The Quest of the Holy Grail by Unknown
"The Quest of the Holy Grail" is a medieval tale rooted in the mythology surrounding the Holy Grail, a sacred object linked to Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. The narrative begins with Joseph of Arimathea, who collects Christ's blood in the Grail after the crucifixion and hides it to protect it from those who would desecrate it. This act sets off a series of events that intertwine with the legends of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table.
As the story unfolds, the wizard Merlin reveals the significance of the Grail to Arthur's court, explaining that it will be passed to a pure knight who can heal the ailing Fisher King. The tale follows Perceval, a knight on a quest to find the Grail and learn its secrets, showcasing themes of chivalry, honor, and the trials knights must face. Perceval's journey includes battles, encounters with mystical beings, and personal challenges that test his character and resolve. Ultimately, the quest reflects a search for spiritual fulfillment and the transformative power of faith and purity in the face of adversity. The Grail's enigmatic nature and the knights' pursuit underscore its lasting significance in Arthurian legend and literature.
On this Page
The Quest of the Holy Grail by Unknown
First published: c. 1300
Type of work: Short fiction
Type of plot: Arthurian romance
Time of plot: Early eighth century
Locale: England, France, and Wales
Principal characters
Joseph of Arimathea , a disciple of ChristMerlin the Magician , a wizardKing Arthur , ruler of the BritonsPerceval , son of Alein and seeker of the GrailGauvain orGawain andHurgains , knights of the Round TableThe Fisher King ,
The Story:
Joseph of Arimathea is a disciple of Christ who, along with his colleague Nicodemus, attends the tomb of Christ. While washing the body of Christ, Joseph accidently opens a wound. To prevent Christ’s blood from spilling, Joseph takes the Grail, the goblet from which Christ drank during the Last Supper, and collects the blood therein. He then hides the Grail in his house. The Jews, incensed upon hearing that he has taken the cup, imprison Joseph in a dark cell, but Nicodemus escapes. In the cell, Christ appears to Joseph with the vessel Joseph thought he had hidden. Christ gives Joseph the goblet with strict orders that only three persons are ever to gain possession of it. He does not, however, tell Joseph who those three persons are to be.
Hundreds of years later, the wizard Merlin, after choosing Arthur to become king of the Britons, arrives at the court of Britain and reveals the story of the Holy Grail. He explains the story of the three tables: one made by the Lord for the Last Supper, one by Joseph of Arimathea, and the last by his own hands. He states that the Grail was passed by Joseph to the rich Fisher King, an old, frail man whose mission was to await the coming of the purest knight in the world. To this knight he would pass the Grail and tell of its mighty power and secrets. Only then would the Fisher King’s ailments and age be lifted. After his revelations, Merlin vanishes to faraway lands to await the reign of Arthur. Meanwhile, Alein le Gros is dying and is visited by the Holy Ghost, who tells him that his own father, Brons, lives in the islands of Ireland and possesses the Holy Grail. Alein is told that he will not be allowed to die until his son, Perceval, finds Brons and is taught the secrets of the Grail. First, however, Perceval has to go to the court of King Arthur and be taught the ways of chivalry and honor. He goes willingly and joyously.
One Easter, King Arthur decides to hold a tournament to honor the Round Table. Perceval, learning the ways of knighthood, wants no part of the tournament, but for the love of a woman, Aleine, niece of Sir Gawain, he agrees to fight. Aleine sends him a suit of red armor, and he enters the contest as an unknown, anonymous knight. He defeats all opponents and claims his right to sit at the Round Table. Arthur protests, but at the urging of others he gives in to the new knight. Before long, Perceval vows never to lie, to be pure, and to seek the Grail. Sir Gawain, Sagremors, Beduers, Hurgains, and Erec take the same vow, and all set forth on their quests.
Two days after beginning his quest for the Holy Grail, Perceval finds the body of the knight Hurganet, with a damsel weeping over it. Hurganet, she says, had saved her from a giant and had ridden with her into a tent. They were warned to run and not await the tent’s master, who would surely kill them. The lord of the tent, Orgoillow Delandes, soon appeared, wearing red armor, and slew Hurganet. Upon hearing this story, Sir Perceval vows revenge for Hurganet’s death and rides forth to the tent, where he also is warned about its master. Soon he is face-to-face with the knight of the tent; Perceval overcomes the knight and sends him to Arthur’s court with the damsel.
Continuing his quest, Perceval comes to a fine castle. He enters but finds the castle uninhabited, with only a chess board for decoration. He makes an opening move on the chess board, and the opponent pieces begin to play against him. Three times he is checkmated. Angry at his defeat, he attempts to toss the chess pieces into the castle moat, but he is stopped by the entrance of a beautiful damsel. Overcome by her beauty, Perceval asks her for her love. She agrees to love him if he will capture the white stag of the wood. To this end, she lends him one hound and warns him to take care of the beast; he agrees. Perceval then chases and captures the stag, cuts off its head, and starts back to the castle. An old hag makes off with the hound, however, and vows not to return it to him until he goes to a certain grave and says, “Felon, he that put you there.” After Perceval heeds the old lady’s words, a knight in black armor appears on a black horse and challenges Perceval. Perceval soon overcomes the black knight, but while he is fighting a second man takes both the stag’s head and the hound. Perceval follows the man but is unable to catch him.
Many feats follow. Perceval eventually arrives at his home and, with his niece, rides to the home of his uncle, a hermit, who tells him of the table, the Grail, and his destiny. He continues to wander for seven years, sending more than one hundred knights to King Arthur as prisoners. Finally, Perceval finds the Fisher King and is told the secrets of the Holy Grail, and all is well in Britain.
Bibliography
Barber, Richard. The Holy Grail: Imagination and Belief. New York: Allen Lane, 2004. An expert in the Arthurian legends chronicles the history of stories about the Holy Grail from twelfth century romances to twenty-first century best sellers.
Griffin, Justin. The Holy Grail: The Legend, the History, the Evidence. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2001. Examines the historical events that gave rise to the Grail legend and the various theories of the Grail’s identity. A useful introduction to the subject.
Nutt, Alfred. Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail. New York: Cooper Square, 1965. Good resource for serious students of the subject focuses on the Celtic origins of the Grail legend.
Sinclair, Andrew. The Grail: The Quest for a Legend. Stroud, England: Sutton, 2007. Discusses the numerous adaptations of the Grail legend, from the myths of King Arthur to modern books such as those by Dan Brown to films such as the Indiana Jones adventures.
Weston, Jessie L. The Quest of the Holy Grail. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1964. This classic on the subject of the Grail was first published in 1913 but remains one of the clearest descriptions of the Grail cycle.
Wilhelm, James J., ed. The Romance of Arthur: An Anthology of Medieval Texts in Translation. New York: Garland, 1994. Critical edition includes some of the best translations of early Arthurian literature.