Lancelot: The Knight of the Cart (Chretien de Troyes Romances S)

Chretien de Troyes is one of the unsung heroes of world literature in general and Arthurian legend in particular. In Perceval he introduced the Grail, a fundamental symbol that fascinated other medieval writers, who expanded on it until the Grail became the defining object of the entire literature. And in Lancelot, Chretien created a story of love and betrayal that achieved almost equal importance with the Grail legend.Chretien was the first poet to ascribe importance of any kind to Lancelot, who had been sometimes mentioned in Arthurian tales but never a major figure. In this poem, Lancelot becomes one of the bravest of Arthur's knights and, what is more, Queen Guinevere's lover.The poem begins as so many do that concern Arthur--the court has gathered for merry-making and the festivities are interrupted by an evil figure. Here, it is Maleagant, who challenges Arthur to entrust his queen to any knight in the court. The knight will combat Maleagant, and whoever wins takes the queen home. Arthur is hard-pressed to choose, but the royal steward, Sir Kay, forces him to a decision by swearing he will leave the court if he is not chosen for the contest. Arthur submits to the demand and Kay is defeated.Sir Gawain sets out to follow the captive queen and, perhaps, rescue her. He is joined by a young, unnamed knight, who is just as determined to rescue the queen. The knight, however, is forced to ride in a cart, a humiliating gesture that soils his reputation for the rest of the story. This "knight of the cart," of course, is Sir Lancelot, and he is bound to find and rescue Guinevere because of his deathless love of her. Lancelot and Gawain agree to journey separately to Maleagant's kingdom and try to save her.Needless to say, Lancelot succeeds and it is during his stay there that he continues his adulterous liaisons with the queen, further complicating matters. Single combats and a lengthy term of harsh imprisonment ensue, and Lancelot can only be saved by the good things he has done for others.Chretien's work has stood up well to the test of time. Not only is the quest perfect mixture of adventure and excitement--with numerous combats, near-deaths, and feats of courage and endurance--the story resonates with deep meaning and themes that are still important today. Humility is among the foremost--Lancelot is not named for nearly half the story, and he willingly endures the humiliation of the cart for the chance to rescue his queen. Love and betrayal are also prominent, as is the question of how deeply in love a person should actually be.Burton Raffel's translation of Lancelot is a brisk read, both exciting and fun. As a non-French-speaker, I can't attest to the literal accuracy of the traslation, but based on his track record in Old English and Middle High German, it can't be very loose. The afterword by Joseph Duggan is very good, highlighting the importance of the poem and its themes, as well as the interesting notion--very strongly argued--that Chretien was not particularly fond of this story. In fact, it was probably not even his idea, which is why Lancelot is sometimes painted as a dolt and sometimes as an idolater, worshipping Guinevere as some would God.If you're interested in medieval literature, particularly knightly tales and anything concerned with Arthurian legend, Lancelot is in indispensable read. You won't be disappointed.Highly recommended.

I'm reading this to a 7 year old and 9 year old; the 9 year old understands what's going on and the words aren't too big for her. I've brought a paperback copy for her to follow along.The plot and the descriptions keep the reader going. The hardcover is well-priced and worth it.

I read this for a class and loved the take of courtly love.

Funny and amusing tale.

Excellent translation, and the original and best of the Lancelot myths.

This is Chrétien de Troyes' best-known romance, the first telling of the Lancelot and Guinevere story.Raffel has now translated all five of Chrétien's surviving romances. Although a number of other translations are available, Raffel is a poet and has produced the only translations that read like poetry, replicating the wit and speed of the original Old French.That said, compromises must be made to produce a poetic translation. When it comes to small details, Raffel's translation isn't a close to the original text as other available translations. In the Knight of the Cart, infamously, Chrétien does not name Lancelot until the midpoint of the romance (in the first half, he's simply "the Knight of the Cart"). Raffel, on the other hand, drops Lancelot's name into the prologue!

Not a fan of Medieval literature I have discovered. I'm sure it's enjoyable to some, like my Medieval lit professor, but for me it was all over the place and vague in areas making the values of the period hard to determine. Lots of drama, cheating, and intrigue in a Camelot setting.

This is the first tale of the knight Lancelot in the medieval literature that has come down to us. And it marks the appearance of a new, "adult", theme in the Arthurian literature of chivalry, honor, and courtly manners -- namely, adultery.Composed around 1180, LANCELOT is the third of the surviving romances of Chrétien de Troyes. Earlier I read "Erec and Enide" and "Cligès" by Chrétien (also in free verse translations of the Old French by Burton Raffel). LANCELOT represents an advance in Chrétien's storytelling art. It has an aura of magic and mystery that was not present in the two earlier works. It also is briskly paced, and the plot is continuously taking unexpected turns (a few of which, though, are preposterous).The basic tale concerns the abduction of Queen Guinevere from King Arthur's Court by a formidable but evil knight named Méléagant. Two of Arthur's knights set chase -- Gawain and the knight who for the first half of the tale is known only as "the knight of the cart". That is because, at the outset of the chase, he accepted a ride in a cart or pillory, of the type commonly used to haul around criminals for public ridicule. The knight was oblivious to the shame he thereby incurred because he was overwhelmed and driven by "Love". As the tale proceeds, that "Love" for Guinevere (wife of his lord, to whom he owes all fealty) brings about other conduct at odds with the prevailing code of honor. In his pursuit of Méléagant and the captive Guinevere, the knight of the cart must overcome assorted obstacles and challenges, including crossing the "Sword Bridge". When he finally reaches the castle where Guinevere is held, he fights the first of what turn out to be three battles with Méléagant. (Each time he prevails -- of course -- but the first two times he shows mercy and doesn't kill Méléagant.) The captive Guinevere recognizes that the knight of the cart really is Lancelot, she so names him, and thenceforth Chrétien refers to him by that name. Despite conventions of fidelity and honor, Guinevere is as much in love with Lancelot as he is with her. They manage a tryst:* * * And the knight hadWhat he wanted, for the queen willinglyGave him all the pleasuresOf herself, held him in her armsAs he was holding her.It was so exceedingly sweetAnd good -- the kisses, the embraces --That Lancelot knew a delightSo fine, so wondrous, that no oneIn the world had ever beforeKnown anything like it, so help meGod! And that's all I'm allowedTo tell you; I can say no more.These pleasures I'm forbidden to reportWere the most wonderful known.The tale continues. Towards the end, Guinevere returns to King Arthur's court, though without Lancelot, who has been tricked into captivity by Méléagant and imprisoned in a remote tower. Méléagant's sister, who is enamored with Lancelot, roams the land on a mule searching for him, eventually finds him, and frees him from imprisonment. He returns to King Arthur's court, where Guinevere must disguise her joy, for Arthur is there "watching with wide-open eyes". Lancelot then fights and defeats Méléagant for the third time, but this time Lancelot doesn't make the mistake of sparing his life and instead lops off his head.Curiously, the King Arthur of LANCELOT is a feckless figurehead. I suppose it is no wonder Guinevere preferred Lancelot.