Le Morte D'arthur Study Guide

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Vortigern

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– the adviser to Constantine, who is the king of the Britons after the Romans leave, he is suspect in the death of Constantine and his son Contans, and therefore the two younger sons (ambrosias aurelius and Uther Pendragon are hidden). He marries Severa and gains claim to the British throne; however, the common people are unhappy with him. They rebel and Vortigen hires Saxon mercenaries (hengest and Horsa) to fight him (in order to ensure loyalty). He is eventually defeated by Ambrosius Aurelius

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Ambrosius Aurelius

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The second eldest son of Constantine. He is hidden from Vortigen during his childhood. He grew up and later raised an army to overthrow Vortigen. He dies of natural causes while trying to unify the county.

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Uther Pendragon

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the third eldest son of Constantine. He is hidden from Vortigen during his childhood. He grew up and assumed kingship after Constantine dies. He is madly in love with Igraine, and he laid siege to Duke of Cornwall. During this time, he and Merlin made a pact so that he may screw her. He screws her and she gets pregnant; however, Merlin demanded the child as a part of the pact. Her later marries his two daughters off to King Lot and Nantres, his third daughter is Morgan La Fay.

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Igraine

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The wife of Duke of Cornwall, Uther Pendragon screws her and gets her pregnant with Arthur. She later marries him. She gets screwed like 3 hours before the Duke of Cornwall died, so she’s like WTF? But Uther explains it to her later.

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Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall

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A courtier hostile to Uther Pendragon. He later dies fighting Uther. The first husband to Igraine

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Merlin

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Magician, responsible for many of Arthur’s early victories

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Tintagel, Terrabyl

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2 forts that the Duke of Cornwall occupied in order to resist Uther’s invasion. Tintagel for Igraine, and Terrabyl for himself.

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How Arthur was conceived

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Uther went in a disguise as the Duke of Cornwall and screwed Igraine; however, he had the make a deal with Merlin that his child will be given to his care. He agreed, and stealthily entered into Tintagel and screwed Igraine. Igraine has a child and Merlin took him from Igraine and gave him to the care of Sir Ector

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Morgawse

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Eldest daughter of Igraine and Gorlois (duke of Cornwall) – Considered a great beauty. Lamorak, the son of Pellinor, was found making love to Morgawse by Gaheris (Morgawse’s son), he was so maddened that he cut off his mother’s head.

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Morgan La Fay

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daughter of Igraine and Gorlois (duke of Cornwall), and thus the half-sister of King Arthur – Her husband is Uriens. She first met King Arthur when Igraine is summoned to verify Arthur’s heritage. She occupies lands in Gore early in the story. Later, she moves to Isle of Avalon with her allies Queen of Northgalis and Queen of the Wasteland. She took King Arthur to be healed after his last battle.

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Sir Ector

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The adoptive father of King Arthur. When Arthur was born, Merlin took Arthur to him in order protect Arthur. He and his son, sir Kay, attends the tournament on new year’s day held in London, it is here that King Arthur withdrew the sword from the rock and was made the king of England

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Sir Kay

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–The son of Sir Ector. ON his way to the New Year’s Tournament, he forget his sword, and he sent Arthur back home to reterive it for him; however, Arthur finds the house locked, and instead takes the sword in the rock and gives it to Sir Kay. Kay tells his father that he found the sword; however, when his father made him swear an oath, he tells the truth. Ector then begs Arthur to make Ector the royal seneschal, and Arthur agrees. Ector was made into a knight of the round table upon its inception, he is known as a great warrior.

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The Sword In the Stone

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The sword in the stone is enchanted so that only the true ruler of Britain may remove it. Arthur is the only child of former Britain King Uther Pendragon and Igraine. Arthur’s success made many of the barons and other nobles angry and resulted in a big fight over who deserves to be king. Arthur succeeds.

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Camelot

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Location of Arthur’s main castle as well as the round table.

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Gwynevere

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King Arthur’s Queen and Lancelot’s one love. Daughter of King Lodegraunce. Caused many problems because of her love of Lancelot. Accused of treason numerous times but Sir Lancelot always saved her! Reason why Sir Lancelot went crazy for a while as well as for the feud between him and Sir Gawian and King Arthur (who would have reconciled f not for Gawain). Dies a nun.

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King Lodegreaunce

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Gwenyvere’s father. Gave Arthur the Round Table as a wedding gift. Castle in Camylarde.

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The Round Table Statistics

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150 places at the round table. 3 seats left empty, one is the Siege Perelous.

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Siege Perelous

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Siege Perelous would later be filled by Sir Galahad.

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Lady of the Lake

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Her castle is located in the Lake of Avalon and she provides Arthur with Excalibur. While on his deathbed, Arthur commands Sir Bedivere to return Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake.

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Excalibur

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Given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake. Arthur’s sword stolen by Morgan la Faye and given to Sir Accolon. Arthur killed Accolon but Morgan la Faye stole Excalibur’s scabbard again in revenge of Arthur killing her lover.

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Sir Balin, the Knight of the Two Swords

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Released from prison and drew the sword from the young noblewoman and didn’t give it back. GASP! Now someone must die but he chops the head of the Lady Avalon off to prevent it. He rode off to do more killing and killed Sir Launceor that in turn caused the death of his lover. Sir Balan is brother. Balin is later called the Knight of the Two Swords. Killer of the invisible knight Sir Garlot. When Balin used the spear that had pierced Jesus to kill King Pellam, three kingdoms were laid waste for 12 years and King Pellam wounded. Showed a grieving knight his lover whom was lying with Mr. Ugly and Sir Garnysh man killed the two and himself. Balin rode on to the Castle on the island and killed the Knight of the Island who turned out to be his brother. He died as well.

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King Pelles, the Maimed King

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Castle of Corbin. Sir Galahad repaired the sword that maimed Joseph. King Pellam, who was wounded by Balin with his own spear, is the Maimed King. When the Maimed King was carried into the room with Sir Galahad, Joseph of Armathie appeared dressed as a bishop.

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Nyneve

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A sorceress. Merlin falls in love with her. She learns how to use magic from him and kills him. Brought by Pellinore into court when she was a maiden.

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Gawain, Gareth, Gaheris, Aggravayne

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Kin. Gawain, Gareth, and Gaheris are sons of King Lot and all three are killed by Sir Lancelot. Aggravyne is also Gawain’s brother who is slain by Sir Lancelot in the exploitation of Lancelot’s and Gwenyvere’s love. Gareth enters Arthur’s court known only as Beaumains (Good hands).

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Sir Modred

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King Arthur’s bastard son. Exploits Gwenyvere’s and Lancelot’s love. Usurps the throne while Arthur is fighting Sir Lancelot in France. Wishes to marry stepmother. Arthur kills Modred but before Modred died, he wounded Arthur mortally.

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Sir Lancelot:

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Son of Ban of Benwick in France.
One of the greatest knights like ever. [Heals Sir Urry p471]
Queen Gwynevere’s lover.
Knights Gareth.
All the Elaines of the world mess with him.
He goes insane for two years after an incident, during which he helps out Sir Blyaunte and Sir Selyvaunte for six months. He runs out after a boar and is to Corbyn where he is a the court jester. Elaine discovers him again. Lancelot calls himself Le Shyvalere Mafete before returning to Camelot.

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Joyous Gard:

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Lancelot’s Castle…He goes there and breaks the spell from Dolorous Gard. Is also his final resting place.

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The Knight of the Cart Story:

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p461, 471
Lancelot’s on his way to save Gwyn from Sir Mellyagraunce . Lancelot accosts a carter heading to Mellyagraunce’s castley type thing. Riding in the cart, Lancelot looks kind of like a knight being taken to be hanged. Then after killing Sir Melly, Lancelot goes around in a cart. Is called the Knight of the Cart. Malory records not on this.

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Elaine the Fair Maid of Astolat:

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p441, 446-52
King Arthur calls a tournament. Lancelot heads forth from Gwyn/Camelot and lodges with Sir Barnard. [Arthur knows. hush hush] Daughter of Sir Barnard is Elaine, and she, not recognizing Lancelot, falls in love with him immediately. As Lancelot is trying to disguise himself, he wears her token on his arm. He leaves his shield with her. So Sir Gawain reveals Lancelot’s identity to Elaine. Elaine takes care of Lancelot when he gets injured. Lancelot will not marry nor be paramour to Elaine. So she writes a letter, commands her father to lay her on a barge on the river when she dies. She dies, the letter gets delivered to Lancelot. Lancelot offers mass-penny.

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Princess Elaine:

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p335
Lancelot goes and saves a lady from being boiled for five years. He dines with King Pelles, descendent from Joseph of Arimathea. King tries to get his daughter Elaine to have Lancelot’s baby. Lady Brusen does some hocus pocus, makes Lancelot think he is going to see Gwyn. Instead, he sleeps with Elaine and gets her preggers with Galahad. Then Lancelot feels really bad.
Elaine to Arthur’s court after a time. Lancelot would not speak to her. Elaine again turns to Lady Brusen. Gwyn puts Elaine in room next to her. Gwyn summons Lancelot to chambers. Lancelot mistakenly ends up with Elaine again because of Brusen. He talks in his sleep…So Gwyn hears, comes over. And egad! She coughs, ahem, and Lancelot wakes up. He runs away for two years, kinda insane.
Elaine finds Lancelot insane near a well. Lancelot stays in a castle for a while.

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Sir Galahad:

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p 360, 427
Offspring of Princess Elaine and Sir Lancelot. Meant to sit in Siege Perelous. Becomes the greatest knight, like ever. Achieves the quest of the Holy Grail with Sir Percival and Sir Bors. Gets the sword from the marble in the water. Spiritual Palace and all that. Joseph comes down and get Galahad to be away from the mortal body so that the soul might live or something like that. His last words to Sir Lancelot: Remember how ephemeral is this earth!
p53
Heals the Maimed King, King Pellam, wounded by the Knight of Two Swords.

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Poisoned Apple:

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p434
The Queen threw a private dinner for 24 knights. She had a plate of apples, Gawain’s favorite. Sir Pynel’s cousing Sir Lamerok was killed by Gawain to protect his mother’s honor. However, Pynel wants revenge, so he poisons the apple. Sir Patrise eats a poisoned apple and dies. Queen Gwyn is accused of treason. Bors champions Gwyn until Lancelot gets there. And then the good sorceress Lady Nyneve comes and points out the real poisoner.

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The different times Gwyn is accused of treason:

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p434: The Poisoned apple incident.
p463: Sir Mellyagraunce sees her sheets are bloodstained and accuses her of sleeping with a wounded knight.
p474: Aggravayne and Mordred decide to expose Lancelot and Gwyn.

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How many times convicted?

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Once, there is a trial on p478.

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How knights settle disputes

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p435
They get champions and the person in the right will win.

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The Holy Grail:

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p364, 376, 420, 427
San Greal. It’s time for a quest. Never again will the complete set of the Knights of the Round Table be together in Camelot. Based on purity, you may see just the white light or the maid holding it.

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Carbonek:

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p423
Where Lancelot’s quest for the holy grail ends. Named the Castle of Adventures by Sir Bors

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Joseph of Arimathea

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The man who captured Christ's blood in the vessel that becomes the Holy Grail. Both Galahad and Lancelot are descendants of Joseph. Also said to be the father of Christianity in England.

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Avalon

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Where King Arthur is taken after his battle with Mordred.

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Gastonbury

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- The place where the Archbishop of Canterbury is in exile and where both Arthur and Gwynevere are buried.

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Amesbury

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The abbey in which Gwynevere is abbess until her death.

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The siege of Benwick

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For 60 days, Gawain defeats the 60 knights that Lancelot sends to him. Then, Lancelot comes and defeats Gawain. Gawain is pissed and comes to battle a second time, but gets his ass whooped again in the same place.

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Gawain's Death

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After Arthur returns from France, Mordred leads an attack against him on the shore. At the battle, Gawain is mortally wounded in the same spot where Lancelot hit him. He then writes a letter to Lancelot asking for forgiveness and assistance for Arthur against Mordred. Some dumbass knight draws a sword to kill a snake and then battle ensues.

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Gawain’s Ghost

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To Arthur: Do not battle Mordred or you’ll all die. Wait a month, and Lancelot will get here.

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The final battle at Salisbury Down, how it began despite the peace treaty

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Both armies are told to not to attack unless they see a naked sword. Some dumbass takes out his sword to kill a snake, and then war ensues.

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Sir Bedivere -

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The knight who returns Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake.

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The Return of the sword

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Arthur asks Bedivere to return his sword to the Lady of the Lake, but he lies and says he did it, twice, but Arthur knows he is lying. Then on the third time Arthur says so, he throws the sword in the lake and a hand emerges and takes the sword.

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The death of Arthur

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Arthur is pissed at Mordred and stabs him with a spear, but then Mordred stabs him with his sword. He is taken to a hermit who is really the Archbishop of Canterbury, where he dies.

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Gwynevere's last wish, her burial

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Her last wish is to not see Lancelot with earthly eyes again. She is buried in Galstonbury next to King Arthur.

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"Here lies Arthur, the once and future king"

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is inscribed upon Arthur's tomb.
Arthur's warning from Gawain's ghost - Gawain returns with ladies at his side to warn Arthur against attacking Mordred, for he will die if he does so. Instead, the ghost tells him to wait a month for Lancelot to come from France.