English 257
The Story of the Grail
Medieval Arthurian Romance
The Twelfth-Century Renaissance
Most medievalists think of the 12th
century as the beginning of the
European renaissance.
By the 12th century, the manorial
feudal system dominates western
Europe.
The 12th century saw the rise of the
university system, a rediscovery of
classical texts, the philosophical
school of Scholasticism, and the
construction of the great Gothic
cathedrals.
12th century also famous for its
outpouring of great literature,
including Chretien.
We also see a renewed interest in
the individual.
The Cult of Mary
In the 12th century, there is great
religious emphasis on the Virgin
Mary.
Many of the great Gothic cathedrals,
including Notre Dame (which means
“Our Lady”) in Paris, are built in her
honor.
Mary serves as a merciful
intercessor, a worker of miracles
who offers salvation.
This offers a powerful female role in
Christianity, and elevates the role of
women in general. Previously, the
model had been Eve.
Shift from veneration of martyred
saints to virgin indicates an
optimistic shift in religious
sensibility as well.
Chivalry
Chivalry literally means
“horsemanship”, and was initially
used to distinguish nobles from
non-nobles.
However, in the 12th century it was
expected this nobility be
accompanied by other personal
virtues, such as honor, truth,
piety, bravery, and deference to
women.
The virtues of love and holiness
and the virtues of the warrior exist
very ambiguously in chivalric
society.
Chivalry is often associated with
“fin amor”, or courtly love.
Courtly Love
“Fin amor”, or courtly love, probably
began with the 12th century French
troubadors. Its origins are hotly
debated.
First began in the courts of
southern France, but spread
throughout Europe.
C.S. Lewis suggested that the
cornerstones of courtly love were
humility, courtesy, adultery, and the
religion of love.
Andreas Capellanus’ book, the Art
of Courtly (or Honest) Love, gives
the rules of love.
Whether courtly love really was a
social practice or just a literary
convention is still debated.
Medieval Romance
The romance became the dominant
literary genre in England, France and
Germany during the 12th century.
Takes its name from being written in a
“romance” or vernacular language,
rather than Latin.
Romances take chivalric and courtly
concerns as their themes, and courtly
love plays a large role.
Romances tend to be episodic, to
focus on the individual rather than the
group, and to be highly symbolic and
metaphoric. They often dabble with
the fantastic and otherworldly as well.
Arthurian Romance
Arthurian legend originates in
Wales and western England, but
Celtic refugees carry it with them
to Brittany.
Bretons introduce the legend to
French literature, and the
combination of Celtic magic and
French romance is developed in
such works of Marie de France’s
Lais.
Chretien de Troyes
Chretien wrote in the courts of
Henry II of England and Marie de
Champagne.
His most famous works are his
Arthurian romances, including
Erec and Enide, Yvain, Cliges,
Lancelot, and The Story of the
Grail.
Chretien is one of the great
innovators in Arthurian legend,
introducing such themes as the
Grail and such characters as
Lancelot du Lake.
The Grail
Though Chretien is the first author
to write about the Grail, Celtic
Arthurian stories tell of horns of
plenty and magic dishes.
Chretien puts a specifically
Christian spin on the grail, and
emphasizes its healing properties.
Later romancers will insist that the
grail is the cup Christ used at the
Last Supper, and the lance the
Spear of Longinus.
Of course, such recent works as
Baigent’s Holy Blood and Holy
Grail or Brown’s The Da Vinci Code
see the Grail as “Sangreal”, or “
The Blood of the King”. Much
conspiracy and hilarity ensue.
Perceval the Innocent
Perceval lives with his mother in
the Wilds of Wales.
One day, he meets a knight.
Intrigued by his gear and bearing,
he determines to be made one
himself.
Upon revealing this to his mother,
she tries to dissuade him, but
finally gives in and reveals his
noble heritage.
She also advises him to act
honorably towards ladies, and
seek out noble men.
His innocence and ignorance are
so complete that he doesn’t even
know what a church is, and he
utterly fails romantically at his first
meeting with a maiden.
Perceval in Arthur’s Court
Upon his arrival in Carlisle at
Arthur’s court, Perceval cannot
even recognize the king.
For this and other failings, he is
abused by Sir Kay. When a maiden
rallies to his defense, Kay strikes
her.
Perceval offers to destroy the red
knight, an enemy of king Arthur’s.
With the guidance of a maiden
named Yonet, he defeats the Red
Knight and takes his armor.
After being knighted by Arthur,
Perceval leaves Carlisle and meets
Gornemont of Gohort, who gives
him more fateful advice.
Clamadeu and Blancheflor
After leaving Gornemont, who has
taught him fighting and courtesy,
Perceval finds himself at the castle of
the maiden Blancheflor.
She comes to him in bed and asks his
aid against Clamadeu and his
seneschal, Anguingueron. He agrees,
and they kiss a lot.
Perceval defeats both Anguingueron
and Clamadeu, and grants both of
them mercy.
After defeating them, he does not stay
with Blancheflor, but leaves to see his
mother, promising to return.
The Fisher King
On his way home, Perceval comes
across a fisherman, who offers
him lodging at his home.
This is the legendary Fisher King.
The Fisher King is part of the
larger Grail legend. Though
Chretien does not explain his
significance, he is often related to
the Grail King.
As such, he is typically wounded in
the thighs (this is a sign of
infertility and is connected to his
land’s desolation). T.S. Eliot uses
this motif in The Wasteland.
The Cup, The Lance, The Question
Arriving at the Grail Castle, Perceval
sits down to dinner. After he is
seated, a maiden appears carrying a
Grail (a plate) and a young man
carrying a white lance tipped with
blood.
Though Perceval desires to ask who
is served by the Grail, he does not,
mindful of Gornemont’s advice. He
spends the evening speaking with the
maimed king.
When he awakes, the castle is empty.
He leaves, and comes across a
maiden who informs him if he had
asked the question the king and his
land would be healed. He also learns
his mother has died for “his sin”,
which is never really explained.
Redemption
After failing the Grail Test,
Perceval slowly redeems himself.
First, he saves the woman he
disgraced at the beginning of his
adventures.
He then avenges himself on Sir
Kay.
Afterwards, he returns to Arthur’s
court. While other knights embark
upon more worldly adventures,
Perceval swears to discover the
secret of the Grail.
The Lesson of the Grail
Though Chretien never finishes
The Story of the Grail, Perceval
does have a bit of its secrets
revealed to him.
After five years of “not thinking of
God”, Perceval meets a hermit on
Good Friday.
The hermit informs him that the
Grail serves the king with a mass
wafer, and this alone sustains him.
He also reveals that some sin
vaguely connected to his mother
made him not ask the question.
In the end, the hermit suggests
that he live his life for God, not
renown.