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Le Morte d'Arthur

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Book Summary

Thomas Malory Biography

The Life of Malory
Malory and the Legend of Arthur

About Le Morte d'Arthur

Introduction
The Text

Summary and Analysis by Book

Book 1: The Tale of King Arthur: Merlin
Book 1: The Tale of King Arthur: The Knight with the Two Swords
Book 1: The Tale of King Arthur: Tor and Pellanor
Book 1: The Tale of King Arthur: The Death of Merlin and the War with the Five Kings; Arthur and Accolon; Gawain, Ywain, and Marhault
Book 2: Arthur and King Lucius
Book 3: Sir Launcelot Du Lake
Book 4: The Tale of Sir Gareth
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Isode (Isolde) the Fair
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Lamerok of Wales; Sir La Cote Male Tale
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Tristram's Madness and Exile; The Castle of Maidens
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: The Round Table
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: King Mark
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Alexander the Orphan
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: The Tournament at Surluse
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Joyous Gard
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: The Red City
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: The Tournament at Lonezep
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Sir Palomydes
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Launcelot and Elayne
Book 5: Sir Tristram De Lyones: Conclusion
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: The Departure
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: The Miracles
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: Sir Percival
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: Sir Launcelot
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: Sir Gawain
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: Sir Bors
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: Sir Galahad
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: The Castle of Corbenic
Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: The Miracle of Galahad
Book 7: Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere: The Poisoned Apple
Book 7: Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere: The Fair Maid of Astalot
Book 7: Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere: The Great Tournament
Book 7: Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere: The Knight of the Cart
Book 7: Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere: The Healing of Sir Urry
Book 8: The Death of King Arthur: Slander and Strife
Book 8: The Death of King Arthur: The Vengeance of SirGawain
Book 8: The Death of King Arthur: The Siege of Benwick
Book 8: The Death of King Arthur: The Day of Destiny
Book 8: The Death of King Arthur: The Death of Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere

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Summary and Analysis by Book

Book 6: The Tale of the Holy Grail: Sir Bors

Summary

Bors meets Launcelot and accepts his advice to eat only bread and water and to wear no proud knightly clothes but only a plain shirt under his armor. Riding on his way, Bors sees a bird which kills itself for its young. He comes to a castle where a lady asks him to fight as her champion; he agrees to do so, then goes to bed and dreams.

Bors sees a white bird which offers him riches, then a black bird which asks him to serve her tomorrow, for her blackness can do far more for him than the other's whiteness. In a second dream he sees a chapel with a chair in it, on the left of the chair a worm-eater tree, on the right two lilies; the tree desires to take the life from the lilies but is prevented; then from these flowers come many more. A wise man says, "Guard yourself lest any such adventure befall you."

The next day Bors fights for the lady and wins without killing his enemy. As Bors rides on, he finds his brother Sir Lionel naked and bound, being beaten with thorns. The same instant he sees a maiden who is about to be raped. Not knowing which to save, he prays that Christ defend Lionel, then goes to help the lady. He meets a seeming priest who falsely interprets Bors' visions and guides him to a lady who slays herself because he will not lie with her. In that instant the lady, her attendants, her tower, and the false priest all vanish in howling smoke.


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