Spring 2021: Guide for readings for class discussion on March 31

I suggest that you do the readings in this order:

Notes for First reading:

Notes for Second reading:
1. 1. “The Medieval Legend in French” (“in French” refers to the French version, Chretien’s, “The
Story of the Grail”); focuses on Perceval
2. 2. Talismans and Motifs (you may want or need to refer back to “The Theories of Origins” and
“The Three Strains,” especially the Perceval and the Queste strains.
3. 3. “The Adventure of the Holy Grail” (170-223), based on Malory; mainly the Christian Strain and
the role of virtue and sin in the lives of the questers.
Notes for First Reading:
4. 1.Perceval’s story will be very relevant for us going forward. Some things to note as you read:
Perceval’s personality, character, and role as “learner” and questioner.
5. 2.Tension between the superficiality of the cult of chivalry and the spirituality of the Quest
6. 3. Perceval juxtaposed to Gawain as quester
7. 4. Textual strangeness - questions we’re left with: Perceval’s questions for the Fisher King, and
Perceval’s articulation of his own name
Notes for Second Reading
8. Note the important talismans
9. Note the two main Motifs and what comprises them, their relationship to each other, their
significance
Notes for Third reading:
1. Look at the tapestry with the image of the Summons – the first Announcement for our course.
Note the flowers and lack of armour on the knights at the table – why? The Summons occurs at
Pentecost, a religious feast day which usually occurs in May.
2. Note: Galaad and Galahad are alternate spellings of the same name
3. The theme of betrayal
4. what main quality might we say defines Gawain, Lancelot, Percival, and Galahad
5. Note the themes of the Wasteland and the Maimed King (the Fisher King) in “The Quest Goes
on”
6. 211-214 – note the differences between Lancelot and Galahad and the Quest
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