''The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions'' is a 1907

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

by the American illustrator and writer

Howard Pyle Howard Pyle (March 5, 1853 – November 9, 1911) was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. He was a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy. In 1894, he began ...

. The book consists of a large series of episodes in the legend of the chief knight of the

Round Table The Round Table ( cy, y Ford Gron; kw, an Moos Krenn; br, an Daol Grenn; la, Mensa Rotunda) is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that e ...

, Sir Launcelot, and many of his friends, including the Lady Elaine, Sir Ewaine, and

Sir Gareth Sir Gareth (; Old French: ''Guerehet'', ''Guerrehet'') is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. He is the youngest son of King Lot and Queen Morgause, King Arthur's half-sister, thus making him Arthur's nephew, as well as brother ...

Plot

The Chevalier of the Cart

Queen Guinevere Guinevere ( ; cy, Gwenhwyfar ; br, Gwenivar, kw, Gwynnever), also often written in Modern English as Guenevere or Guenever, was, according to Arthurian legend, an early-medieval queen of Great Britain and the wife of King Arthur. First ment ...

and others of the court are captured by Sir Mellegrans. Sir Lancelot, while going to save her, loses his horse due to attacking archers. His armor is too heavy to walk in, so he leaves it behind. The fastest option for Lancelot to reach Mellegrans' castle is to ride in a cart, causing much shame to him. Lancelot is successful in saving Guinevere, but continues to be ridiculed for riding in the cart. Annoyed, he leaves the court of the

king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

for two years.

The Story of Sir Gareth of Orkney

Gareth is the youthful and beloved son of King Lot of Orkney and Queen Margaise. Now being of a certain age, his mother sends him to the court of her brother, King Arthur, to become a knight. With him she sends a very noble court to show his great status. Gareth, at first being content, decides he would rather appear as a commoner before the king. Thus he leaves everyone of his court behind except his closest companion, Axatalese. Gareth asks two boons of the king during

Pentecost Pentecost (also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun) is a Christianity, Christian holiday which takes place on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the Ne ...

, and it is that he would be able to stay at the court for a year, and be able to ask another boon after one year. He is granted his wish, however, many found it strange.

Sir Kay In Arthurian legend, Sir Kay ( cy, Cai, Middle Welsh ''Kei'' or ''Cei''; la, Caius; French: ''Keu''; Old French: ''Kès'' or ''Kex'') is King Arthur's foster brother and later seneschal, as well as one of the first Knights of the Round Table. ...

ridicules Gareth, frequently calling him "kitchen boy" and "Beaumains." Sir Gawaine, however, feels a connection with Gareth (though he did not realize it at the time, Gareth was in fact his brother). He teaches Gareth lessons in chivalry. A year soon passes, and the king holds another feast at

. During this feast, a damsel named Lynette requests from the king a knight who would help defend her sister (who she does not name, by her sister's command) from a

Red Knight Red Knight ( cy, Marchog Coch, kw, Marghek Rudh, br, Marc'heg Ruz) is a title borne by several characters in Arthurian legend. In legends Tales of Perceval The Red Knight prominently appears in the tales of the hero Perceval (Percival) as his ...

who pesters her for her hand in marriage. Because the Red Knight is known to be very powerful—even Sir Gawaine claimed he had trouble overthrowing him—and because Lynette will not state her sister's name and degree, no knight offers to help. Gareth, overhearing and onlooking the scene, steps in and asks his second boon: that he may help Lynette's sister. Lynette is ungrateful, for Gareth appears to be no more than just a simple fellow, and his reputation is very bad at court. However, since she is not given any other option, she travels to her home with Gareth and Axatalese to help her. Gareth shows her that he is more than just "Beaumains the kitchen boy" by overthrowing many knights valorously—even Sir Lancelot, who knighted him after the battle. When Gareth beholds Lynette's sister, the Lady Layonnesse, he becomes infatuated with her beauty. He is victorious in his battle with the Red Knight. Not long after, he becomes a Knight of the Round Table and marries Layonnesse.

The Story of Launcelot and Elaine the Fair

The Madness of Lancelot

The Story of Sir Ewaine and the Lady of the Fountain

The Return of Sir Launcelot

The Nativity of Galahad

External links

''The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions''
at the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions 1907 American novels 1907 children's books 1907 fantasy novels American children's novels Arthurian literature in English Children's historical novels King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table series Novels by Howard Pyle