Bamburgh (pronounced bam-bra) Castle in Northumberland, one of two candidates suggested by Malory for the fortress called the Joyous Gard where Lancelot lay in state. “When he was houseled [given the Eucharist] and enelid [given holy unction], and had all that a Christian man ought to have, he prayed the Bishop that his fellows might bear his body to Joyous Gard. Some men say it was Alnwick, and some men say it was Bamburgh.” Bamburgh was the capital of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Bernicia in the sixth century, and thanks in part to its proximity to Lindisfarne remained an important seat after Bernicia was merged with Deira (with its capital at York) to form Northumbria during the seventh. The Arthurian legend is set vaguely in the fifth century.
Introduction
At the close of Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, written in the reign of Edward IV (1461-1470), the deaths of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere have afflicted Sir Lancelot with such grief that he too has died. His half-brother Sir Ector, who had been searching for Lancelot seven years, came too late; but over Lancelot’s body, lying in state in the chapel of the fortress called the Joyous Gard, he spoke these words.
“AH Lancelot,” he said, “thou were head of all Christian knights, and now I dare say,” said Sir Ector,* “thou Sir Lancelot, there thou liest, that thou were never matched of earthly knight’s hand. And thou were the courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse. And thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman. And thou were the kindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou were the goodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thou was the meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies. And thou were the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.”
Then there was weeping and dolour out of measure. Thus they kept Sir Lancelot’s corpse on loft fifteen days, and then they buried it with great devotion.
From ‘Le Morte d’Arthur’ Volume 2 by Sir Thomas Malory (?1416-?1471), completed by 1470, and edited (1908) by Sir John Rhys (1840-1915).
* This Sir Ector is Hector de Maris, Lancelot’s half-brother (the illegitimate child of Lancelot’s father King Ban of Benwick, and the Lady de Maris) and junior. When Lancelot renounced the world and became a monk, he vanished out of all knowledge until Sir Bors found him, and one by one Sir Bedivere and the knights Galahad, Galihodin, Blamore, Bleoberis, Villiars, Clarras and Gahalantine all joined him. For seven years Sir Ector de Maris sought him in vain, and found him too late. This Sir Ector should not be confused with another Sir Ector, foster father of King Arthur, who brought Arthur up with his own son Sir Kay. See also The Sword in the Stone.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
As Thomas Malory’s fifteenth-century tale of King Arthur and his knights draws to a close, Sir Lancelot falls ill and dies of grief. Standing beside his body, his half-brother Sir Ector remembers him as the best of knights, a brave soldier and passionate lover, yet always courteous, gentle and a true friend. Lancelot was buried fifteen days later. (58 / 60 words)
As Thomas Malory’s fifteenth-century tale of King Arthur and his knights draws to a close, Sir Lancelot falls ill and dies of grief. Standing beside his body, his half-brother Sir Ector remembers him as the best of knights, a brave soldier and passionate lover, yet always courteous, gentle and a true friend. Lancelot was buried fifteen days later.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, besides, if, ought, until, whether, who.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Come. Gentle. Out.
2 Love. Now. Thou.
3 Ever. Rest. Sin.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Knight.
Night.
2.
Hall.
Haul.
3.
Bare.
Bear.
4.
Hoarse.
Horse.
5.
Berry.
Bury.
6.
Him.
Hymn.
7.
There.
Their.
They’re.
8.
Great.
Grate.
9.
Rest.
Wrest.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
trd (9+1)
tiered. tirade. tired. toured. trade. tread. triad. tried. trod.
trad.
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