Lancelot III by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Name: Lancelot III
Author: Edwin Arlington Robinson

In “Lancelot III,” Lancelot finds Guinevere absent, leaving behind an empty chair, the remembered fragrance of a kiss, and the lingering sound of her voice. Alone, he is overwhelmed by regret for what has been lost and remorse for what his love and betrayal have brought about. He believes there is still a little time before darkness, and thinks that by leaving Camelot he may preserve Guinevere’s life or spare her further suffering. Yet he fears that seeing her again would destroy his resolve. Lancelot questions his own identity and conduct: he has betrayed Arthur while serving him with “cankered honor,” and he recognizes that he has helped hasten the destruction of Guinevere’s beauty and of the world that surrounds them. He wonders at Arthur’s blindness, at the passing nature of Camelot, and at the meaning of kings, queens, and human power. Arthur has gone hunting, and Lancelot bitterly reflects that this absence has left him caught between desire, guilt, and the need to flee. He knows that only exile far from Camelot can cool the passion and fear consuming him. Though he tries to imagine making light of his situation, he sees himself as a man who has recognized a new light but cannot abandon the old world. Rising, he looks toward a southern gate through which he might escape. Memories of Galahad return to him: Lancelot recalls Galahad’s face, its triumph and sadness, and the Light waiting for him. For a moment Lancelot tries to follow that vision toward freedom, but it fades. He returns unwillingly to the chairs and sees Guinevere again, illuminated by a golden light. When he reaches for her, she vanishes like Galahad, leaving him alone with shadows and the pain of understanding what men may leave in the eyes of women who have nothing left to give and cannot follow them. Looking south again, he can no longer see Galahad’s face. He then sees many lights in Arthur’s palace as darkness falls over Camelot.

By Edwin Arlington Robinson · First published 1920 · Genre: Arthurian poetry, Narrative poetry, Dramatic monologue · 1,322 words

First lines

LANCELOT looked about him, but he saw

No Guinevere. The place where she had sat

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Lancelot III is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson, dated 1920 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edwin Arlington Robinson
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Arthurian poetry, Narrative poetry, Dramatic monologue, Tragic poetry, Psychological poetry
Length: 1,322 words
Structure: 1 section, 109 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genres

Arthurian poetry — The poem centers on Lancelot, Guinevere, Arthur, Galahad, Camelot, and the moral consequences of the Arthurian love triangle.
Narrative poetry — It presents a dramatic moment in an implied story: Lancelot contemplates leaving Camelot after recognizing the destructive consequences of his betrayal.
Dramatic monologue — Nearly the entire work is shaped by Lancelot's sustained private speech, revealing his conflicted conscience, fear, desire, and self-condemnation.
Tragic poetry — Its dominant movement is tragic: Lancelot realizes that his passion and disloyalty have helped bring spiritual and political ruin to Camelot.