HELPS TO STUDY This story is taken from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur (môrt där' thur), one of the most delightful of story books. The title is French and means The Death of Arthur, but the book relates the adventures of many knights of the Round Table as well as of King Arthur himself. On p. 225 there is another story from Le Morte Darthur. I. Read the first division of the story so carefully that you can tell in your own words just what happened. 1. What is King Arthur's custom at Pentecost? 2. What is unusual about the tall youth's appearance? about his request? 3. What opinion of him has Lancelot? Gawaine? Sir Kay? 4. What is the meaning of Beaumains? 5. What knightly virtues does the new boy practice while he works among the servants? 6. Tell what happens on the second Pentecost. 7. Why does the King let Gareth go with the damsel when he will not let his knights help her? 8. Describe Gareth's fight with Sir Kay. 9. Why does Gareth wish to joust with Sir Lancelot? 10. What was the usual way of bestowing knighthood? Turn to the story of Bayard to answer this question. II. 1. Why is the title "Sir" now given to Gareth? 2. How does the damsel greet him? 3. Does she know that he has been knighted? 4. With how many knights does he fight in this division of the story? Why is he compelled to fight with them? 5. Tell the story of each combat. 6. What does the damsel say about his victories? 7. What is the worst insult that she puts upon him? 8. Can you think of any reason why she should be dissatisfied with him? 9. What effect has her rude ness upon him? 10. Why does he tell the black knight that he is a gentleman born? 11. What knightly traits of character does the green knight show? 12. How does he reprove the damsel? III. In this division we see Sir Gareth put into practice some additional ideas of chivalry. He wishes to have his enemy as strong as he can be when he fights with him. That is one. Another is his feeling that he can do anything on earth when the damsel praises him. 1. How many knights does Sir Gareth conquer in this part of the story? 2. What makes the damsel change her opinion of him? What does she mean by "gentle blood" ? 3. What is Castle Dangerous? 4. What do we learn about the damsel's sister? 5. What is the damsel's name? 6. Tell all that you know about the Knight of the Marshes. 7. Why does he seem to be a dishonorable knight? 8. What does Sir Gareth say when he sees Dame Lyonesse? IV. 1. Describe the combat between Sir Gareth and the Knight of the Marshes. 2. Who encourages Gareth? 3. Why doesn't he slay the knight? 4. What is a partial excuse for the knight's wrongdoing? 5. What treatment does he receive from Gareth? from King Arthur? 6. Describe the coming of the Queen of Orkney to Arthur's court. 7. What new honors does Sir Gareth win? 8. Tell the end of the story. 9. What reasons have we to think that Gareth is lovable as well as courageous? For Study with the Glossary. Proper Names: Gareth, Gawaine, Beaumains, Lancelot, Persaunt, Tristram, Lamorack, Lyonesse, Lynette, Gaheris. Other Words: I. Pentecost, cubit, goodly, seemly, dais, sire, seneschal, churl, pottage, sustenance, knave (boy). II. lubber, clave, buffet. III. stoutly, pavilions, squire. IV. pages, redoubled, loath, lineage, craved, Michaelmas Day, chamberlain, Archbishop of Canterbury. put his Phrases: I. passing strange, jousting of knights, spear in rest. II. prove upon your body. III. will pay your wages, gentle blood, a shameful death. IV. made at each other, make amends. Review Questions. I. 1. What does the word Chivalry mean? 2. How did a knight differ from a noble? 3. What were the duties of a knight? 4. What famous French knight can you mention? 5. What saying describes him? 6. Tell the story of his youth. 7. What shows that he was "without fear"? that he was "without reproach"? 8. How did he die? II. 1. Who was Arthur? 2. Where did he live? 3. What did he expect of the knights of his Round Table? 4. Where did the Celts live? Your teacher will tell you the names of the people who are to-day wholly or partly Celtic. 5. What gift do we associate with the Celts ? In connection with the stories of Chivalry you will have to look up some French names, for Sir Thomas Malory found many of his stories in France and so he kept the French names. Do not be afraid of them, but, after you look up their pronunciation, speak them out boldly. Beaumains (bō măn') is really no harder than Fairhands or Lynette (lin ět') than Margaret. A French word is usually accented on the last syllable. 5 10 THE LADY OF SHALOTT I On either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by To many-tower'd Camelot; The island of Shalott. Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Flowing down to Camelot. Four gray walls, and four gray towers, And the silent isle embowers By the margin, willow-veil'd, The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd, Skimming down to Camelot : But who hath seen her wave her hand? Or at the casement seen her stand? Or is she known in all the land, Only reapers, reaping early Down to tower'd Camelot; II There she weaves by night and day A magic web with colors gay. She has heard a whisper say, A curse is on her if she stay To look down to Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And so she weaveth steadily, And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott. 5 10 15 20 |