot grows cautious in response.
- 3. He espouses the causes of many young gentlewomen.
- 4. His tactics anger Gwynevere.
- 5. Launcelot speaks of his disappointment in not achieving the Grail Quest.
- 6. He fears Aggravayne and Modred’s treachery, not on his own behalf but on Gwynevere’s.
- 7. Gwynevere discharges him from her service.
- 8. Bors advises Launcelot.
  - a. Women are changeable: Gwynevere may repent.
  - b. Go to the hermitage of Sir Brastius.
  - c. Gwynevere has often been vexed then has forgiven before.
B. Launcelot goes to Sir Brastius, but only his kinsmen know.
C. Gwynevere is grieved by Launcelot’s absence but throws a private party to hide the fact.
- 1. She invites 24 knights (p. 434, para. 1)
- 2. She serves apples because they are Gawain’s favorite.
- 3. Sir Pynel, a cousin of Sir Lamerok whom Gawain killed, poisons the apples in hopes of killing Gawain.
- 4. Sir Patrise, an Irish knight, is, however, the first to eat an apple - and he dies.
- 5. Gawain observes that Gwynevere is suspect in attempting to murder him - though others hesitate to say so.
- 6. Sir Madore, Sir Patrise’s cousin, charges Gwynevere with treason.
D. Gwynevere needs a champion.
- 1. Because Arthur is the sovereign, he cannot serve as Gwynevere’s champion.
- 2. Arthur begs for a champion because he believes Gwynevere is innocent.
- 3. When no one comes forward, Arthur advises Gwynevere to ask Sir Bors to champion her.
- 4. Bors observes that since he was a guest at the dinner, the other knights would suspect him of collusion.
- 5. Arthur begs Bors to reconsider.
- 6. In the end, Bors risks the enmity of his fellows to obey his king.
E. Bors goes to Wyndesore to get Launcelot.
- 1. Launcelot agrees.
- 2. He plans a last-minute appearance.
F. The other knights censure Bors.
- 1. He argues for Arthur’s honor.
- 2. He reminds them of Gwynevere’s generosity and grace.
- 3. He suggests treason from another quarter.
- 4. Some are persuaded while others are not.
G. The day of the battle arrives.
- 1. Bors reaffirms that he will champion Gwynevere if no better knight comes forward.
- 2. The stake is prepared in the event Madore prevails.
- 3. The joust begins.
H. Launcelot appears at the very last moment.
- 1. He rides a white horse, wears white armor, and carries a shield with a strange device.
- 2. Bors yields to this “stranger” knight.
- 3. All are astonished by the white knight’s chivalry.
- 4. Launcelot unhorses Madore.
- 5. Madore wounds Launcelot in the thigh.
- 6. Launcelot drags off Madore’s helmet.
- 7. Madore begs mercy and Launcelot grants it.
- 8. Launcelot reveals himself to all.
  - a. He declares his indebtedness to Arthur for knighting him.
  - b. He further declares his indebtedness to Gwynevere for honoring him.
  - c. He alludes to Gwynevere’s saving him from shame on the day of his knighting.
- 9. Gwynevere weeps in shame for her earlier spite.
I. Nyneve uses her magic to determine that Pynel caused Patrise’s death.
- 1. Pynel flees home to Ireland.
- 2. Launcelot reconciles Gwynevere and Madore.