character/plot/theme Arthurian legends

Gawain and The Loathly Lady, Themes:

-Anti-Feminism (She is given power and is rewarded) -Super Natural (The curse) -Honor (King Arthur returns to Gromer Somer Joure, and Gawain holds up his agreement to marry Ragnell)

Lady of Shalott, Themes:

-Anti-feminist (she breaks the stereotype and is punished by death) -Isolation (she is stuck up in a tower) -Super Natural (the curse and the mirror) -Love (she leaves the loom in search of love)

Sir Launcelot, Themes:

-Chivaly (pretty self-explanatory) -Love (Launcelot's love for Guinevere leads to his rejection of all other ladies) -Feminism (Laucelot is constantly helping women, and is rewarded)

Lady of Shalott, Characters:

-The Lady of Shalott (main character) -Sir Lancelot (knight who causes LOS to break her curse)

Gawain and The Loathly Lady, Author:

During a hunt, King Arthur is separated from the rest of his party. A black-armored knight (Sir Gromer Somer Joure) attacks him and tells him he will kill him right there for taking away his lands unless King Arthur answers the riddle "What is it that women most desire?" A horribly ugly lady provides the answer (sovereignty) to the riddle, but she makes the King promise that Sir Gawain will marry her. Sir Gawain agrees to save his King and he marries the lady. Later that night, the ugly lady (Dame Ragnol) asks Sir Gawain for a wedding kiss and he tells her he will love her just the same. But as he turns around she is beautiful and she tells him that she is either beautiful at night or beautiful in the morning and that it is his choice. He however leaves it up to her and gives her the sovereignty and breaks the curse. They then enjoy their night together ;)

The Holy Grail (Characters)

Galahad- Sir Launcelot and Elaine's son. The only knight that can sit in the Seat Perilous. Sir Percivale and Sir Bors- Galahad's companions throughout the quest.

Characters of Gareth

Gareth- Explained in the story, but basically he is first called Beaumains, though he is really royalty. He earns his honor by killing many colors of knights, and he lives happily ever after. Linet- Damsel who goes with Gareth on hsi quest. She rebules him the whole way, until Gareth confronts her about her insults. Her sister is eventually freed, and she marries Gareth's brother, Sir Gaheris. Liones- Sister of Linet, she is freed when Sir Gareth defeats the (second) Red Knight. She asks Gareth to wait a year before marrying her. He does, and they eventually wed. Sir Kay- in this story, Sir Kay makes Sir Gareth a kitchen hand, and gives him the name Beumains, or fair hands. After Gareth gains his quest, he battles Sir Kay and quickly overpowers him

Sir Launcelot, Characters:

Sir Launcelot (I feel like you guys should know who this guy is) Sir Lyonel (Sir Launcelot's nephew who begins the journey with Sir Launcelot but is captured by Tarquin) Sir Ector de Maryse (Goes searching after Lyonel and Launcelot but gets captured by Tarquin) Morgan Le Fay (one of the four ladies who kidnapped Launcelot) Sir Tarquin (The evil knight who's brother Launcelot kills, he captures tens of knights from the round table) Later on, Launcelot is sleeping at an inn on his way home, when he awakes to find three knights attacking Sir Kay, Lancelot jumps out of the window and fights them off. He switches armour with Kay and he tells every knight he defeats on his ride home that they must yield to Queen Guinevere.

The Holy Grail- Author

Sir Thomas Malory

Themes of Sir Gareth

THEMES: Earning rather than receiving- though Gareth is royalty, he earns his position at the round table rather than simply receive it due to his relations to Sir Arthur. Chivalry- when fighting the knights, Sir Gareth was always chivalrous: showing mercy to noble knights, and only fighting if it was in the name of chivalry Anti-feminism- lady Linet needs a noble knight to help her save her sister, and it is Gareth who fights attacker knights, and "saves" Lady Liones.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Themes

Themes of Gawain and the Green Knight include: chivalry and courage (chivalry more important than life) importance of loyalty (Gawain got nicked in the neck and felt terrible for not being loyal) growth (growth is a long, hard struggle, but in going through the struggle, we may better ourselves)

Yvain (Plot Summary)

Yvain seeks to avenge his cousin Calogrenant after hearing of his defeat at the sight of a magical storm-making pond/forest by a knight named Escaldos the Red (Black Knight). He sneaks away to defeat this knight on his own as King Arthur plans to invade the land too. After pouring water over the stone, the knight comes out, they battle, Yvain wounds the knight and chases him down so he would have proof that he actually defeated the knight. But Yvain gets trapped between two gates and a damsel (Lunete) comes to help him b/c she recognizes him--> gives him ring that makes him invisible. Yvain witnesses the lady and wife of the dead lord and falls in love with her (Laudine, Lady of the Fountain). Lunete decides to help by convincing Laudine that she needs a knight to protect her fountain. She accepts Yvain even though she knows he killed her husband and they soon marry. Arthur arrives with his army and recognizes Yvain, congratulates him on his marriage. Gawain offers Lunete his protection b/c he is attracted to her. Yvain persuades his wife to let him go tourneying but Laudine warns him to return within one year. He forgets his duties and a messenger takes back Yvain's wedding ring and that he had broken Laudine's heart. This triggers Yvain's plunge into insanity; he runs around the forest naked like a madman for over a year. One day, a lady (lady of Norison) discovers Yvain and retrieves an ointment from Morgan le Fay that can heal madness and rubs the ointment all over his body. He regains his strength at that lady's castle. He also defeats Count Alier, who had taken lady Norison's land. After leaving Norison's castle, he comes across a snake that is attacking a lion and saves the lion. The lion becomes Yvain's companion. Yvain meets Lunete again when she is accused of treason against the Lady of the Fountain and is going to be burned at the stake---> Yvain promises to defend her in combat at noon. Later, he encounters a lord that has been threatened by a giant (must hand over his daughter or his other 4 sons would be killed). Promised to face giant if it was in the morning b/c he has to defend Lunete at noon. Yvain slays the giant w/ help of lion. Yvain arrives on time to the duel but nobody recognizes him b/c of his full armor and challenges Lunete's accusers. He was facing 3 to 1 battle but the lion again helps Yvain to defeat the accusers. Laudine sets Lunete free and offers yvain hospitality but he refused until he was reconciled with lady he loved---> tells her he is Knight of the Lion. Meanwhile, lord of Blackthorn has died and his elder daughter took both lands, disinheriting her younger sister, who goes to Arthur's court to seek help. (Older sis= represented by Gawain, young sis= finds Knight of the Lion to defend her, he agrees). As Yvain, the damsel, and lion travel together, they learn of 2 demons who are forcing a the king of Isle of Maidens to send 30 maidens every year who work as slaves. Yvain promises to defeat demons, and he does so again with help of the lion, and maidens are freed. Young sis returns w/ Yvain to Arthur's court for the duel and neither Yvain nor Gawain recognize each other. They fight until exhausted, realize the identities of one another, and both admitted defeat. Arthur forces elder sister to return property. Yvain returns to magical fountain, as he misses his wife. Lunete convinces Laudine that the Knight of the Lion can defend her fountain, and trapped her into swearing an oath to help the Knight of Lion reconcile w/ lady he loves. Lunete sets off to find Yvain and is happy to see that he is already there, brings him before Laudine. Laudine has no choice but to forgive him and did not remain angry for long. They lived happily ever after.

Yvain (Characters)

Yvain= son of King Uriens and one of the prominent knights of the Round Table serving King Arthur's Court. Laudine= Lady of the Fountain, wife of Yvain Lunete= damsel who helps Yvain in many situations and moreover, reconcile with Laudine Calogrenate= Yvain's cousin who motivates Yvain to avenge his defeat

sir gareth

chloe

Coming of Arthur (Plot Summary)

As Arthur is crowned king, many other kings refuse to accept that he is the rightful heir to the throne (they believe he is born of low blood). at the great feast held at Pentecost after coronation (in city of Carlion) Merlin (Arthur's mentor) tries to tell the kings that he shall long be king of all England, but a fight arises and Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, Sir Brastias, and all Arthur's knights fight against King Lot and 5 other kings---> Arthur wins his first war. In London, Merlin tells him that the 6 kings that had made war upon him had gathered 5 more and advises Arthur to seek the help of King Ban of Benwick and King Bors of Gaul. At the battle, King Ban and King Bors fight fiercely but the battle drags on for a long time---> Merlin comes in and advises him to withdraw, as he has already killed so many people and he has nothing to fear of the 11 kings. Arthur saves King Leodegrance and sees the King's daughter, Guenever who later becomes his queen. At Carlion, he has a son named Mordred with King Lot's wife (Morgause). Merlin tells him in disguise that he has slept with his sister and Mordred will destroy him. Arthur reunites with his mother Queen Igraine (who he did not know was his mother before). Merlin tells Arthur of a sword that the Lady of the Lake possesses, she tells him to row himself to the sword and take the scabbard (cannot lose blood if scabbard is upon you) w/ him and ask of the gift when she sees time. Arthur wants to take Guenever (daughter of King Leodegrance of Cameliard) as his wife as well as the Table Round that Uther gave King Leodegrance, and King Leo agrees. Merlin sets off to find 50 knights to fill the Round Table, knights do homage to King Arthur, Arthur establishes that the knights must act with righteousness (always give help to damsels, give mercy, never to commit murder)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Characters

CHARACTERS: The only characters (really) are Gawain, the Green Knight, and Arthur. I feel like the first two are pretty well explained above. Arthur- Greets the Green Knight and first accepts his challenge. he later gives the challenge to his nephew Gawain so he may prove his courage and chivalry. Once Gawain shows and explains his green scarf to the other knights, Arthur proclaims that all should wear this green scarf to remember the Green Knight.

Yvain (Theme)

CHIVALRY: -Lion symbolizes nobility, courage, dignity (traits of chivalry) and becomes a physical embodiment of what Yvain has lost and what he needs to gain in order to redeem himself. -Examples of these instances: Yvain promises to defend Lunete at noon by showing up on time= keeps promise; steps in to help others (save the maidens from demons; fighting giant) FAME VS LOVE: Finding a balance between the 2. -Fame: Yvain is more centered around achieving fame in the first half of the book (Getting proof of defeating the knight at the fountain) -Love: he is struck by beauty of Laudine and falls under the spell of love. Love ultimately makes him foolish. (gives into his ID, passion is his driving force). When he breaks the promise he is overwhelmed with guilt = loss of self. REDEMPTION: -Again, the lion is another symbol of Yvain's redemption. -Yvain only wants to be known as the Knight of the Lion. He builds his REPUTATION, not his NAME. -At the end, Laudine feels attracted to Yvain compared to the first time she takes him as a husband for protection. Now Yvain has BOTH fame and love.

Yvain- Author

Chrétien de Troyes

Gawain and the Green Knight

It was New Year's day, and all the knights of the Round Table were celebrating the Christmas season at Camelot. Suddenly, a terrifying knight rushed into the great hall. He was broad and thick from waist to neck, and was very strong, large, and fierce. He was green from toe to top. (Green means growth, nature, MAGIC, etc.) Because he was dressed in green, not black, he was not attacked. He also carried a bough of holly (symbolizing peace), and an ax in his other hand. The man strode up to the crowd, and asked "where is the leader of this company?" Arthur came forth, and greeted him. The knight proclaimed to Arthur that he had a challenge. The challenge consisted of one knight chopping off the head of the Green Knight, if the green knight could inane year's time do the same to the competitor knight. No knight responded, all where filled with fear. The green knight openly questioned the courage of the knights of the round table. At this, Arthur accepted the challenge, but his nephew Gawain then asked to take the challenge instead, saying that he wanted to prove he was more than "Sir Arthur's nephew." Gawain chopped off the head of the Green knight. The Green Knight, being magical, gets up and rides away. In one year's time, Gawain searches for the knight who surely kill him. He stops at another castle for rest before continuing his search. The lady of the castle is intent on seducing him, but Gawain resists. The men promise to exchange what each have won during the day. Day one, the lord gives Gawain a deer, and Gawain gives the lord a kiss. Day two, the lord gives Gawain a boar's head, Gawain gives the lord two kisses. Day three, the lord gives Gawain a fox, Gawain gives the lord three kisses, but not the magical green silk scarf that the lady of the house has given Gawain for protection. Gawain feels guilty for this betrayal. He soon leaves the castle, and finds the Green Knight. The Green Knight is about to chop, and Gawain flinches slightly. The Green Knight reproaches him for his cowardice. Gawain asks for a second chance,and as the knight prepares to strike again, he tells Gawain to show his neck. The Green Knight strikes a third time, and nicks Gawain's neck. Gawain, after fulfilling his promise, leaps up, ready to defend himself. the Green Knight laughs, and states that he was never intending to hurt Gawain- it was a test of the courage of the Round Table. The fake swings were like the three days at the castle, the third swing symbolized Gawain's betrayal of the lord of the castle (actually the Green Knight). Gawain is given a green scarf to wear- it symbolizes his great chivalry and adventure with the knight. Gawain feels nothing but shame for his betrayal. Gawain keeps the green scarf, and proclaims its "a symbol of my transgression." Gawain returns to the runs table, and tells the knights of his adventure, and his betrayal- and shows them all his green scarf. He states that he may not hide his misdeed. Arthur then proclaimed that all should wear this green scarf to remember the Green Knight.

Gawain and The Loathly Lady, Characters:

King Arthur (the king who is captured by Sir Gromer Somer Joure) Sir Gromer Somer Joure (black-armored knight who captured King Arthur, also Dame Ragnell's brother) Dame Ragnell (The loathly lady herself, she is the woman who answers the riddle and marrys Sir Gawain) Sir Gawain (the knight who marrys Dame Ragnell)

Sir Gareth that was called Beaumains

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table were eating and conversing when up to the table strode a fair, beautiful young man. The man came up to king arthur, and asked for three gifts (trinity), one of which he would ask then, and two others he would ask one year later. Arthur complied. He asked, first, for meat and drink for one year, to which Arthur agreed. Arthur than asked for the man's name, and the fair man responded, "I cannot tell you." The king asked Sir Kay to treat this man like a lord's son, and give him food and drink for one year. Sir Kay then stated that he did not ride in by horseback, and he has not identified himself- he is obviously a kitchen knave. He then named this mystery man Sir Beaumains, that is, Fair-hands, and sent him to the kitchen to work. Sir Kay scorned and mocked Sir Beaumains. Sir Kay then forced Sir Beaumains to sit among the boys and lads, and Sir Beaumains complied. Sir Gawaine and Arthur asked Sir Beaumains to join them, but he would only follow the orders of Sir Kay. Next year, a damsel came into the hall to ask the king for help. She stated that a tyrant called the Red Knight of the Red Lawns captured a great and noble lady. When Arthur asked for her name, the lady replied that she could not tell. Arthur then told her that no knight would save the lady unless they knew her name. Then came in Sir Beaumains, and he asked to have his two other gifts. He asked to go on the quest with the damsel and to be knighted by Sir Lancelot. To both requests, King Arthur complied. At hearing Sir Beaumains would be "protecting her," she became wroth and hurried away by horse back. She was followed by Beaumains, who was in turn followed by Sir Kay. As Beaumains caught up with the damsel, Sir Kay caught up with Beaumains. The two battled, and Beumains quickly won. Sir Lancelot also caught up with Beumains. Sir Beumains offered to joust with Lancelot, and he complied. After battling, Sir Lancelot was winded, but Beumains stated that he "used not the utmost of (his) strength." He was then knighted, and he, upon request, told Sir Lancelot that his true name was Sir Gareth. Sir Lancelot was happy to hear that Beaumains was of "good blood." Sir Garth caught up with the damsel, and the two quickly came upon six thieves. Three of the thieves were quickly killed by Gareth, and the other three escaped. The Two continued until they came upon a bridge guarded by two knights, Both knights were quickly slain by Sir Gareth. Next, the Damsel and Sir Gareth were confronted by a knight dressed completely in black. His name was the Black Knight of the Black Lands. Because he was dressed in black, sir Gareth quickly killed him (while remaining chivalrous). A little further on, the two came upon the Green Knight, the brother of the Black Knight. Once the damsel told him the fate of his brother, he became enraged, and attacked Sir Gareth. The two dueled, and Sir Gareth pinned the Green Knight. He stated that mercy on the Green Knight could only be granted by the damsel. At first, she refused to consent to Sir Gareth, but to save this "noble knight," she finally pleaded for his mercy. The two then stayed with the Green Knight until the next morning. The next morning, the two encountered the Red Knight, brother of the Green Knight and Black Knight. After hearing the fate of the Black Knight and the loss of his brother, the Green Knight, he too became enraged, and attacked Sir Gareth. Sir Gareth overcame him, and again, he asked the damsel if she wished to grant him his mercy. She pleaded for mercy, and the two continued. After enduring the rebukes of the damsel after his multiple victories, Sir Gareth became infuriated. He pointed his many achievements on the quest, and stated that it would be foolish of him to leave in the middle of the journey, as it during this journey that he would gain honor and the position as a round table knight. the damsel showed greater respect for Sir Gareth this point on. The next come across Sir Persant of Inde, or the Blue Knight. The two battled, and Sir Gareth won. The damsel pleaded for mercy, and Sir Gareth granted this. The three then drank wine and had supper, and the damsel and Sir Gareth stayed the night with Sir Persant of Inde. He also confided with the Blue Knight that he is "son of King Lot...son of Sir Arthur's sister." He is the youngest of his brothers- Sir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, and Sir Gaheris, though none of them know his identity. Sir Gareth and the damsel, we learn her name is Linet, finally come across the Red Knight of the Red Lands, the most "perilous knight...now living." Upon coming near the red Knight, they see hanging bodies in the trees. Forty knights hung shamefully. Because of his shameful customs, Sir Gareth could chivalrously battle the knight. The two then fought fiercely, though Sir Gareth won. The Red Knight was not killed, for he apparently killed these knights on his damsel's accord. Lady Liones, sister of Lady Linet, was then freed. Sir Gareth fell in love with her, and lady Liones responded to this by telling him to come back for her in a years time to ask for her hand in marriage. The two married a year later, Sir Gaheris married Linet, and Sir Agravaine married niece of the two, or Dame Laurel.

Coming of Arthur (Characters)

King Arthur- the son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine Ygerna. Uther Pendragon- helps unite troops of Britain. Merlin- Arthur's advisor Sir Ector- raises Arthur Sir Kay- older brother of Arthur, has inferiority complex Mordred- Arthur's and Morgause's illegitimate son.

Coming of Arthur- Author

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Lady of Shalott, Author:

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Lady of Shalott, Plot:

On an island near Camelot, a woman known as the Lady of Shalott is imprisoned within a tower. Only the reapers who harvest the barley hear her and know of her. The Lady of Shalott weaves a magic, colorful web. She has heard a voice whisper that a curse will befall her if she looks down to Camelot, but she does not know what this curse would be. As she weaves, a mirror hangs before her. In the mirror, she sees "shadows of the world," including the highway road near her tower and Camelot. She has no loyal knight of her own to court her, but nonetheless, she enjoys her solitary weaving and has no other cares. One day Lancelot walks by and upon seeing him, the Lady stops weaving her web and abandons her loom. The web flies out from the loom, and the mirror cracks. She then leaves the tower, finds a boat, and sails to Camelot in the freezing cold. The second she crosses into Camelot she dies of the cold, and as she sails into the city Lancelot sees her and thinks her beautiful (for a dead person, just saying).

Sir Launcelot, Plot:

One day, Launcelot decides to ride with Sir Lyonel in search of advenutre. Once Lyonel and Launcelot fall asleep under a tree, Lionel sees a knight capture three other knights and rides away in pursuit. Unfortunately, Lyonel's defeated and captured. Meanwhile, four ladies, including Morgan le Fay, ride by Launcelot sleeping under the tree. They decide to enchant him into a deep sleep and carry him to their palace in the hope of winning his love. When Launcelot wakes up, Morgan le Fay tells him to choose one of the four ladies, but Launcelot refuses because he's totally devoted to Gwenyvere. One of Morgan's ladies-in-waiting kindly helps Launcelot escape from the palace in exchange for his promise to help her father, King Badgemagus, win a tournament. Launcelot meets with King Badgemagus and wins the tournament against the King of North Gales. After this, Launcelot meets with Sir Tarquin who has just captured Sir Gaheris. They joust and Tarquin tells Launcelot that he hates him and has imprisoned many of Arthur's knights because Launcelot killed his brother, Sir Carados. Launcelot's cuts Sir Tarquin's head off, then he sends Gaheris to free the knights in Sir Tarquin's dungeon. Later, Launcelot rescues a lady from an evil knight who has been kidnapping and raping all the ladies in the area. The lady asks Launcelot why he doesn't have a wife or a lover, and he replies that a wife would constrain his adventure-seeking, and that it's not seemly for a good Christian knight to have a lover.

The Holy Grail (Plot Summary)

One day, as the knights sit at the Round Table, a hermit comes upon King Arthur and asks why the Seat Perilous is empty. Arthur responds that "there shall none sit in that seat but one, without he be destroyed." (but don't yet know who has right to sit there). Hermit says that the person who sits there is unborn and shall also win the Holy Grail. Sir Launcelot rides off to the castle of King Pelles. A damsel brings in the Holy Grail at the feast(a vessel of gold- a cup/plate that Lord Jesu Christ ate from in his Last Supper). Sir Launcelot is given a potion to think that King Pelles' daughter (Elaine) is actually Queen Guenever and they have a child named Galahad. A damsel approaches Round Table and asks for Sir Launcelot; brings him to Abbess's chamber where he knights Galahad. Returning to Arthur's court, an old man clothed in white and a young knight in red arms (Galahad) and Galahad sits in the Seat Perilous without harm. The old man announces that the quest for the grail has begun, before he leaves. The Grail arrives, carried by the Holy Ghost. Nobody could see the grail, however. The knights set off to find the holy grail but many of them fail. Galahad meets with Sir Percivale and Sir Bors, all go to King Pelles' castle where angels bore candles of wax, a towel, a spear that bleeds marvellously into a box. A man comes out of the Holy Grail (Jesu Christ) and tells Galahad to take a ship into sea with Sir Percivale and Sir Bors where 2 of them will die, the one remaining will tell the tidings. They do so, and arrive at a city where they help a crippled man--> tyrant king hears of this and imprisons them, but Lord sends Holy Grail to save them- tyrant king begs forgiveness, dies, and Galahad becomes king of that city. At year's end, Galahad gives his life to the Lord, angels bear his soul up to heaven. Percivale lives a holy life and then dies. Bors becomes the remaining one who tells of the adventures of the Holy Grail that had befallen him and Percivale and Galahad.

The Holy Grail (Theme)

Placing God Above All: Unlike other stories that follow the chivalric code, the Quest for the Holy Grail places God above both the Lady and the King. -Knights felt the need to go on the quest despite the Ladys' suggestions not to because they feel that God has ordered them to.

Coming of Arthur (Theme)

STORY of LEARNING: Courage- show that you can lead, face the enemy; remember that you are king. Merlin teaches Arthur to negotiate and get help in times of need= don't be too proud. (Arthur gets help from King Bors and King Ban to fight against the 11 kings) Merlin also teaches Arthur about moderation- to know when to stop. (at the battle with 11 kings, it is clear that the 11 kings have lost but Arthur continues to fight)