(no subject)

[rockmygypsysoul.livejournal.com]

So, just out of curiosity, when did Morgan la Fey come into the story. And, this probably sounds stupid, but I am wondering about Sir Galahad. I have heard that Galahad and Lancelot are one and the same, that Galahad and He are not the same person, and I think I heard that one was the others father somewhere too. Which would be correct? In my little childrens chapter book about King Arthur it says they are different people. Are there many different ideas on this subject or just many misunderstandings?

Comments

[chthonic-gnome.livejournal.com]

I've seen an appearance by Morgan that predates Monmouth, in the Vulgate Cycle, I believe in the part "Quest for the Holy Grail" or "The Death of King Arthur". Not sure, I'll have to check my resources again. But definitely pre-Monmouth; Vulgate is about a century older than him.

Re: No

[chthonic-gnome.livejournal.com]

Oh! *smacks forehead* I was thinking of Chaucer. I get him and Monmouth mixed up all the time: I picture both of them as these dried up old dudes in scratchy brown robes. Yes, then, what you're saying makes a WHOLE lot more sense now. Sorry :)

*needs a nap*

[chthonic-gnome.livejournal.com]

Oh, also--the first appearance of Galahad that I know of also appears in the "Quest for the Holy Grail" section of the Vulgate Cycle, and he is Lancelot's son. I've never seen a classical Arthurian tale where they are the same person or where Galahad is the father.

[gaidig.livejournal.com]

As I remember, Galahad was first introduced later in the cycle when it was becoming more and more Christianized. I'm terrible with names of books, so I'll have to look it up, but I am certain that the first documented appearance of Galahad is well after Chretien de Troys and the first appearance of Lancelot. Galahad was introduced so that only a pure, good Chrisitan could find the Grail, especially as the grail became associated with Jesus. Perceval's story was also changed to fit this pattern. You may think they are the same person because many of the things that Galad did in the legends were originally part of Lancelot's story.

[chthonic-gnome.livejournal.com]

Yep--plus Galahad was the only one pure enough to take the sword out of the stone (though it isn't named Excalibur at this early point in time). This occurs in the cycle in "Quest for the Holy Grail."

[scottishwitch.livejournal.com]

In some versions, Galahad is Lancelot's baptismal name, which was given to the son. Galahad's mother is Elaine the daughter of Pelles the Grail King rather than Elaine of Astolat, although the characters often get confused. Lancelot was tricked into sleeping with Elaine with a potion that made him think she was Guinevere. The motif of Galahad pulling a sword out of a stone is a duplication of Arthur's performing the same act (duplications like this happen frequently in the Arthurian legends as well as in other legend cycles).According to Malory, Galahad's sword was the sword used to wound the Grail King and thus Galahad's act marked him as the one destined to restore the kingdom of the Grail, just as Arthur's sword (which usually isn't Excalibur) proved he was the rigtful king.

Lancelot &Galahad's mixed lives

[prozac-girl2.livejournal.com]

The idea of Galahad being Lancelot is usually knon from the book The Mists of Avalon. Bradley also calls Arthur Gwydion, which is a Celtic god... it's just a stretch for tory's sake on her part.