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Le Morte D'Arthur
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Le Morte D'Arthur (1485) (edit title/settings)

by Sir Thomas Malory (Author) (edit contributors)

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From the incredible wizardry of Merlin to the undeniable passion of Sir Launcelot, these tales of Arthur and his knights offer epic adventures with the supernatural-as well as timeless battles with our own humanity.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “That is evil said, said Sir Tristram, for a knight may never be of prowess but if he be a lover.”
    Sir Tristram
  • “But nowadays men can not love seven night but they must have all their desires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty heat, soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so; men and women could love together seven years, and no licours lusts were between them, and then was love, truth, and faithfulness: and lo, in like wise was used love in King Arthur’s days. Wherefore I liken love nowadays unto summer and winter; for like as the one is hot and the other cold, so fareth love nowadays; therefore all ye that be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May, like as did Queen Guenever, for whom I make here a little mention, that while she lived she was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end.”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • never out for all the craft he could do. And so she departed and left Merlin.
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  • and he begat upon her Mordred, and she was his sister, on his mother's side, Igraine.
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  • do you right good service; and his name is Pellinore, and he shall have two sons that shall be passing good men; save one they shall have no fellow of prowess and of good living, and their names shall be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of Wales, and he shall tell you the name of your own son, begotten of your sister, that shall be the destruction of all this realm.
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  • But all this time King Arthur knew not that King Lot's wife was his sister.
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  • Whether liketh you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh better the sword, said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten of the swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded; therefore keep well the scabbard always with you.
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  • I will ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day.
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  • And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse that was Gawaine's mother, and King Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elaine. All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister Morgan le Fay was put to school in a nunnery, and there she learned so much that she was a great clerk of necromancy. And after she was wedded to King Uriens of the land of Gore, that was Sir Ewain's le Blanchemain's father.
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  • thus:—Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England.
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  • but she was false, for the sword and the scabbard was counterfeit, and brittle, and false.
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  • it is better that we slay a coward, than through a coward all we to be slain.
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First Sentence edit see section history

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 along time.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Preface

Introduction

The Tale of King Arthur
1. Merlin
2. Balin, or the Knight with Two Swords
3. Torre and Pellinore
4. The War with the Five Kings
5. Arthur and Accolon
6. Gawain, Uwayne, and Marhaus

The Tale of King Arthur and The Emperor Lucius

The Tale of Launcelot du Lake

The Tale of Sir Gareth

The Book of Sir Tristam of Lyoness
1. Iseult the Fair
2. Sir Lamerok de Galys
3. La Cote Male Tayle
4. Sir Tristam's Madness and Exile
5. The Maiden's Castle
6. The Round Table
7. King Mark
8. Alexander the Orphan
9. The Tournament at Surluse
10. Joyous Gard
11. The Red City
12. The Tournament at Lonezep
13. Sir Palomides
14. Launcelot and Elayne
15. Conclusion

The Tale of the Sangreal
1. The Departure
2. The Miracles
3. Sir Percival
4. Sir Launcelot
5. Sir Gawain
6. Sir Bors
7. Sir Galahad
8. The Castle of Carbonek
9. The Miracle of Sir Galahad

The Book of Sir Launcelot and Queen Gwynevere
1. The Poisoned Apple
2. The Fair Maid of Astolat
3. The Great Tournament
4. The Knight of the Cart
5. The Healing of Sir Urry

Le Morte d'Arthur
1. Slander and Strife
2. The Vengeance of Sir Gawain
3. The Siege of Benwick
4. The Day of Destiny
5. The Dolorous Death and Departing Out of this World of Sir Launcelot and Queen Gwynevere

Appendix: Synopsis of Principle Characters

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Chivalry: Arthur's court was revolutionary in Britain for organizing around the principles of chivalry and brotherhood, rather than the "every man for himself" ethic of medieval politics.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Book Lust by Nancy Pearl. (authoritative list)
This book is in William H. Gass’s Fifty Literary Pillars. (community list)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: William Caxton
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1485
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 1102

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

The book has extremely violent episodes and the narrative is a bit rambling, compared to modern plot arcs. However there is something so authentic in the experience of reading this version of the legend, a sophisticated middle schooler will be able to appreciate the historical context.

Movie Connections edit see section history

  • Excalibur (IMDb): (1981) Directed by John Boorman. Starring Nigel Terry, Cherie Lunghi, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Gabriel Byrne, Nicholas Clay, Paul Geoffrey, and Liam Neeson.
  • Monty Python And the Holy Grail (IMDb): 1974 release, an adaptation that takes some minor liberties with the original Arthurian legends -- stars Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Neil Innes, Carol Cleveland and Connie Booth

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Beowulf: A Verse Translation (Norton Critical Editions)
  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
  • The Romance of Tristan and Iseult
  • Arthurian Romances (Penguin Classics)
  • The Mabinogion

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