Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Geraint, the Son of Erbin explained
Prince Geraint, having missed the hunt with King Arthur, accompanies Queen Guenever to the forest's edge.
What happens
Prince Geraint, having missed the hunt with King Arthur, accompanies Queen Guenever to the forest's edge. There they witness a knight, a lady, and a churlish dwarf pass by. When Guenever's maiden is struck by the dwarf for inquiring about the knight, Geraint vows to follow and challenge the knight. He follows them to a town where he finds shelter with a poor hoary-headed man, his wife, and their beautiful daughter, Enid. The old man explains that the knight is competing in a tournament for the Sparrow-hawk, which he has won twice before. Geraint borrows the old man's rusty armor and, with Enid as his lady, challenges and defeats the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk, winning the prize and pledging his love to Enid.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and the Quest
Geraint embarks on a quest to avenge an insult, demonstrating chivalric heroism by following the knight and ultimately winning the tournament.
Hospitality and Its Violation
The dwarf's rude treatment of Guenever's maiden violates the code of hospitality, while the hoary-headed man offers Geraint generous shelter despite his poverty.
Love and Transformation
Geraint's encounter with Enid leads him to pledge his love and transform from a passive observer into an active champion, winning both the sparrow-hawk and her heart.
Characters to notice
- Geraint
Prince Geraint, son of Erbin, follows the mysterious knight to avenge the insult to Guenever's maiden, borrows arms from a poor nobleman, and wins the Sparrow-hawk tournament for Enid.
- Queen Guenever
Queen Guenever awakens late, rides out to hear the hunt, and witnesses the dwarf's rudeness; she gives Geraint permission to follow the knight.
- Enid
The beautiful daughter of the impoverished hoary-headed man; she serves Geraint and becomes the lady for whom he jousts and wins the Sparrow-hawk.
- King Arthur
King Arthur goes hunting early in the morning, leaving Guenever asleep; he is mentioned as Geraint's lord.
Key passages
“Lady," said he, "I will follow him, with thy permission, and at last he will come to some inhabited place, where I may have arms, either as a loan or for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight.”
Geraint tells Guenever that he will trail the knight until he reaches a town where he can obtain weapons to challenge him.
Geraint's determination to seek arms and confront the knight is a key plot point.
“And high above a piece of turret-stair, Worn by the feet that now were silent, wound Bare to the sun.”
A broken staircase in the ruined palace stood exposed to the sunlight, worn down by footsteps that had long since ceased.
This poetic description sets the scene of the dilapidated palace where Geraint finds shelter.
“For Prince Geraint, Late also, wearing neither hunting-dress Nor weapon, save a golden-hilted brand, Came quickly flashing through the shallow ford.”
Prince Geraint, arriving late and unarmed except for his golden-hilted sword, rode swiftly across the shallow river crossing.
This verse introduces Geraint's appearance as he catches up to Guenever.