King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table: A Summary
Le Morte d’Arthur: A Summary
The Rise of King Arthur
Le Morte d’Arthur tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights at the Round Table. Arthur, the son of King Uther Pendragon, was raised by another family. He takes his rightful place as king when, as a boy, he is able to pull the sword called Excalibur from the stone. Although he rules wisely and is counseled by Merlin the magician, Arthur makes enemies of other kings and is often at war.
The Round Table and Chivalry
When Arthur marries Guinevere, her father gives Arthur the Round Table, at which 150 men can sit. Guinevere acts as a moral compass for the knights, rewarding those who behave well and chastising those who choose poorly. Malory specifically relates the stories of Sir Gawain, Sir Tor, and Sir Pellanor as a means of introducing the concept of chivalry.
Arthur is nearly betrayed by his sister Morgan le Fay, but he is helped by Nineve, a sorceress who learned her magic powers from Merlin before killing him. Arthur then fights the Romans when Emperor Lucius of Rome demands that Arthur bow to him. Although the war requires several battles, Arthur and his knights win and return to Guinevere and the other wives.
The Adventures of Lancelot and Tristam
Soon after, Lancelot establishes himself as the greatest knight in all the world by his virtue, loyalty, and bravery. At the same time, Sir Gareth, Gawain’s brother, proves valiant in his adventures.
Tristam (also known as Tristan), the son of King Melyodas de Lyones and the sister of King Mark of Cornwall, is then introduced, and his adventures unfold. He kills Sir Marhault to free his uncle from a debt owed to King Angwyssh of Ireland, and then falls in love with Isode (also known as Isolde), Angwyssh’s daughter. Isode marries Tristam’s uncle Mark, but Tristam and Isode remain lovers. Tristam is exiled by Mark, which means he can no longer use his true identity; thus, he fights as The Knight with the Black Shield. Tristam duels and beats many of Arthur’s knights but is eventually thrown in prison and becomes ill. He escapes and eventually meets and fights Lancelot in a duel predicted by Merlin. They become the best of friends.
Lancelot, Guinevere, and Galahad
Lancelot, who is in love with and completely loyal to Guinevere, rides one day in search of adventure. He kills a dragon, sees the Grail, and is tricked into lying with Pellas’ daughter Elayne, with whom he has a son, Galahad. Guinevere, upon hearing of the affair, has Lancelot banished from court; Lancelot then wanders from place to place in his grief. Elayne, through her father, heals Lancelot through the Grail, and he eventually returns joyously to Camelot and the Round Table.
The Quest for the Holy Grail
Lancelot introduces his son, Galahad, to the court, and Galahad takes the Siege Perilous, the seat at the Round Table that no knight has been worthy enough to fill. Galahad also draws the sword from the floating stone, establishing him as the best knight in the world, but also accepting the sword’s curse — that it will later cause a grievous wound.
Most of the knights then set out separately on the Grail Quest. During the Quest, Lancelot, Percival, and Bors experience deep religious conversion, while Ector and Gawain are told by a hermit that they are not pure enough to achieve the Grail Quest. Galahad, Percival, and Bors meet up and continue the Grail Quest, but they are briefly parted. Lancelot and Galahad continue to the Grail at Castle Corbenic, where Lancelot is shown to be unworthy of the Quest. When Sir Evelake dies after his embrace with Galahad, Galahad is identified as the knight who will achieve the Grail Quest. Galahad is made a king who dies shortly thereafter, while Percival becomes a hermit. Bors returns to King Arthur’s court.
The Downfall of Camelot
Lancelot also returns to the court and continues his love for Guinevere. After a series of trials, Guinevere is convinced of Lancelot’s love for her. Although Arthur knows of the affair and overlooks it, he is prompted by Aggravain and Mordred (Arthur’s son by Lot’s wife) to take action; Guinevere is sentenced to be burned at the stake. Lancelot rescues her and takes her to his castle, Joyous Gard, but in the battle, Lancelot kills Gareth and Gaheris, who are at the execution but are unarmed. Lancelot returns Guinevere to Arthur, but Lancelot is banished, along with his followers. Gawain swears vengeance for the death of his brothers and insists that Arthur attack Lancelot. Arthur agrees, but while Arthur and Gawain are away, Mordred makes himself King of England, claims Guinevere as his wife, and attacks Arthur’s army. Gawain is mortally wounded and warns Arthur in a dream not to continue the battle. Through a misunderstanding, however, the battle continues; Arthur kills Mordred but is mortally wounded by him, as Merlin has prophesied.
The End of the Round Table
Lancelot and Guinevere both die of illness soon after, and Constantine becomes king. The Round Table is disbursed.