Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory
The narrative unfolds in a mythical realm where King Arthur, the legendary ruler of Britain, faces numerous challenges and adventures, primarily revolving around the quest for honor, love, and the establishment of his reign. The story begins with the birth of Arthur, conceived under mysterious circumstances involving his father, Uther Pendragon, and Igraine, the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. After Uther's death, Arthur is raised away from the court, only to later pull the sword from the stone, proving his right to the throne. As king, Arthur assembles the Knights of the Round Table, a fellowship of noble knights sworn to uphold justice and protect the realm. Among them are notable figures like Sir Gawaine, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Percival. The narrative explores themes of chivalry, loyalty, and betrayal, particularly through the relationships between the knights and their quests for love and glory. Arthur's reign is marked by conflicts with various enemies, including the treacherous King Lot and the ambitious King Rience. The knights embark on quests that test their valor, such as retrieving Excalibur, Arthur's magical sword, and confronting various adversaries. The story also delves into the romantic entanglements of the knights, particularly the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, Arthur's queen, which ultimately leads to tragedy and discord within the court. Merlin, the wise wizard, plays a crucial role in guiding Arthur and the knights, often foreseeing events and advising them on their paths. However, his own fate intertwines with the enchantress Morgan le Fay, who seeks to undermine Arthur's rule. The tale culminates in a series of battles, betrayals, and the eventual downfall of Arthur's kingdom, as the knights face the consequences of their actions and the weight of their destinies. The narrative is rich with allegorical elements, exploring the ideals of knighthood, the complexities of human relationships, and the inevitable decline of greatness, encapsulating the essence of Arthurian legend. The story concludes with Arthur's tragic end, leaving a legacy that continues to resonate through time, symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil, honor and betrayal.
By Thomas Malory · First published 1485 · Genre: Arthurian Legend, Epic, Fantasy · 60 chapters · 380,788 words
First lines
It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine.
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Le Morte D'Arthur is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Malory, dated 1485 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Thomas Malory
- Date: 1485 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Arthurian Legend, Epic, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Chivalric Romance
- Length: 380,788 words
- Structure: 504 chapters, 1,473 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Le Morte D'Arthur?
- How does this novel by Thomas Malory fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Arthurian Legend first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Arthurian Legend — The book is a foundational text of Arthurian legend, detailing the life and adventures of King Arthur and his knights.
- Epic — The narrative encompasses grand themes of heroism, chivalry, and the quest for honor, characteristic of epic literature.
- Fantasy — The story includes magical elements, mythical creatures, and supernatural events, typical of the fantasy genre.
- Historical Fiction — While based on legend, the text incorporates historical elements and figures from medieval Britain.
Tags
Medieval Fiction · Arthurian Legend · Knighthood · Chivalry · Romance · Adventure · Fantasy · Historical Fiction · Epic · Quest · Magic · Warfare
Contents
- First, how Uther Pendragon Sent for the Duke of Cornwall and Igraine his Wife, and of their Departing Suddenly again
- How Sir Tristram Jousted, and Smote down King Arthur, because he Told him not the Cause why he Bare that Shield
- How Sir Launcelot Rode on his Adventure, and how he Holp a Dolorous Lady from her Pain, and how that he Fought with a Dragon
- How Sir Launcelot in his Madness Took a Sword and Fought with a Knight, and Leapt in a Bed
- How at the Vigil of the Feast of Pentecost Entered into the Hall before King Arthur a Damosel, and Desired Sir Launcelot for to Come and Dub a Knight, and how he Went with her
- How Sir Percivale Came to a Recluse and Asked Counsel, and how she Told him that she was his Aunt
- How Sir Launcelot Came to a Chapel, where he Found Dead, in a White Shirt, a Man of Religion, of an Hundred Winter Old
- How Sir Gawaine was Nigh Weary of the Quest of the Sangreal, and of his Marvellous Dream
- How Sir Galahad Fought at a Tournament, and how he was Known of Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector De Maris
- Of the Joy King Arthur and the Queen had of the Achievement of the Sangreal; and how Launcelot Fell to his Old Love again
- How Queen Guenever Rode a-Maying with Certain Knights of the Round Table and Clad all in Green
- Of a Damosel which Came Girt with a Sword for to Find a Man of such Virtue to Draw it out of the Scabbard
- How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were Busy Upon Sir Gawaine for to Disclose the Love between Sir Launcelot and Queen Guenever
- How Sir Mordred Presumed and Took on him to be King of England, and Would have Married the Queen, his Father's Wife
- How King Arthur Took a Wife, and Wedded Guenever, Daughter to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom he had the Round Table
- How Merlin was Assotted and Doted on One of the Ladies of the Lake, and how he was Shut in a Rock under a Stone and there Died
- How Twelve Aged Ambassadors of Rome Came to King Arthur to Demand Truage for Britain
- How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel Departed from the Court, and how Sir Lionel Left him Sleeping and was Taken
- How Beaumains Came to King Arthur's Court and Demanded Three Petitions of King Arthur
- How Sir Tristram De Liones was Born, and how his Mother Died at his Birth, Wherefore she Named him Tristram
- How a Young Man Came into the Court of King Arthur, and how Sir Kay Called him in Scorn La Cote Male Taile
- How Uther Pendragon Made War on the Duke of Cornwall, and how by the Mean of Merlin he Lay by the Duchess and Gat Arthur
- How Sir Tristram Saved Sir Palomides' Life, and how they Promised to Fight Together Within a Fortnight
- How Sir Launcelot Came to Pelles, and of the Sangreal, and of Elaine, King Pelles' Daughter
- How Sir Lancelot was Carried in an Horse Litter, and how Sir Launcelot Rescued Sir Bliant, his Host
- How the Letters were Found Written in the Siege Perilous and of the Marvellous Adventure of the Sword in a Stone
- How Merlin Likened the Round Table to the World, and how the Knights that should Achieve the Sangreal should be Known
- Of a Dead Man, how Men Would have Hewn him, and it Would not be, and how Sir Launcelot Took the Hair of the Dead Man
- Of the Advision of Sir Ector, and how he Jousted with Sir Uwaine Les Avoutres, his Sworn Brother
- How Sir Galahad Rode with a Damosel, and Came to the Ship Whereas Sir Bors and Sir Percivale were in
- How the Queen Commanded Sir Launcelot to Avoid the Court, and of the Sorrow that Launcelot Made
- How Sir Meliagrance Took the Queen and her Knights, which were Sore Hurt in Fighting
- How Balin, Arrayed Like a Poor Knight, Pulled out the Sword, which Afterward was the Cause of his Death
- How Sir Agravaine Disclosed their Love to King Arthur, and how King Arthur Gave them Licence to Take him
- How after that King Arthur had Tidings, he Returned and Came to Dover, where Sir Mordred Met him to Let his Landing; and of the Death of Sir Gawaine
- How the Knights of the Round Table were Ordained and their Sieges Blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury
- How Five Kings Came into this Land to War against King Arthur, and what Counsel Arthur had against them
- How the Kings and Lords Promised to King Arthur Aid and Help against the Romans
- How Sir Ector Followed for to Seek Sir Launcelot, and how he was Taken by Sir Turquine
- How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine were Wroth because Sir Kay Mocked Beaumains, and of a Damosel which Desired a Knight to Fight for a Lady
- How the Stepmother of Sir Tristram had Ordained Poison for to have Poisoned Sir Tristram
- How a Damosel Came into the Court and Desired a Knight to Take on him an Enquest, which La Cote Male Taile Emprised.131
- Of the Birth of King Arthur and of his Nurture
- How Sir Tristram Sought a Strong Knight that had Smitten him down, and Many other Knights of the Round Table
- How Sir Launcelot was Displeased when he Knew that he had Lain by Dame Elaine, and how she was Delivered of Galahad
- How Sir Launcelot Fought against a Boar and Slew him, and how he was Hurt, and Brought Unto an Hermitage
- How Sir Gawaine Assayed to Draw out the Sword, and how an Old Man Brought in Galahad
- How Sir Percivale Came into a Monastery, where he Found King Evelake, which was an Old Man
- Of an Advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he Told it to an Hermit, and Desired Counsel of him
- How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector Came to an Hermitage to be Confessed, and how they Told to the Hermit their Advisions
- How Sir Galahad Entered into the Ship, and of a Fair Bed Therein, with other Marvellous Things, and of a Sword
- How at a Dinner that the Queen Made there was a Knight Enpoisoned, which Sir Mador Laid on the Queen
- How Sir Launcelot had Word how the Queen was Taken, and how Sir Meliagrance Laid a Bushment for Launcelot
- How the Lady of the Lake Demanded the Knight's Head that had won the Sword, or the Maiden's Head
- How Sir Launcelot was Espied in the Queen's Chamber, and how Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred Came with Twelve Knights to Slay him
- How after, Sir Gawaine's Ghost Appeared to King Arthur, and Warned him that he should not Fight that Day
- How a Poor Man Riding Upon a Lean Mare Desired King Arthur to Make his Son Knight
- How King Arthur had Ado with them and Overthrew them, and Slew the Five Kings and Made the Remnant to Flee
- How King Arthur Held a Parliament at York, and how he Ordained the Realm should be Governed in his Absence
- How Four Queens Found Launcelot Sleeping, and how by Enchantment he was Taken and Led into a Castle