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“A curse is on her...”

-Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott

What curse is Tennyson talking about? Where did he get the idea of a curse?

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Why would Pelleas do so much to try to win Ettarre’s affection when she obviously was just using him? I understand chivalry and the importance of keeping your word, but you have to be able to cut your losses at some point too.

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It seems like everyone knew about Guinevere and Lancelot but Arthur himself. Either he was just that oblivious or he really did know about them and did want to have to do anything about it.

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“‘Nay—we believe all evil of thy Mark— / Well, we shall test the farther...’”

-Idylls of the King, Alfred Lord Tennyson pg. 115

There’s never any follow up on this. I doubt Arthur would be able to do anything about another king harassing a woman, but this is just never brought up again.

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“‘Ah, Agravain, Agravin... Jesu forgive it thy soul, for thy evil will that thou hadst, and Sir Mordred thy brother, unto Sir Lancelot, hath caused all this sorrow.’”

-Le Morte Darthur, Sir Thomas Malory pg. 482

Why does it sound like Arthur is blaming Agravain and Mordred for what’s happening instead of Lancelot? He believes their claims that Lancelot an Guinevere are together enough that he was about to put Guinevere to death. Why does he not blame Lancelot or Guinevere? Earlier in the story, it sounds like maybe he is aware of what’s going on. So would he rather have the cheating going on without the acknowledgment? Because, once it’s acknowledged, Arthur has to do something about it.

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What was the point of Lancelot being shot by the huntress? If it were to prove that he is the best knight even while injured, there was probably a better way to do it than adding a random aside.

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Sir Lancelot crossing the Sword Bridge

Lancelot du Lac, Hainaut 1344

BnF, Français 122, fol. 1r

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“Vortigern’s fate” An illustration I wanted to do since almost two years now : young Merlin watching the epic, prophetic fight between the red and the white dragon that were sleeping under the hill on top of which King Vortigern wanted to build his tower. Arthurian legends and Britain’s mythology are an awesome source of inspiration. AND a great excuse to paint over-the-top dragon fights.

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“... until he came to a rough water which roared, and that horse would have borne him into it.”

-Le Morte Darthur, Sir Thomas Malory pg.338

It sounds like the ‘fiend’ that Sir Percival was riding is a kelpie—an Irish fae creature that takes the shape of a horse and drowns people. Later, it seems like the water hurts the fiend, so I could do wrong, but I think this creature is based on the kelpie.

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Why is Sir Gareth so secretive in his story?

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“And King Pellam lay so many years sore wounded, and night never be while till that Galahad the haut prince healed him in the quest of the Sangrail.”

-Balin and Balan, Sir Thomas Malory La Morte Darthur pg.45

Does this mean that King Pellam is the Fisher King in this version of the story?

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Gawain > this S.O.B.

Gawain is the quintessential knight. He is loyal and courteous - the epitome of chivalry. He does not complain once when he must wed Dame Ragnell nor turn away in disgust when he must kiss her that evening. But let me tell ya, the anonymous knight from “The Tale of the Wife of Bath,” not a fan. First of all, he downright destroys his commitment to chivalry and knighthood when he rapes the maiden. This already had me furious and disgusted. Then, he despairs and whines when he must marry the hag… aka the woman who just saved his life. This knight, who I shouldn’t even call a knight, is disrespectful, ungrateful, and a total antithesis to the good Gawain.

If you can’t tell… I feel very passionately about this. In summary, this guy sucks.

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The Black Book of Carmarthen, the earliest manuscript of Welsh poetry, mid-thirteenth century. Full of heroes, stories, and of course, Arthur… an ampherawdr. 

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In the story How Uther begot King Arthur, what was the point of Merlin taking Arthur away from Uther and Igraine? Seperating his from his family seems to have caused more harm than good.

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“He saw a maiden walking through the corn...”

-The Tale of the Wife of Bath

Corn is a New World plant. How is it in an Arthurian story?

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Why does the last stanza of The Wedding if Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle sound like the author is begging for God to release him from prison?

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“And then they take old Reynard / And off the strip his coat.”

-Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Romance of Arthur pg. 459

Why does the fox have a name? The boar in the previous hunt didn’t have a name—though since it feels like a reference to the first boar hunt in “Culhwch and Olwen”, maybe naming it would make the reference too obvious.