Question

1) Why would King Arthur not be accepted by other knights and lords and nobles surrounding the regions of Britain?

2) What does the damsel have with her as she startles the court of Arthur? Why does Arthur and his court think this is an odd thing for her to carry?
3) Who sent the damsel--and what does she seek? Who fulfills her plea? What does the lady say will happen to the man who draws the sword?
4) How does this man react when he finally acquires the sword-does he give it back?
5) What does he do that later he will spend the rest of the tale trying to redeem himself for?
6) What does Launceour seek to do and what is his fate or what becomes of him? Is he successful in his task?

7) Who is Garlon and what becomes of him?
8) What does Balyn do that causes such a sorrowful chain of events at the feast of King Pelles?
9) Why does Balyn not recognize his brother and vice versa; why does his brother not recognize him?
10) Remembering the curse of the sword and all that was predicted by the damsel at the beginning of the tale, as well as Merlin, how would you characterize or describe this tale? What effect, if any, did it have on you-was it sad, happy, remorseful...etc.?

Answer 1

1: King Arthur might not be accepted by other knights and lords and nobles surrounding the regions of Britain because he was not born into nobility or royalty. He was a commoner who became king after pulling the sword from the stone, which may have been seen as an illegitimate claim to the throne by those with more noble bloodlines.

2: The damsel has a sword with her as she startles the court of Arthur. Arthur and his court think this is an odd thing for her to carry because it is not customary for a lady to carry a weapon.

3: The damsel was sent by the Lady of the Lake, and she seeks a knight who will draw the sword from the stone. Arthur fulfills her plea, and the lady says that the man who draws the sword will be the greatest knight in all the world, but also that the sword will cause great harm and sorrow.

4: The man who draws the sword, later revealed to be Sir Gawain, reacts with joy and pride when he finally acquires the sword. He does not give it back.

5: Sir Gawain accidentally kills his own brother with the sword, causing him great guilt and shame. He spends the rest of the tale trying to redeem himself for this tragic mistake.

6: Launcelot seeks to free a group of knights who have been taken captive by a sorceress. He is successful in his task, but he falls in love with the sorceress and eventually leaves his own wife for her, which leads to tragic consequences.

7: Garlon is a treacherous knight who is known for his deceitful ways. He is eventually killed by Balyn in a fit of anger.

8: Balyn accidentally kills King Pelles' son with the sword, causing great sorrow and anger at the feast.

9: Balyn and his brother do not recognize each other because they were separated at birth and grew up in different places. They only discover their relationship after Balyn accidentally kills his brother during a jousting match.

10: This tale could be characterized as a tragic and cautionary tale about the dangers of fate and prophecy. Despite their best intentions, the characters in the story are unable to escape the curses and prophecies that have been placed upon them. The tale can evoke a range of emotions, including sadness, remorse, and a sense of the futility of trying to change one's fate.