# XXIV: Supper and Slumber in the Woodland Hall explained — The Well at the World’s End

> Chapter companion for The Well at the World’s End by William Morris.

## What happens

After tending to the wounded knight, the Lady, Ralph, and the Knight of the Sun share a meal. The Lady speaks kindly to Ralph, asking about his home and family. As evening falls, a hermit (a Blackfriar) arrives by boat and agrees to care for the wounded knight. The Knight of the Sun, conflicted, returns Ralph's armor and urges him to leave, but Ralph refuses, declaring he will not abandon the Lady. Tension rises between the two men.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

Ralph's intense longing for the Lady is central, as he is 'shamefacedly for very love' and his heart is 'wrung sore with the love of her.'

### Home and Wandering

Ralph speaks of his home in Upmeads, contrasting his current wandering life in the wilderness.

## Character check-ins

### Ralph of Upmeads

Ralph is deeply enamored with the Lady, watches her every move, and refuses the Knight of the Sun's advice to leave.

### The Lady of Abundance

The Lady tends to the wounded knight, speaks kindly to Ralph, and seems to subtly encourage his attention.

### Richard the Red

Referred to as the Knight of the Sun; he is moody, conflicted, and warns Ralph to depart before it is too late.

### The Baron of Sunway

The Knight of the Sun is also identified as the Baron of Sunway; he arranges for the hermit to care for the wounded knight.

## Key lines

> he rose up, and walked to and fro for a little, and then went, and sat down on a root of the oak tree, clasping his knees with his hands, but lay not down awhile.

He got up, paced briefly, then sat on an oak root, hugging his knees, and did not lie down for some time.

_Ralph's restlessness and watchfulness after the Lady falls asleep._

> But the Lady made herself a bed of the bracken which was over from those that Ralph had gathered for the bed of the wounded Knight; and the Friar lay down on the grass nigh to her, and both were presently asleep.

The Lady used leftover bracken to make her bed, while the Friar slept on the grass nearby; both quickly fell asleep.

_The Lady and the Friar settle for the night after tending to the wounded knight._

> Then Ralph got up quietly; and, shamefacedly for very love, passed close beside the sleeping woman as he went to his place by the horses, taking his weapons and war-gear with him: and he said to himself as he laid him down, that it was good for him to be quite alone, that he might lie awake and think at his ease of all the loveliness and kindness of his Lady.

Ralph rose silently, moved near the sleeping Lady out of shy love, gathered his weapons, and lay down by the horses, glad to be alone so he could dwell on her beauty and kindness.

_Ralph's deep affection and desire for solitude to contemplate the Lady._

> Howbeit, he was a young man, and a sturdy, used to lying abroad in the fields or the woods, and it was his custom to sleep at once and sweetly when he lay down after the day’s work had wearied him, and even so he did now, and was troubled by no dreams of what was past or to come.

Nevertheless, being young and hardy, accustomed to sleeping outdoors, he fell asleep quickly and peacefully, untroubled by dreams.

_Ralph's practical nature overcomes his romantic thoughts, leading to restful sleep._

## Links

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