A Review of Quest of The Holy Grail Part I

 

I am now beginning a series of posts on The Quest for the Holy Grail, also known as The Lancelot-Grail. I will be doing blog posts on the book. 

When many think of the Holy Grail perhaps Indiana Jones or Monty Python comes to mind. Whatever one imagines about the grail, no doubt many legends and stories have been made about it. The Grail originated from Celtic legends, and found it's way into French Literature. The story makes many references to Catholic theology including frequent mentioning of Mass, and promotes the idea of chastity as exemplified by the life of Galahad. In short, Galahad, son of Lancelot, is the hero of this legend. 

 During the Twelfth Century, the Arthurnian stories hit a new height of acclaim in the court of Henry II, king of England. From the 1170s on, the stories if King Arthur came into the world, and so did many inspired legends about wizards, kings, and courtly love follow thereafter. 

 Today, I finished Chapter One of Quest for the Grail. The first chapter I found to be an easy read (kind of unusual for Medieval stories.) I would now like to share some thoughts on it with you. 

 King Arthur and his Knights are told by local nuns about the Holy Grail, and warned that penitent men alone must go on the quest to find it (sound like Indiana Jones?). The queen weeps as the company sets out, Galahad, Perceval,  Gawain, and Lancelot go on the search for the Grail. The Grail appears one day before the knights of the Round , before vanishing. A sword is stuck in a stone outside the palace, and Galahad goes to unsheath it from the rock as did King Arthur in a previous story. Shortly thereafter, the knights begin their quest. 

 

 Galahad is described as being pure and without any lust. He is young and handsome, and above all saintly. He is contrasted from his father Lancelot, whom is still in love with King Arthur's wife. 

 Gawain is rash and Perceval is perhaps the least memorable.