Morte D’Arthur Published in 1485 Published in 1485 Not a poem, but a lengthy prose narrative based...

Morte D’ArthurMorte D’Arthur

Published in 1485Published in 1485 Not a poem, but a lengthy prose Not a poem, but a lengthy prose

narrative based on very lengthy French narrative based on very lengthy French prose works, telling the entire rise and prose works, telling the entire rise and fall of King Arthur’s kingdom.fall of King Arthur’s kingdom.

It’s length makes it a less unified work It’s length makes it a less unified work than than Sir Gawain and the Green KnightSir Gawain and the Green Knight..


Malory’s tale follows not one, but many of Malory’s tale follows not one, but many of King Arthur’s knights.King Arthur’s knights.

These various adventures are intertwined These various adventures are intertwined using a technique known as “interlace.”using a technique known as “interlace.”

The French translation of the title is The French translation of the title is “Death of Arthur,” indicating Malory’s “Death of Arthur,” indicating Malory’s primary source, a French prose romance primary source, a French prose romance called called La Mort le Roi ArtuLa Mort le Roi Artu (The Death of (The Death of King Arthur).King Arthur).


In Malory’s tale, the source of In Malory’s tale, the source of Lancelot’s chivalry and the cause of Lancelot’s chivalry and the cause of the downfall of Arthur’s kingdom is the downfall of Arthur’s kingdom is the courtly love relationship between the courtly love relationship between Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot and Guinevere.


Lancelot is the central figure in Lancelot is the central figure in Malory’s work. He is Arthur’s best Malory’s work. He is Arthur’s best knight and no one surpasses him in knight and no one surpasses him in chivalry, except for his son Galahad.chivalry, except for his son Galahad.

Lancelot’s love for Guinevere is both Lancelot’s love for Guinevere is both a positive and negative force: it is a positive and negative force: it is the source of Lancelot’s greatness the source of Lancelot’s greatness and downfall.and downfall.


The upside to their relationship is The upside to their relationship is inspired through courtly love.inspired through courtly love.

The downside is that it causes him to The downside is that it causes him to fail at the Grail quest and begins the fail at the Grail quest and begins the war between Lancelot and Arthur, war between Lancelot and Arthur, leading to Arthur’s downfall.leading to Arthur’s downfall.


This upside/downside paradox This upside/downside paradox reflects two different codes of reflects two different codes of behavior operating within the story:behavior operating within the story: While Christianity condemns adultery, While Christianity condemns adultery,

the chivalric code values courtly love the chivalric code values courtly love because it makes the lovers better because it makes the lovers better people.people.

Society also benefits from the knight’s Society also benefits from the knight’s love-inspired valor (as Arthur did in the love-inspired valor (as Arthur did in the years of Lancelot’s favor with him).years of Lancelot’s favor with him).


Grail Quest:Grail Quest: The Holy Grail was introduced into The Holy Grail was introduced into

Arthurian legend by Chretien’s (French Arthurian legend by Chretien’s (French romantic troubadour) romantic troubadour) Story of the GrailStory of the Grail, , an unfinished work. The Grail was a an unfinished work. The Grail was a dish used to carry a communion wafer dish used to carry a communion wafer to an old man. to an old man.

In Malory’s work and the Vulgate Cycle In Malory’s work and the Vulgate Cycle (on which Malory based his work), it (on which Malory based his work), it becomes a holy relic.becomes a holy relic.


In Malory’s work, the Holy Grail In Malory’s work, the Holy Grail becomes the cup used by Jesus at the becomes the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, as well as the cup used to Last Supper, as well as the cup used to catch some of his blood during the catch some of his blood during the Crucifixion. Crucifixion.

It was said to have been brought from It was said to have been brought from Jerusalem to England by Joseph of Jerusalem to England by Joseph of Arimathea, a direct ancestor of Lancelot Arimathea, a direct ancestor of Lancelot and his son, Galahad.and his son, Galahad.


Galahad has all of his father’s knightly Galahad has all of his father’s knightly perfection, but none of his sins, and is perfection, but none of his sins, and is therefore able to complete the Quest of the therefore able to complete the Quest of the Holy Grail and is ultimately borne by angels Holy Grail and is ultimately borne by angels directly to heaven.directly to heaven.

Lancelot is, thus, identified as the best of all Lancelot is, thus, identified as the best of all earthlyearthly knights because of his deeds that knights because of his deeds that are inspired by love for Guinevere, but fails are inspired by love for Guinevere, but fails as a as a celestialcelestial knight because of that same knight because of that same love.love.


In the selections that you read…In the selections that you read… The lovers are betrayed by the spite The lovers are betrayed by the spite

of Agravain and Mordred. of Agravain and Mordred. Lancelot accidentally kills Gawain’s Lancelot accidentally kills Gawain’s

brothers, Gaheris and Gareth while brothers, Gaheris and Gareth while rescuing the queen, thereby rescuing the queen, thereby becoming an enemy of Gawain and becoming an enemy of Gawain and causing civil war in Arthur’s kingdom.causing civil war in Arthur’s kingdom.


Eventually a peace treaty is Eventually a peace treaty is established and Guinevere is established and Guinevere is returned to Arthur and Lancelot goes returned to Arthur and Lancelot goes into exile.into exile.

Gawain, however, pushes Arthur to Gawain, however, pushes Arthur to raise and army and pursue Lancelot raise and army and pursue Lancelot (to avenge his brothers’ deaths).(to avenge his brothers’ deaths).


Meanwhile, while Arthur is off waging Meanwhile, while Arthur is off waging war against Lancelot, Mordred war against Lancelot, Mordred declares himself king and tries to declares himself king and tries to marry Guinevere; Arthur and his marry Guinevere; Arthur and his army must return home to fight army must return home to fight Mordred.Mordred.

Gawain repents his anger against Gawain repents his anger against Lancelot before his death.Lancelot before his death.


So, Gawain’s ghost comes to Arthur, So, Gawain’s ghost comes to Arthur, telling him that Lancelot will save telling him that Lancelot will save him from Mordred.him from Mordred.

Guinevere decides to become a nun; Guinevere decides to become a nun; Lancelot, a monk.Lancelot, a monk.

At the end of the tale, the two lovers At the end of the tale, the two lovers still love each other despite their new still love each other despite their new found faith and saintly status.found faith and saintly status.


Guinevere is able to predict her own Guinevere is able to predict her own death (a sign of God’s Grace).death (a sign of God’s Grace).

Lancelot has a vision of his own Lancelot has a vision of his own death (more signs of heavenly favor), death (more signs of heavenly favor), and his death are accompanied by and his death are accompanied by signs of holiness.signs of holiness.

Guinevere is reunited with her Guinevere is reunited with her husband in death.husband in death.

Morte D’Arthur Published in 1485 Published in 1485 Not a poem, but a lengthy prose narrative based...

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