85 pages2 hours read

Roger Lancelyn Green

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1953

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Book 3, Chapters 1-4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 3 “The Quest of the Holy Grail”

Book 3, Chapter 1 Summary: “How the Holy Grail Came to Camelot”

The night before Pentecost, many knights arrive at Camelot. A lady pleads for Launcelot to follow her, promising to return him before the feast the next day. She brings him to a chapel where nuns present his now grown son, Galahad. They ask Launcelot to knight the boy, who has been trained in combat and virtue. Launcelot knights him and leaves for Camelot, but Galahad remains behind at his vigil. At the Round Table, Siege Perilous shows a new inscription declaring that today a knight will fill the siege. The knights cover the siege to await the worthy knight.

Meanwhile, Balyn’s sword—still driven into the stone—appears in a nearby field. Arthur’s knights try to remove the sword, but they know they aren’t the chosen men. Naciens presents Galahad at the Round Table, and the boy takes his seat at Siege Perilous, which now has his name inscribed. Galahad easily pulls the sword from the stone—knowing it’s his destiny—but refuses a shield from Arthur. The knights joust in celebration, and Galahad defeats all who come against him. A woman weeps for Launcelot, who is no longer Logres’s greatest knight.

Arthur celebrates the greatness of their now-complete company.