Follow the Fall
Malory, Books XVIII–XXI, in eighteen stops
From the sentence where Lancelot goes back to the queen, to a grave nobody can identify. About four hours' reading, and the best-constructed tragedy in English before the theatre.
18 chapters · about 14,359 words of primary text
Read this watching for one thing: how little of it is anybody's plan. There is no villain with a design. There is an announcement that could have gone unmade, an accident in a crowd, a brother who cannot let go of a grief, and finally a snake. Malory's own first sentence about the aftermath of the Grail quest is the quietest and worst in the book — start there.
- 1Malory XVIII.iOf the joy King Arthur and the queen had of the achievement of the Sangreal; and how Launcelot fell to his old love again.
The opening sentence. Lancelot begins to resort unto the queen again, and forgot the promise and the perfection he made in the quest. Everything follows from one clause.
- 2Malory XVIII.iiiHow at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight enpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.
The poisoned apple. Count the hands: the queen is accused of murder and the finest fellowship in the world will not fight for her.
- 3Malory XVIII.viiHow Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen, and how he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the queen.
Lancelot arrives at the last possible moment. Note who could have come and did not.
- 4Malory XVIII.ixHow Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to wear upon his helm at the request of a maid.
Astolat. He wears a lady's token for the first time in his life, and only because it makes him unrecognisable.
- 5Malory XVIII.xixOf the great lamentation of the Fair Maid of Astolat when Launcelot should depart, and how she died for his love.
The refusal. He is kind, honest, and unable to love her, and his offer of money and a husband makes it worse.
- 6Malory XVIII.xxHow the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King Arthur, and of the burying, and how Sir Launcelot offered the mass-penny.
The barge arrives at Westminster with the letter in her hand. Malory gives her the last word and does not editorialise.
- 7Malory XVIII.xxvHow true love is likened to summer.
The digression on love. Malory stops the story to defend the thing that is destroying his kingdom, and does not apologise.
- 8Malory XIX.xiHow King Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many other knights of the Round Table.
The healing of Sir Urre. The whole fellowship named, one by one, for pages — the only muster in the book, placed here deliberately.
- 9Malory XIX.xiiHow Sir Launcelot was commanded by Arthur to handle his wounds, and anon he was all whole, and how they thanked God.
Lancelot heals him and weeps as a child that had been beaten. He knows exactly what it does and does not mean.
- 10Malory XX.iHow Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were busy upon Sir Gawaine for to disclose the love between Sir Launcelot and Queen Guenever.
Agravaine announces it. Gawain tells him plainly that no good will come of it, and is right.
- 11Malory XX.iiiHow Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen’s chamber, and how Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay him.
Arthur is loth to think any such thing on him. He is not being deceived; he is being asked to stop not knowing.
- 12Malory XX.viiiHow Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from the fire, and how he slew many knights.
The rescue at the stake, and Gareth and Gaheris killed unarmed in the press. The hinge of the whole ending, and an accident.
- 13Malory XX.xiiiHow Sir Gawaine jousted and smote down Sir Lionel, and how Sir Launcelot horsed King Arthur.
The Pope orders peace and it very nearly holds. Watch Gawain refuse it.
- 14Malory XX.xvOf the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir Launcelot, and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot.
The queen delivered back. Lancelot speaks in his own defence and speaks well, and Arthur cannot answer.
- 15Malory XX.xxiHow Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together, and how Sir Gawaine was overthrown and hurt.
Benwick. Lancelot twice puts Gawain down and twice declines to kill him.
- 16Malory XXI.iHow Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be King of England, and would have married the queen, his father’s wife.
Mordred takes the crown — and Malory breaks off to address all Englishmen about a country that prefers the usurper.
- 17Malory XXI.iiiHow after, Sir Gawaine’s ghost appeared to King Arthur, and warned him that he should not fight that day.
Fortune's wheel, and Gawain's ghost with practical advice: take a treaty, wait a month, Lancelot is coming. Arthur takes it.
- 18Malory XXI.ivHow by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where Mordred was slain, and Arthur hurt to the death.
An adder bites a knight on the foot. He draws his sword to kill it, and thought of none other harm.
What happens next
Then read the last four chapters straight through — XXI.v to XXI.xii — without stopping. The sword goes back, the barge goes, and the only witness left alive did not see anything.
More guided reads
Follow the Grail walks Malory’s quest, Books XIII–XVII. Every principal knight on the roster with a real arc has an itinerary of their own, andthe reading paths offer six shorter routes.