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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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
What this Textopian page supports
Le Morte D'Arthur is listed on Textopian as a novel by Thomas Malory, dated 1485 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- 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
Contents
- First, how Uther Pendragon Sent for the Duke of Cornwall and Igraine his Wife, and of their Departing Suddenly again
- 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
- Of the Birth of King Arthur and of his Nurture
- Of the Death of King Uther Pendragon
- How Arthur was Chosen King, and of Wonders and Marvels of a Sword Taken out of a Stone by the Said Arthur
- . how King Arthur Pulled out the Sword Divers Times
- How King Arthur was Crowned, and how he Made Officers
- How King Arthur Held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a Great Feast, and what Kings and Lords Came to his Feast
- Of the First War that King Arthur had, and how he won the Field
- How Merlin Counselled King Arthur to Send for King Ban and King Bors, and of their Counsel Taken for the War
- Of a Great Tourney Made by King Arthur and the Two Kings Ban and Bors, and how they Went over the Sea
- How Eleven Kings Gathered a Great Host against King Arthur
- Of a Dream of the King with the Hundred Knights
- How the Eleven Kings with their Host Fought against Arthur and his Host, and Many Great Feats of the War
- Yet of the same Battle
- Yet more of the same Battle
- Yet more of the same Battle, and how it was Ended by Merlin
- How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors Rescued King Leodegrance, and other Incidents
- How King Arthur Rode to Carlion, and of his Dream, and how he Saw the Questing Beast
- How King Pellinore Took Arthur's Horse and Followed the Questing Beast, and how Merlin Met with Arthur
- How Ulfius Impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur's Mother, of Treason; and how a Knight Came and Desired to have the Death of his Master Revenged
- How Griflet was Made Knight, and Jousted with a Knight
- How Twelve Knights Came from Rome and Asked Truage for this Land of Arthur, and how Arthur Fought with a Knight
- How Merlin Saved Arthur's Life, and Threw an Enchantment on King Pellinore and Made him to Sleep
- How Arthur by the Mean of Merlin Gat Excalibur his Sword of the Lady of the Lake
- How Tidings Came to Arthur that King Rience had Overcome Eleven Kings, and how he Desired Arthur's Beard to Trim his Mantle
- How all the Children were Sent for that were Born on May-Day, and how Mordred was Saved
- 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 Balin, Arrayed Like a Poor Knight, Pulled out the Sword, which Afterward was the Cause of his Death
- How the Lady of the Lake Demanded the Knight's Head that had won the Sword, or the Maiden's Head
- How Merlin Told the Adventure of this Damosel
- How Balin was Pursued by Sir Lanceor, Knight of Ireland, and how he Jousted and Slew him
- How a Damosel, which was Love to Lanceor, Slew herself for Love, and how Balin Met with his Brother Balan
- How a Dwarf Reproved Balin for the Death of Lanceor, and how King Mark of Cornwall Found them, and Made a Tomb over them
- How Merlin Prophesied that Two the Best Knights of the World should Fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram
- How Balin and his Brother, by the Counsel of Merlin, Took King Rience and Brought him to King Arthur
- How King Arthur had a Battle against Nero and King Lot of Orkney, and how King Lot was Deceived by Merlin, and how Twelve Kings were Slain
- Of the Interment of Twelve Kings, and of the Prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin should Give the Dolorous Stroke
- How a Sorrowful Knight Came before Arthur, and how Balin Fetched him, and how that Knight was Slain by a Knight Invisible
- How Balin and the Damosel Met with a Knight which was in Likewise Slain, and how the Damosel Bled for the Custom of a Castle
- How Balin Met with that Knight Named Garlon at a Feast, and there he Slew him, to have his Blood to Heal Therewith the Son of his Host
- How Balin Fought with King Pellam, and how his Sword Brake, and how he Gat a Spear Wherewith he Smote the Dolorous Stroke
- How Balin was Delivered by Merlin, and Saved a Knight that Would have Slain himself for Love
- How that Knight Slew his Love and a Knight Lying by her, and after, how he Slew himself with his own Sword, and how Balin Rode Toward a Castle where he Lost his Life
- How Balin Met with his Brother Balan, and how each of them Slew other Unknown, Till they were Wounded to Death
- How Merlin Buried them both in One Tomb, and of Balin's Sword
- 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 the Knights of the Round Table were Ordained and their Sieges Blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury
- How a Poor Man Riding Upon a Lean Mare Desired King Arthur to Make his Son Knight
- How Sir Tor was Known for Son of King Pellinore, and how Gawaine was Made Knight
- How at Feast of the Wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a White Hart Came into the Hall, and Thirty Couple Hounds, and how a Brachet Pinched the Hart which was Taken Away
- How Sir Gawaine Rode for to Fetch again the Hart, and how Two Brethren Fought each against other for the Hart
- How the Hart was Chased into a Castle and there Slain, and how Sir Gawaine Slew a Lady
- How Four Knights Fought against Gawaine and Gaheris, and how they were Overcome, and their Lives Saved at Request of Four Ladies
- How Sir Tor Rode after the Knight with the Brachet, and of his Adventure by the Way
- How Sir Tor Found the Brachet with a Lady, and how a Knight Assailed him for the Said Brachet
- How Sir Tor Overcame the Knight, and how he Lost his Head at the Request of a Lady
- How King Pellinore Rode after the Lady and the Knight that Led her Away, and how a Lady Desired Help of him, and how he Fought with Two Knights for that Lady, of whom he Slew the One at the First Stroke
- How King Pellinore Gat the Lady and Brought her to Camelot to the Court of King Arthur
- How on the Way he Heard Two Knights, as he Lay by Night in a Valley, and of their Adventures