Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Morte d'Arthur explained
King Arthur, mortally wounded after the final battle with the traitor Sir Modred, commands Sir Bedivere to cast the sword Excalibur into the lake.
What happens
King Arthur, mortally wounded after the final battle with the traitor Sir Modred, commands Sir Bedivere to cast the sword Excalibur into the lake. After twice hiding the sword, Bedivere finally obeys, and a hand from the water catches it. Arthur is taken by barge to Avalon, attended by three queens. Sir Bedivere later finds a hermit who has buried Arthur, and he remains there in prayer. Queen Guenever becomes a nun at Almesbury. Sir Launcelot, arriving too late, seeks Guenever but is rebuffed; he too takes up a religious life. The chapter closes with the famous epitaph: 'Here Arthur lies, King once and King to be.'
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and the Quest
Arthur's final acts—commanding Excalibur's return and his departure to Avalon—embody the heroic quest's end, marked by sacrifice and mystery.
Fate and Free Will
Arthur's dream of Gawain warns him of his fate, yet he still faces Modred; the prophecy of his return blurs the line between destiny and choice.
Mortality and Immortality
Arthur's death and the legend of his return to Avalon explore the tension between human mortality and the immortal legacy of a once-and-future king.
Characters to notice
- King Arthur
Mortally wounded, commands Excalibur be thrown into the lake, is taken to Avalon by three queens.
- Sir Launcelot
Returns too late to aid Arthur; seeks Guenever at the nunnery and is rebuffed; ultimately becomes a hermit.
- Queen Guenever
Flees to Almesbury, becomes a nun, and refuses to see Launcelot again.
- Sir Gawain
Dies from an old wound given by Launcelot; appears to Arthur in a dream to warn him.
- Modred
Usurps the throne, besieges Guenever, and fights Arthur in the final battle.
Key passages
“Hie jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus.”
Here lies Arthur, once king and future king.
The epitaph on Arthur's tomb encapsulates the legend of his return.
“Comfort thyself, for in me is no further help; for I will to the Isle of Avalon, to heal me of my grievous wound.”
Take comfort, for I can no longer help you; I am going to Avalon to be healed of my wound.
Arthur's final words to Bedivere, signaling his departure from the mortal world.