1. Queen Guinevere Or “La Belle Iseult ” Lancelot
Only surviving painting by William Morris, 1858
*finished by Dante Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown
Lancelot

2. Queen Guinevere

3. King Arthur

4. Background
That was a basic illustration of the story of Guinevere most of us are familiar with
Actually many variations:
Basic unifying theme: Guinevere’s unfaithfulness destroys King Arthur, the Round Table, and Camelot

5. Morris
Interest in Arthurian legends developed while he was a student at Oxford ( )
Influenced by Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott & Southey’s edition of Malory’s Morte d’Arthur
In 1857, Rossetti declared that world’s two greatest books were the Bible and Morte d’Arthur
Malory’s version of Guinevere in Morte d’Arthur heavily influenced Morris– less judgmental
Morris’s version- “The Defense of Guinevere”
First time an account of her affair is given herself
Readily confesses guilt
challenges and scorns judgment
“proud woman”

6. Twilight Zone Subject is strange parallel to Morris’s life
Whether the lady is Guinevere or Iseult (Isolde, Isult, etc…) these women are the central figures in love triangles
mistress
mentor
wife