Tennyson and the Grail: After the Arthurian Sleep

Like my period of apostasy, interest in Arthur and the grail was limited after Malory. What then did Tennyson find so attractive about the grail in the nineteenth century? Does the grail appear in a new guise or is it the same old grail we knew in the Middle Ages?

The Overwhelming Sangreal

Sir Malory, while certainly allowing for his use of the various grail themes to be a bit spread-out, still seems very concerned with the Holy Sangreal and its mysteries. I must admit, I was a bit confused when I read of the various sick and wounded kings—King Arthur, King Pellam, the Maimed King, King Pelles, and King Estorause. I suppose King Pellam and King Pelles may very well be one and the same—“the Maimed King” could be a mere title, I suppose—but there also seem to be two lances: the lance Garlon used to kill Herlews le Berbeus and “a spear which bled marvellously [sic]” (303). Despite such plurality in these themes, I find that the power and importance of the Sangreal are thoroughly displayed when they are revealed to Galahad in Sir Malory’s text. When my brother Bendigeid Vran beheld the Cauldron, I do not recall him having been possessed by any sort of a religious fervor; neither was he required to have a certain degree of purity. Galahad, on the other hand, is only able to behold the secrets of the Sangreal because of his purity, and once he beholds them he is so caught up in the sacred that he dies. I certainly understand death due to extreme anguish, but this death from overwhelming joy in the spiritual surely shows the power of the grail as Malory describes it.

Le Morte d'Arthur: The Beginning and the End of Things

As one of the most famous encyclopedias of Arthurian lore, Malory's text tries to do everything at once. If we examine the selections from the anthology closely, we see that fourteen books separate the tales of Balin and Galahad. Yet, readers are expected to follow the grail story throughout the work? I don't think so. In fact, I wonder if Malory really cares about the grail at all. Is there anything new about it? Does he imbue it with a new mysticism?

Exclusivity of the Grail

This grail of which I have read about in The Quest for the Holy Grail seems to be a much more exclusive object than the cauldron formerly owned by my dearly departed brother, Bendigeid Vran. Although this heavenly object supplies food in abundance to those who behold it, it is only the pure of heart and the humble who are allowed to approach it. Indeed, it seems that this grail can only be used for good by the good. The cauldron, on the other hand, seems to have served whoever possessed it; it was used by the armies of my husband Matholwch and his people to subdue the armies of my brother. Verily, the cauldron did not seem to be exclusively for use for good or evil—it was simply magical. If only the cauldron had been as exclusive as the grail! Perhaps, then, the Irish soldiers would not have been restored by the cauldron’s magical properties, and the people of my brother’s house would have prevailed without his being mortally wounded.
Despite my appreciation for the exclusivity of this grail, I cannot help but pity poor Lancelot. As one who has both received and caused a great deal of suffering, I understand the anguish Sir Lancelot must experience at his inability to approach this most holy object.

The grail went MIA

We've been dealing so long with the French obsession with the grail through English translations that it's difficult to believe that we have finally arrived at a grail text that was originally written in English. I say "grail" text, but is it really? I mean, don't you have to have a grail in it to be a "grail" text? It is my story, but the grail is nowhere to be found! What should we make of this?

Dude, you guys passed out and missed everything!

Yes it was I, Sir Gawain, who "won" the Grail. By my faith, I claim no superiority over my fellow grail seekers. I am but a humble servant of my God and of my king, and was only doing my duty. No slight to my naive friend, Perceval, he only failed to ask about the Grail because he was bade not to by his uncle. I can only attribute my success to God's will.
My only regret is that my friends Lancelot and Calogreant had imbibed when perhaps they should not have, and missed the wonder that is the Grail. Don't worry, I only ragged on them a little the next day. They were feeling a little delicate and I figured their hangovers were enough injury enough. Not to mention the fact that they will never get another chance to see the Grail. My question healed the wounded King and the land--the Grail is no longer needed here and I must never ask of it again. If only we had video phones back then. I could have drawn on their faces and filmed them sleeping as the Grail passed before them. That would have been funny!
I must also try not to show off my new sword to Perceval. Mine will never break in battle. It is my reward for my Grail victory. Perceval only received a crummy "magic" sword that will fail him in a fight, so my sword might make him jealous. Boy, it sure is hard to be humble when you know you rule!
My advice to any future seekers is this: be loyal, be pure, use your head and ask questions, and do not drink when your host is not drinking.

A new grail knight in Galahad

Must I endure yet another usurpation of my role? Instead of having a fool like me achieve the grail, the tradition has embraced a new "holy" knight. How can he be so holy if he was the progeny of Lancelot's sexual transgression? And out of wedlock no less! Does Galahad prove to be the better grail knight? I would even prefer Gawain to this holier-than-thou bastard.

Die Gawain in Die Krone!

During my pilgrimage to Shanghai, I happened upon yet another grail text, Die Krone, which once again places Gawain in my place as the grail knight. Such an emphasis on the importance of Gawain has made me wonder why he emerges as the hero while I descend into oblivion. Is he more charming than I am? Is he a better fighter? A better Christian?

Listen to Wise Trevrezent

You have all now read Wolfram's story of Parvizal, and have read the conversation that took place between young Parvizal and the wise hermit Trevrezent. Trevrezent was a devoted man of God and a clever teacher. His stories taught Parvizal much, not only about Parvizal's personal struggles with his mother and his pursuit of the Grail, but also about meaningful lessons that all should learn. You are all students, and have teachers: learn from them. Listen to them, as Parvizal listened to Trevrezent. And do not forget Trevrezent's lessons, however old they may be. The Earth was the first maiden, and was forever wronged by the sin of murder committed on her virgin soil. Women, like the earth, are wronged by violence. In your pursuit of the Grail, or whatever quest your knightly hearts yearn for, use your swords mindfully. Stronger weapons are prayers. Peace.

I am found!

Hello All you Grail Seekers,
Since you just read Wolfram's Parzival, you all know quite a bit about me. My name is Trevrezent, and I am one of the many uncles of Parzival himself. I gave up my knighthood for a life of poverty and repentance. Young Parzival comes to me to discuss his sins, and I enlighten him fully. He is a body full of sin, for he did not ask the right questions. I am the one who told this youth that his mother died from his grief of leaving home, just as I am the one who told him secrets of the grail. I tell Parzival that he must put his trust in god if he wishes to be forgiven for sin. Likewise, I told him that he actually killed his own cousin when he didn't know. One last piece of information that I tell him is that my brother, his uncle, is the Grail King, who was wounded while jousting with a poisonous spear. I tell him that the reason I gave up my knighthood is because of the wounding of my brother. I try to boldface the point to him that the Grail only selects men of religion.

Oh heavens above, I have seen it!

My fellow knights, I have seen what those have been trying to prevail. I have set my eyes upon the grail. I set out on a long journey in which I have come across many lands and their castles. I had promised a King that I would return with the sword which beheaded St.John in exchange for me leaving sooner than a years pass. During that journey I came across many wonders such as a fountain in which a vessel was hung, and in it I saw a figure in which I later soon to learn was a child...the Saviour.

I had battled a Giant to avenge a sorrowful King's son, who sadly had fallen while I beheaded the Giant. I then brought the head and the fallen son to the King. Although is son was fallen, he was happy to have been reunited. I then saw an unsightly action taken in which the King had cooked him, cut him up, and then fed him to those of his land. I later learned from a priest that it was his sacrifice of flesh and blood to the Lord.

I have seen unsightly things and mystical things as well. The grail, in all of its beauty and brightness. I looked at it in awe. I saw it in the flesh. In the midst of the grail, I saw the child...the Savior. I was unable to speak a word. I had failed to ask "how it served, and of what". I am honored to have seen such a marvel, but failed the King Fisherman.

Blogged into Submission: A Discussion of Wolfram's Parzival

As Dr. Mueller's vassal, I am in the enviable position of beginning the debate on Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival. As maybe one of the most interesting grail texts (after mine of course), Parzival offers an entirely new vision of the grail. What do we learn about its qualities? And how different is Wolfram's Parzival from Chretien's Perceval? For one thing, Wolfram is clearly more interested in an Eastern origin for the grail. What are the implications for such a fetish for the East? And finally, is Wolfram's version playful or serious? Or both?

And remember fellow grail seekers, response to this entry is required. I suggest that you comment on the most recently posted comment on this entry, but as long as you write a thoughtful post in response to Parzival, you will remain golden, and truly worthy of the grail, in Dr. Mueller's eyes.

Just Doing My Job for the Big Guy.

Although Joseph of Arimathea is my brother-in-law, I am not quite sure if he is crazy or not. I mean if God wants me to do all these things for him shouldn't he tell me himself. However I guess that I need to have faith and do what I am told, but I am confused about my duties. I mean come on catch fish and have a family, What kind of holy duties are these? At least in the end I will be rewarded for my work,by becoming the keeper of the Holy Grail. I am glad that my services have not gone unnoticed, however I feel bad for Joseph. He did all that work for nothing. Oh well I guess that's life.