King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

“There was silence for a while when Merlin has finished speaking, for all those who heard him felt that they were at the beginning of a time of wonders, and that Arthur was more than just a King who ruled because his father had been King, or because he was the strongest man amongst them.”

The knights and lords of Britain are slow to accept Arthur as king because he is young and unknown. Merlin speaks a great prophecy about Arthur’s future and the magical blessings the boy received from Avalon, which changes their minds. The lords realize Arthur is different from other kings because of his divine and magical blessings that can unite the disparate kingdoms of Britain.

“‘Which like you better, the sword or the scabbard?’ asked Merlin.

‘I like the sword!’ cried Arthur.

‘Then you are the more unwise,’ said Merlin gravely.”

Arthur receives Excalibur and a magical scabbard from the Lady of Lake, which he uses to create the kingdom of Logres. Swords are a symbol both of being divinely chosen and of violence. In choosing the sword—war—over the scabbard—peace—Merlin sees that the young Arthur has much to learn about ruling with restraint before he can leave for his long sleep.

“‘By my faith,’ said Arthur, half angered at her words, ‘here are knights as good as any in the world—but they are not fated to help you, which troubles me sorely.’”

A woman arrives at Arthur’s court seeking the worthiest knight to remove a sword from its scabbard. The woman taunts Arthur about the quality of his knights, but Arthur defends their honor. A central theme of the text is fate, and Arthur knows only a specific knight—whether he considers him the worthiest or not—is destined to complete the quest.

“But the name of the dead man shall fade when the man dies. Yet the names of the Knights of the Round Table shall live for ever. Sit down all of you, for at a round table no man may complain that he is set at the lowest end, or that another is placed above him.”

Merlin gifts Arthur and Guinevere the magical Round Table for their wedding. The Round Table is a prominent symbol that represents the equality of Arthur’s realm and the oaths the knights take to sit at the table. This passage also highlights the legendary quality of the knights’ deeds that are meant to live beyond their physical lives.

“Do no outrage nor murder nor any cruel or wicked thing; fly from treason and all untruthfulness and dishonest dealing; give mercy unto those that seek it—or sit no more at this Table.”

Merlin, prompted by the failed quests of Gawain and Pellinore, creates the Order of Chivalry the knights must swear to. Being merciful, honorable, and just—especially to women and the weak—are the core characteristics of knighthood the men promise to uphold. These oaths dictate the knights’ proper behavior throughout the story and are meant to set them apart from “evildoers” in the realm.

“And there he lies until the day of his awakening, when the Circle of Logres shall be formed once more in this island—but whether he rests in the magic of the Forest of Broceliande, or in the Isle of Bards in Cornwell Crag, or beneath the Wood of Bragdon, no one can tell until that day.”

Nimue induces Merlin’s deep sleep he is prophesized to awake from beyond the story’s timeline. This passage highlights the mythological quality of the story and its promise of a return to greatness for modern-day British readers. The passage fuses the magical with the real, allowing the readers to imagine where the legendary sorcerer might reside in their own world.

“‘Have mercy on me,’ begged Morgana. ‘It was the devil who tempted me to this deed: the fiends of darkness are ever ready to lead astray those who know too much of their secret arts.’”

After Morgana le Fay tries to kill her sleeping husband, she begs for mercy and claims she was possessed by evil. In the text, magic can be used by both the good and evil to fix or create problems. Dark magic in particular is connected to the devil and to those who, through pride and envy, are tempted to sin for their own gain.

“My lord and noble uncle, grant me a boon! Let this adventure be mine, for still there is my old shame unhealed: still have I to prove my worth as a Knight of your Round Table, still to fit myself to be a champion of Logres.”

Gawain asks to take Arthur’s place in the Green Knight’s beheading game. In his earlier quest, Gawain shamed himself by killing an innocent lady, so he wants to make up for his crime. Trials like the Green Knight’s game are a common motif in the story that test the virtue of Arthur’s knights to see if they are worthy of their place at the Round Table.

“There came also Sir Melyot to tell how Launcelot had saved him; and King Bagdemagus for whom he had fought, and many more, each with some story of mighty deeds and great daring.”

After Launcelot returns from his adventures, all of the people he saved and fought for join him at Arthur’s court to tell of his great deeds. Many of the knights’ tales end similarly, displaying the reach of their fame throughout the realm of Logres. These actions highlight not only the greatness of the knights, but the importance of storytelling to the story itself, as the great deeds become legend within the text and in the real world.

“Fie upon you, King Arthur! What an insult is this, that you send a filthy scullion out of your kitchen to save my sister, when here at your Round Table sit Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain, Sir Gaheris and Sir Bors—the best knights in the world—besides many others that are brave and noble also!”

Lady Linnet accuses Arthur of not taking her quest seriously when he allows Gareth—a kitchen boy who no one yet knows is really a noble—to take up her quest. On his quest, Gareth hides his noble lineage to teach others to treat all people with respect, especially those who perform selfless deeds. Arthur makes good on his promise to Gareth and shows he is a king who respects all his citizens.

“Know now, Sir Knight, that all this was done of Queen Morgana le Fay to bring sorrow and despite upon Logres. But, by your mighty deeds, greater glory than ever is come of Logres: for so always shall such as you bring good out of the workings of another's evil.”

Linnet begs Gareth to spare the Red Knight, Sir Ironside, because he only fought other knights under order from his lady, Morgana le Fay. Morgana, as the main antagonist, continually tries to bring shame upon the realm of Logres through magical traps. Gareth’s virtue and honor, however, overcome her enchantments and prove the greatness of Logres instead.

“They met again—many and many a time: love was turned into fear and grew dark and wild: for so love must that is lawless and dishonorable. Yet blame them not over-much, for the love-charm was upon them always [...] For them surely there is much excuse, where none could be for others who thus break their vows.”

Sir Tristram sings the tale of his love for the Lady Iseult—who married King Mark—and the secret affair the two began. The lovers accidentally drank a love potion intended for Mark, so they cannot entirely be blamed for their dishonor. However, lovers—like Launcelot and Guinevere—who break their vows knowingly are presented less sympathetically because they are conscious of their dishonor.

“Then Arthur was so angry that he waited for nothing, nor did he pause to think how strange were all things that were happening that day, nor to see the wicked smile which came suddenly to the lips of the damsel.”

In his older age, Arthur takes up a quest to reassert why he is the King of Logres. Arthur, though he is the greatest king, is still human, so he also experiences the rashness of anger many of his knights also display. The theme of Knightly Codes and Oaths of Virtue and the theme of The Overpowering Nature of Sin are closely intertwined, and this passage demonstrates how knights are quick to fight to defend their honor.

“But not in great deeds of arms lies the true worth of knighthood—rather in the heart of the doer of such deeds: if he be pure and humble, doing all things to the glory of God and to bring that glory and that peace throughout all our holy kingdom of Logres.”

Sir Launcelot teaches a young Percivale the true meaning of knighthood during a chance encounter in the woods. Equally as important as doing great earthly deeds is living with godly virtue and spreading those virtues to others. The text immediately introduces Percivale through these teachings of piety, establishing him as one of the few knights worthy enough to find the Holy Grail.

“‘Bah!’ exclaimed Sir Kay rudely. ‘What can this miserable goat-herd do against so great a knight?’

‘Who are you, fair sir?’ asked Arthur, courteous as always to all men.”

Percivale arrives at Arthur’s court dressed in his humble clothes, seeking a quest to become a knight. Sir Kay, a knight known for his rudeness, does not believe those of lower classes should mix with knights and their valiant adventures. Green juxtaposes Kay’s behavior with Arthur’s to show not only Arthur’s devotion to equality, but to show how easy it is to be polite to all people.

“But the powers of evil, seeking now more and more desperately to find some tiny loophole through which to climb into the stronghold of good, saw it, and set a cunning snare for Launcelot.”

With the realm becoming more peaceful, Launcelot spends more time at Camelot alone with Guinevere. Though their meetings begin as innocent, the story argues that evil attaches itself to any small sin and amplifies it to ruinous ends. Launcelot eventually shames his knighthood by accepting Elaine’s—disguised as Guinevere—proposal of marriage, causing him to confront the true extent of his love for the queen.

“When it was gone a great peace and well-being fell upon all present, and it seemed to Launcelot that he had eaten and drunk of more than mortal food.”

At Castle Carbonek, Launcelot sees the procession of the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail is a main symbol of the text, representing the highest achievable honor on earth that only the most spiritual of knights can obtain. The Holy Grail has healing powers, and even just seeing it allows Launcelot to feel nourished.

“For his pride in choosing the left-hand road and for his greed in taking the golden crown which he did not need, Sir Melyas received this overthrow. But go you forward, noble Sir Galahad, and trust ever in God and not in your own earthly prowess.”

Sir Melyas and Sir Galahad are presented with a choice of two roads: an easy road or an adventurous road. As the quest for the Holy Grail is a spiritual quest, Melyas’s eagerness to have earthly adventures proves to be the wrong decision. The various exploits of the knights seeking the Holy Grail teach, like this passage, about trusting God to guide you to the right path.

“The powers of evil will lie in wait for you, armed with many enchantments: if you win through them in all pureness of heart and come to Castle Carbonek in the Waste Lands, there you shall find the Holy Grail.”

A holy “recluse” warns Percivale to rid himself of all sin if he wants to find the Holy Grail. The quest for the Grail poses many temptations for the knights—love, riches, and fame—that they must overcome to prove themselves worthy. The lady also mentions Castle Carbonek, the mysterious house of the Holy Grail that only appears to chosen travelers until its curse is broken.

“When I sought only after worldly adventures there was no quest too hard for me to accomplish; but now that I seek for holy things, my great sin comes between me and them, and I had no power to stir or speak when the Holy Grail drew near me.”

In the night, the Holy Grail heals a sick man while Launcelot sleeps nearby; when Launcelot wakes, he laments not being able to move toward the Grail. Throughout the text, Launcelot proves to be the best earthly knight, but he is not spiritually pure enough to obtain knightly perfection. Launcelot grieves his past actions, knowing they prevent him from getting the greatest honor of Logres.

“Then Galahad set the Grail upon the altar and knelt once more in prayer. And as he knelt, his life was accomplished, and his soul was taken up to Heaven so that his body lay dead before the altar.”

Galahad gives the Holy Sacrament to Percivale, Bors, and Blanchefleur the Grail Maiden as his last action in Logres. With his destiny complete, Galahad no longer has to live on earth, so his soul ascends to heaven. Galahad, the purest knight, is a symbolic savior figure, who brings the highest honor to Logres; once he leaves, peace falters and the realm descends into sinful chaos.

“Then Launcelot begged King Arthur to make peace, offering to give up Queen Guinevere and defend her innocence against all her accusers. And the King might have listened to him had not Sir Gawain persuaded him against making any truce with Launcelot.”

After Launcelot saves Guinevere from the pyre and flees to Wales, Arthur follows with his army to right Launcelot’s wrongs. Though Arthur is inclined to remember Launcelot’s brave deeds and years of honor, Gawain’s anger at Launcelot for killing his unarmed brothers forces the king to attack. Green shows Gawain’s quest for revenge is like an evil possession that stops him from seeing rationally, which leads to disastrous ends for Logres.

“Mordred waited for him with a great gathering of knights and men-at-arms who had thrown in their lot with him, choosing rather his easy and lawless rule than the high service of Arthur the good King of Logres.”

While Arthur is in France fighting Launcelot at Gawain’s behest, Mordred crowns himself the King of Britain and waits to overthrow Arthur when he returns. Mordred, the son of Morgana, is a foil to Arthur; rather than fight for honor, he fights for his own glory. The passage highlights how Arthur’s realm is built on a strict code of honor the “evildoers” and the lazy knights dislike.