THE HOLY GRAIL :THE HOLY GRAIL Junior British Literature Arthurian Legend Mr. John D’Adamo


THE BIBLE RECORD :THE BIBLE RECORD The Last Supper The Crucifixion


JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA :JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA At the Crucifixion, catches the blood Offers his tomb Keeps cup


TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM :TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM Joseph by some reports hid the Grail under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem Some later traditions claim it was found by the Knights Templar during the Crusades


Slide 5:The Grail journeys to England


THE FISHER KING :THE FISHER KING King Pelles of Listenois Castle Corbenic Daughter Elaine Descendent of Joseph of Arimathea Keeper of the Grail Enjoys sea travel and fishing May be derived from the Welsh figure Bran the Blessed Appears in Celtic myth and the Mabinogion Magic cauldron that restores the dead to life Also in the obscure poem “The Spoils of Annwn”


Slide 7:Neuschwanstein Castle


THE TALE OF SIR BALIN :THE TALE OF SIR BALIN Steals a sword from the Lady of the Lake and earns her anger. Sword is cursed to kill those he loves most. Accidentally kills an innocent woman in Camelot and Arthur expels him. His brother, Sir Balan, joins him on a quest to regain his honor. Finds Corbenic and King Pelles. Stays and falls in love with a woman.


THE DOLOROUS STROKE :THE DOLOROUS STROKE Balin’s love for the woman is threatened by the jealousy of Pelles’ brother Pellam. He attacks Balin, who defends himself and kills Pellam. Pelles is enraged and attacks Balin. Balin defends himself again, and, seeking another weapon, reaches for a spear nearby. It is the Spear of Destiny! Stabbing Pelles with it causes an earthquake and the Unhealable Wound.


SIR BALIN’S CURSE :SIR BALIN’S CURSE His brother Sir Balan digs him out of the rubble at Corbenic and they continue their quest. They are separated and tricked into facing each other in battle. They kill each other. Merlin secures the sword for Galahad, who in turn passes it to Lancelot. Lancelot will use it later in the battle against the Round Table. He will kill Gawain with it.


DISSENT IN CAMELOT :DISSENT IN CAMELOT The knights grow bored with peacetime. They start to fight with each other. Mordred moves in to Camelot against better judgment. Merlin’s seduction by Nimue occurs. Lancelot, tempted by the prospect of an affair, leaves Camelot to escape the sight of Queen Guinevere. Travels westward and ends up at Corbenic. Meets the Fisher King.


THE WASTELAND :THE WASTELAND Often in literature, the land is tied to the health and personality of its king. The identity of the king and his power is vested in the land, and vice versa. Camelot’s sexual sins. The lands of Pelles and of Arthur suffer while they suffer. Pelles has a wound in the “thigh”, and the land grows barren, infertile, and desert-like. Only the Grail can cure them all.


Slide 14:c.f. Wagner's Parsifal... ... and T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"


PELLES’ GAMBIT :PELLES’ GAMBIT Pelles contrives to have Lancelot lay with his daughter, Elaine. As she gives birth to Galahad in secret, he has a vision of the Grail and goes home. Lancelot never knew the truth. Pelles sends Galahad to a convent to be raised in purity. When he is old enough, he will send him to Camelot to lead Arthur’s knights on the Grail Quest.


LANCELOT’S RETURN :LANCELOT’S RETURN Returns with a vision of the Grail but no way to achieve it. Stays and resumes his duties as the Queen’s Champion. Finally gives in to temptation. Mordred learns the truth.


MORDRED GAINS POWER :MORDRED GAINS POWER After learning about the affair, he gathers the knights loyal to him: Sir Agravaine Sir Gaheris Sir Gareth Sir Gawain* Sir Maleagant


ARRIVAL OF GALAHAD :ARRIVAL OF GALAHAD Years pass, and Camelot grows weak. One day, Siege Perilous reveals Galahad’s name. Lancelot embraces his son, while Mordred plots. Heavens open up and they all experience a vision of the Grail.


Slide 19:Variant texts feature Percival or his son Lohengrin (the Swan Knight) as the Grail Champion...


THE GRAIL QUEST :THE GRAIL QUEST Many undertake the challenge, but ultimately only Sir Galahad, Sir Percival, and Sir Bors find the Grail. Galahad is assumed bodily into heaven. Percival stays and marries; Bors returns.


ALTERNATE READINGS :ALTERNATE READINGS Psychological: We all search for something to complete us. New Age: Union of Heaven and Earth; Male/Female Conspiracy Theories: Mary Magdalene; the Holy Bloodline


Slide 23:Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown


THE QUEST ANALYZED :THE QUEST ANALYZED The journey to heal one’s self/world. The hope to achieve inner perfection. The best in all of us. The unifying goal. The pursuit of personal identity. The search for truth.