1. Arthurian Legends An Introduction to the Characters and the Legends
Lincoln-Way East High School
English IV College Prep
Renae C. Goldie

2. He was born at Tintagel , as a child of injustice between Uther Pendragon (who was King of Britain) and Ygerna (who was wife of the Duke of Cornwall).
As soon as he came on earth, he was delivered to Merlin and was entrusted to Ector.
One day when he had grown to a boy , he drew out the sword from the anvil on the stone in a church. This miracle proved that he was the justifiable king.
After, he positioned himself at Camelot and unified Britain through numerous battles. However, at the battle of Camlann, he received the fatal blow from Mordred (Arthur's son or nephew) who betrayed him .
Morgan le Fay, Dam de Lac (Lady of the Fountain) and other ladies carried dying Arthur to Avalon by boat. It is said that King Arthur lives on somewhere, even now.
Or, it is also said that he died and was buried at Glastonbury with the epitaph; "Here lies Arthur, the once and future king"
King Arthur

3. Sir Lancelot
The son of King Ban of Banwick. he is called "the knight of the lake" because he was brought up by the Lady of the Lake (Dam de Lac).
He was said to be the most excellent knight of the Knights of the Round Table.
Although many women loved him, he loved only Queen Guinevere all his life.
For that, unity of the knights was disturbed and the Court of King Arthur was guided to collapse.
Galahad is his son, given by Elaine of Corbenic.

4. Sir Gawain The son of Lot, King of Orkney. One of Arthur's nephews.
He is known as brave and many stories have been written about his adventures.
From the morning to noon, especially, his power strengthened.
Although he got married to an ugly woman for Arthur, as soon as her hope was given priority, the curse faded away, and the bride showed an original, beautiful figure.
Finally, he fought with Lancelot who killed his brother.

5. Sir Galahad
As soon as he came to the Court of Arthur, he sat down impassively to "Siege Perilous (the seat of peril)“ that was an empty seat for long. He showed the miracle to draw a sword out of floating stone.
By the appearance of Galahad, knights‘ quest for the Saint Grail began.
The white knight gave him the white shield on which a red cross was painted.
Healing the damage of the Fisher King in the Saint Grail castle, he got the grail.
Although he was chosen to be the king of Sarras, his soul hoped to touch the mysterious heaven, rather than earthly existence .
He was guided by angels to heaven. The Saint Grail and spear also disappeared from this world simultaneously.

6. Mordred
The child of injustice who was born to Arthur and his half-sister Morgawse on May 1st.
Because of the prediction that this son would bring troubles, Arthur tried to kill all children who were born on May 1st. However, Mordred was helped by a good man and survived.
When he was keeping the absence of the castle between the battle of Arthur and Lancelot, he caused the rebellion.
He gave the fatal blow to Arthur at"the Battle of Camlann" and was killed at the same time.

7. Sir Bedivere It is said he was the hero with one arm.
He saved damaged Arthur from the battlefield of Camlann and loaded him to the ship bound for Avalon.
Although he was asked to return Arthur's Excalibur to the lake, he couldn't do so readily. At last, he threw it in the lake when he went there for a third time.
After Arthur died, he went in a temple and spent days of prayer.

8. She brought "a round table" to the Court of Arthur.
Guinevere
The daughter of Leodegraunce, king of Camelerd. Arthur saw her to his consort, in spite of the prediction of Merlin that her good looks would bring troubles.
She brought "a round table" to the Court of Arthur.
She loved Lancelot and began an inappropriate relation with him. Although she tormented Lancelot by her intense jealousy, he always devoted unchangeable love to her.
When her injustice was exposed and she was punished with fire, Lancelot helped her just before she was killed, and recovered her honor.
After Arthur died, she was ashamed of her unchastity which drove her husband to death, and she chose the way to be a nun.

9. The Grail Maiden (Elaine)
The princess of the Saint Grail Castle of Corbenic.
She was helped by Lancelot when Morgan le Fay envied her beauty and inserted her in seething water.
By the plot of her father and sorceress Brisane, she made love to Lancelot, who thought she was Guinevere.
A child (Galahad) was conceived in this night.
When she found Lancelot had become deranged by Guinevere's jealousy, she healed him by the power of Saint Grail and they lived together for a while in "the island of pleasure“.
Although she couldn't be loved by Lancelot, she did not dare to get married to any other man.
The Grail Maiden (Elaine)

10. The Lady of Shallot (Elaine)
The daughter of Bernard, Lord of Astolat.
She is called "the Fair Maid of Astolat" or "the Maiden of Shalott".
She fell in love with Lancelot, but she couldn't win his love. She died from a broken heart.
Her corpse of purity was sent by boat on river to the Court where Lancelot lived.

11. Ladies of the Lake
After learning all the magic of Merlin, she locked up him in the air tower with magic.
At the day of the wedding of Arthur and Guinevere, she appeared suddenly in the Court on the white horse, and enchanted Merlin.
She gave Excalibur to King Arthur, and brought up Lancelot.
There is the opinion that she is the same as Nimue who loved Merlin.

12. Morgan le Fay
One of Arthur's half-sisters. King Urien of Gaul was her husband. Accolon of Gaul, one of the Knights of the Round Table was her lover.
She was adroit at witchcraft.
She tried to kill her husband and Arthur, for Accolon to become King.
She stole the sheath of Excalibur that had healing power, and didn't return it. This was why Arthur could not heal the damage he got in the battle of Camlann.
At the last moments of Arthur’s life, she guided him to Avalon.

13. He was adroit at magic, such as prediction and seeing through figures.
The child who was conceived in a faithful maiden raped by the demon in a dream. Because he was born in a monastery and received baptism as he came on earth, he escaped the fall to the demon world.
He was adroit at magic, such as prediction and seeing through figures.
When he was chosen to be the human sacrifice to build a fortress in childhood, he saved his own life to predict the appearance of King Arthur.
Becoming the adviser of King Uther, it is said he made the round table and also made Stonehenge.
He assisted King Arthur, too. He disapproved of the marriage with Guinevere.
He doted upon Nimue, fairy of the lake, and at last linked to her scheme and was said to have been locked up to the air tower (underground/in the tree).
Merlin

14. Excalibur
The sword that the Lady of the Lake granted to Arthur, after he had broken the sword drawn out from the anvil.
Part of the edge had the power to cut off steel, and the sheath had the power to heal damage and give its owner immortality.
When Morgan le Fay stole it for her sweetheart Accolon, Arthur had fallen into the difficult situation to fight against it.
After that, Morgan stole the sheath again and discarded it to the lake. So, Arthur was not immortal at the final battle.
In the early legend, the sword drawn out from the anvil was called "Excalibur".

15. It is conveyed as the cup that Jesus Christ used at the Last Supper.
Joseph of Arimathaea received the blood that flowed from the corpse of Jesus Christ with this grail.
The form is not certain, because so strong light is given out, although it is said to be "a large plate", "a pot“, or "a bowl".
It brings benefits such as recovery of sickness and a wonderful meal.
Also, it seems to show the mystery of the heavens to persons who happened to be in the place of this miracle.
Only the Grail might fly by itself and appear before the people.
Only the knights equipped with the virtues of "purity", "modesty“, and "patience" succeed in a Grail Quest.
It is said the Holy Grail disappeared from this world when Galahad touched the mystery of the Grail and went to heaven.
The Holy Grail

16. It was made for knights not to compete for rank/order.
Merlin made it for Uther's Court at first. After Uther's death, knights sent it to Camelerd. When Guinevere came to Arthur, it was carried to his court with her.
The number of chairs is not certain. Someone says there were 13 chairs, someone says 150, and others say 1000 or more. When the new knight who should sit turns up, his name appeared on the table with gold letters.
There was always an empty seat called "Siege Perilous (the seat of peril )" . When someone not suitable sat there, troubles broke out. It became clear that this seat was for Galahad.
The Round Table