Idylls of the King · Chapter
The Last Tournament explained
Arthur appoints Lancelot to preside over a tournament in his absence as he leads younger knights north to quell a rebellion.
What happens
Arthur appoints Lancelot to preside over a tournament in his absence as he leads younger knights north to quell a rebellion. The tournament, mockingly called the 'Tournament of the Dead Innocence,' is marked by lawlessness and decay. Tristram returns from Brittany and wins the prize, but Lancelot, sick at heart, gives it with a bitter remark. The revels turn to violence and massacre at a lodge, and Arthur's realm is left in turmoil. Tristram later reunites with Isolt of Ireland at Tintagil, and their illicit love is contrasted with the fading glory of the Round Table.
Themes in this chapter
Fall from Grace
The tournament is a mockery of innocence, with broken laws, cowardly knights, and Lancelot's silent despair, signaling the decline of Camelot.
Love and Betrayal
Tristram's affair with Isolt of Ireland, his marriage to Isolt of Brittany, and the tension with King Mark highlight themes of illicit love and betrayal.
Chivalry and Honor
The knights' failure to uphold their vows, Tristram's mockery of courtly love, and Lancelot's grief reflect the erosion of chivalric ideals.
Characters to notice
- King Arthur
Arthur leaves Camelot to lead younger knights against rebels in the North, troubled by the decay of chivalry.
- Sir Lancelot
Lancelot presides over the tournament as umpire, sick with guilt and grief over Arthur's words, and silently observes the broken laws.
- Guinevere
The Queen watches Arthur depart from her bower, sighing, and later breaks up the revels, with pain in her bosom.
- Tristram
Tristram returns from Brittany, wins the tournament, and later reunites with Isolt of Ireland at Tintagil, flaunting his love.
- Isolt of Ireland
Isolt of Ireland awaits Tristram at Tintagil, expressing her hatred for King Mark and her love for Tristram.
- King Mark
Mark is mentioned as having gone hunting, and Isolt fears his return; he is portrayed as craven and hateful.
- Modred
Modred is glimpsed by Lancelot through a cracked helmet, his narrow face like a vermin in its hole.
- Dagonet
Dagonet, the court fool, dances and exchanges sharp words with Tristram, critiquing the broken music of the court.
Key passages
“The glory of our Round Table is no more.”
The honor and splendor of King Arthur's court have vanished.
Spoken by Tristram and later murmured by a damsel, this line encapsulates the theme of decay.
“Free love—free field—we love but while we may: The woods are hushed, their music is no more: The leaf is dead, the yearning past away: New leaf, new life—the days of frost are o'er: New life, new love, to suit the newer day: New loves are sweet as those that went before: Free love—free field—we love but while we may.”
Love is fleeting and should be enjoyed without restraint, just as the seasons change and bring new beginnings.
Tristram's song to Dagonet justifies his infidelity and reflects the moral decay of the court.