The Quest of the Holy Grail

Galahad was a Knight of the Round Table of Arthurian legend. He is almost always portrayed as the pure knight, and for this he is rewarded with the Holy Grail. He is mentioned in many writings in history including 12th century Cistercian monk writing The Quest of the Holy Grail, Sir Thomas Malory’s Selected Tales of King Arthur and his Knights, and Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Sir Galahad. After reading the next several pages, one should begin to understand the similarities and differences portrayed in these writings, along with some others. The reader will explore how Galahad resists temptation, his quests including the Holy Grail, any romantic encounters including God, and how the writings presented may contradict. After completing the reading the reader should be able to note in what ways Galahad is similar or different in early and modern writings.

The first writing selected is The Quest of the Holy Grail. An unknown author wrote this selection though believed to be a 12th century Cistercian monk. As the title implies the main story is in fact the spiritual quest for the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail in this case being the platter from which Jesus Christ served bread at the Last Supper. The Grail is full of many rewards to whoever achieves it including eternal life, and the ability to heal some ailments. Galahad is first presented in this novel by three nuns, “a youth so fair and so well-made that it was hard indeed to find his peer (Quest 33).” Lancelot then knights him unbeknownst of who he is. A few pages later, a quest is presented to Arthur and his Knights. It is a sword inlayed into a stone, with gold writing that reads, “none shall take me hence but he at whose side I am to hang. And he shall be the best knight in th...

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...alahad is portrayed still as a noble knight, however not that of the Lord, instead a Pagan. Galahad is also similar in age to Lancelot and Arthur, therefore making it seem that the reference of Lancelot being Galahad’s father is nonexistent. There is also no Grail quest, and thus eliminates the motive of God that drives Galahad in all other writings presented.

In conclusion, Galahad is portrayed in the presented writings as pure, and the knight of God, for whom the Grail is saved. Throughout the selected readings, there are remarkable similarities showing this, however very few differences. As noted, Galahad does endure many tasks, and resists many temptations of sin. The reader should now have a better understanding of how Galahad is presented in early and more modern works, including each author’s depiction, and the qualities, which they entitle to Galahad.