“The Day of Destiny”

from Le Morte d’Arthur

By
Sir Thomas Malory

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 Arthur’s Dream
• “He was appareled in gold cloth and
seated in a chair which stood on a pivoted
scaffold. Below him, many fathoms deep,
was a dark well, and in the water swam
serpents, dragons, and wild beasts.
Suddenly the scaffold tilted and Arthur
was flung into the water, where all the
creatures struggled toward him and began
tearing him limb from limb.” (216)

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 Arthur’s Dream
• Beasts of the water
– Serpents
• symbol of evil and deception
– Sir Modred
• Foreshadowing the death of King
Arthur?

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 Arthur’s Dream
• Vision of Sir Gawain
– Begs King Arthur not to battle Sir
Modred tomorrow.
– Wait for Lancelot to come back and he
will defeat Sir Modred

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 Characteristics of King Arthur
• Hero
– Honorable
– Brave
– “Super-natural”

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 The Snake
• Bites the knight
• The knight pulls out his sword to kill
the serpent
• As soon as the sword is drawn, both
sides see it as an act of war.
• Because of the serpent, many people
die
• Allusion?
– The serpent in the Garden of Eden
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 The Honorable Knights
• The knights give their lives for King
Arthur
• Sir Lucas the Butler
– Dies trying to comfort and protect King
Arthur
• Sir Bedivere the Bold
– Lives with the monk to honor King
Arthur

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
 The End of King Arthur?
• Tomb stone inscription:
– “Here lies Arthur, the once and future
king.”
• Legend
– Some believe Arthur did not die and the
he will return Britain to glory.

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny