Essay Questions

Why does Perceval hold a grudge against Sir Kay?

At the very start of Perceval's career as one of King Arthur's knights, Sir Kay makes fun of him. Sir Kay is known for his derision of the younger knights and his acrimonious relationship with Gawain is documented in poems and texts about Arthur's nephew. Sir Kay is jealous of the way in which Arthur brings younger knights into the court and of the respect their acts of chivalry and courage seem to get from him. Sir Kay is not nearly so chivalrous or courageous as Perceval. However, Perceval is very new at court and his first triumph as a knight is ridiculed by Sir Kay. Perceval finds this impossible to forgive, and he holds a grudge throughout his youth.

What does Perceval witness at the castle of the Fisher King?

The castle is a strange place and even an inexperienced youth like Perceval can sense that something out of the ordinary is going on there, even though he does not really understand what it is at first. One of the first things that he notices is a ritualistic practice of carrying certain objects from room to room, and one of these objects is a grail. He does not think that much of it, until he learns that his mother has passed away, and realizes that the grail could have been a life-saving object, with magical powers that could have saved her life.

What is the importance of the introduction of Gawain?

Gawain is King Arthur's nephew, and as such is a more important knight in court than many of his counterparts. From a literary perspective he is important because he is the subject of a text all of his own, and through this it is possible to trace the chronology of events during King Arthur's reign and also to see how the Kingdom of Cornwall expanded and eventually became England as a whole.

Gawain is also important because he saves his uncle's life on a number of occasions that are also documented in poetic form.