# The Wood Beyond the World — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris.

- [I: Of Golden Walter and His Father](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/i-of-golden-walter-and-his-father.md): Golden Walter, a young man of Langton on Holm, is unhappy in his marriage to a beautiful but unfaithful wife. He asks his father, the wealthy merchant Bartholomew Golden, for permission to sail away on the ship Katherine
- [II: Golden Walter Takes Ship to Sail the Seas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/ii-golden-walter-takes-ship-to-sail-the-seas.md): Walter goes down to the Katherine, where the skipper Geoffrey shows him his room and the goods his father has sent. While waiting, he sees a tall ship and three strangers board it: a hideous dwarf in yellow silk, a fair 
- [III: Walter Heareth Tidings of the Death of His Father](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/iii-walter-heareth-tidings-of-the-death-of-his-father.md): Walter, sailing with the Katherine on a trading voyage, gradually recovers from his earlier melancholy and begins to enjoy life in a distant city. After many months, Arnold Penstrong arrives with news of Bartholomew Gold
- [IV: Storm Befalls the Bartholomew, and She Is Driven Off Her Course](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/iv-storm-befalls-the-bartholomew-and-she-is-driven-off-her-course.md): The Bartholomew sails northwest for four weeks before a storm drives it off course. Walter, initially anxious about returning home to a feud, finds solace in the prospect of continued wandering and new lands, as the ship
- [V: Now They Come to a New Land](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/v-now-they-come-to-a-new-land.md): After three days of sailing before the wind, the crew of the Katherine sights a new land—a shore of rocks and mountains with a green plain and a river. They anchor and tow the ship upriver, where they meet an old man liv
- [VI: The Old Man Tells Walter of Himself. Walter Sees a Shard in the Cliff-Wall](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/vi-the-old-man-tells-walter-of-himself-walter-sees-a-shard-in-the-cliff-wall.md): After the meal, Walter is left alone with the old man and questions him about his past. The old man reveals he has lived there since youth, that he slew the previous inhabitant, and that he did so to clear a path he wish
- [VII: Walter Comes to the Shard in the Rock-Wall](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/vii-walter-comes-to-the-shard-in-the-rock-wall.md): Walter, after conversing with the old man and hearing the hunters blow their horns, decides to rest and wait for his men while the old man goes ahead to prepare for cooking. However, once alone, Walter's inner turmoil of
- [VIII: Walter Wends the Waste](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/viii-walter-wends-the-waste.md): Walter traverses a barren mountain waste for several days, enduring harsh terrain, scarce water, and solitude. After five days, he finds a spring whose stream flows south, giving him hope. He climbs a ridge and beholds a
- [IX: Walter Happeneth on the First of Those Three Creatures](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/ix-walter-happeneth-on-the-first-of-those-three-creatures.md): Walter, after three days crossing a stony waste, runs out of food and rests under an ash-tree. He awakens and continues into a fair, park-like land, where he encounters the dwarf he had previously seen in a vision. The d
- [X: Walter Happeneth on Another Creature in the Strange Land](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/x-walter-happeneth-on-another-creature-in-the-strange-land.md): Walter, wandering in a fair and sunlit land, comes upon a maiden by a fountain. They speak, and she reveals that she is a thrall to a jealous Mistress who practices wizardry. Though they confess mutual love, she forbids 
- [XI: Walter Happeneth on the Mistress](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xi-walter-happeneth-on-the-mistress.md): Walter arrives at a magnificent golden house and encounters the Lady and a King's Son. The Lady speaks coldly to him, offering him shelter but no welcome, and he feels ashamed and conflicted.
- [XII: The Wearing of Four Days in the Wood Beyond the World](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xii-the-wearing-of-four-days-in-the-wood-beyond-the-world.md): Walter spends four days in the wood near the Lady's house, longing for the Maid and observing the Lady and the King's Son. He overhears their conversation, which reveals the Lady's power and the King's Son's jealousy, an
- [XIII: Now Is the Hunt Up](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xiii-now-is-the-hunt-up.md): Walter, having endured four days of neglect, is summoned by the Lady to serve as her squire in the hunt. The Lady treats him with newfound friendliness, while the Maid appears, and the Lady playfully draws attention to h
- [XIV: The Hunting of the Hart](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xiv-the-hunting-of-the-hart.md): Walter and the Lady go hunting together. After a failed chase, the Lady weeps in frustration, then bathes while Walter waits. They share a meal, and the Lady questions Walter about his past, including his city of Langton
- [XV: The Slaying of the Quarry](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xv-the-slaying-of-the-quarry.md): The Lady leads Walter into the woods to hunt a lion. She enters the thicket alone to rouse the quarry, but the lion attacks her. Walter swiftly shoots two arrows and finishes the beast with his sword, saving her life. Af
- [XVI: Of the King’s Son and the Maid](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xvi-of-the-king-s-son-and-the-maid.md): Walter hides in a thicket and witnesses the King’s Son coercing the Maid into a promise of love, while a monstrous dwarf-like creature lurks nearby. After the King’s Son leaves, the Maid reveals herself to Walter, reaffi
- [Of the House and the Pleasance in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xvii-of-the-house-and-the-pleasance-in-the-wood.md): Walter and the Lady meet in a secluded garden bower where they share an intimate, playful afternoon, setting aside past tensions. The next day, Walter encounters the Lady again by a stream, nearly naked; she offers him a
- [The Maid Gives Walter Tryst](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xviii-the-maid-gives-walter-tryst.md): Walter awakens alone in the garden and ventures out, only to find the garden has vanished. He meets the Maid, who initially greets him warmly but is suddenly terrified by a glimpse of the dwarf. Despite her fear, she giv
- [XIX: Walter Goes to Fetch Home the Lion’s Hide](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xix-walter-goes-to-fetch-home-the-lion-s-hide.md): Walter is sent by the Lady to flay the lion he slew, but finds the carcass vanished with no trace. Returning to the Golden House, he is intercepted by the Maid, who urgently cancels their planned meeting and instructs hi
- [XX: Walter Is Bidden to Another Tryst](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xx-walter-is-bidden-to-another-tryst.md): Walter attends a banquet with the Lady, who kisses him and arranges a midnight tryst. The Maid signals him to keep their earlier tryst in the hazel-copse. The King's Son mocks Walter, boasting of his power over the Maid.
- [Walter and the Maid Flee from the Golden House](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxi-walter-and-the-maid-flee-from-the-golden-house.md): Walter and the Maid flee the Golden House under cover of night, traveling south through the wilderness. They rest by a stream at dawn, where the Maid reveals she has a troubling tale to tell and that the King's Son died 
- [Of the Dwarf and the Pardon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxii-of-the-dwarf-and-the-pardon.md): Walter confronts and slays the Dwarf who attacks the Maid, accusing her of murdering the Lady. After the battle, Walter forgives the Maid and they bury the Dwarf's body together, deepening their bond.
- [Of the Peaceful Ending of That Wild Day](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxiii-of-the-peaceful-ending-of-that-wild-day.md): After the day's turmoil, Walter and the Maid cross a stream and travel onward. She heals her minor wound with herbs and words, and Walter fashions brogues for her bare feet. They rest and eat, and she promises to tell he
- [XXIV: The Maid Tells of What Had Befallen Her](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxiv-the-maid-tells-of-what-had-befallen-her.md): The Maid recounts her fragmented past, from a happy childhood in another land through periods of dimness and suffering, her enslavement by the Lady, and her growing wisdom. She describes how the Lady's jealousy and the D
- [Of the Triumphant Summer Array of the Maid](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxv-of-the-triumphant-summer-array-of-the-maid.md): Walter and the Maid journey toward the Land of the Bear-folk, discussing the peril of being captured and possibly sacrificed. The Maid reveals that the Bear-folk worship a female deity, and she plans to present herself a
- [XXVI: They Come to the Folk of the Bears](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxvi-they-come-to-the-folk-of-the-bears.md): Walter and the Maid descend into a valley inhabited by the Folk of the Bears, a tall, grave, and peaceful people. They are greeted by an elder who, uncertain whether they are gods or aliens, agrees to let them speak befo
- [Morning Amongst the Bears](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxvii-morning-amongst-the-bears.md): Walter wakes to find the Maid refreshed and joyful. She reassures him of her love and loyalty, and instructs him to act as her devoted follower before the Bears, who are preparing a burnt-offering. They share a tense bre
- [XXVIII: Of the New God of the Bears](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxviii-of-the-new-god-of-the-bears.md): The Maid and Walter are brought before the Doom-ring of the Bears, where the Maid declares herself the new embodiment of their god. She performs a miraculous sign by reviving the faded flowers on her person, convincing t
- [XXIX: Walter Strays in the Pass and Is Sundered from the Maid](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxix-walter-strays-in-the-pass-and-is-sundered-from-the-maid.md): Walter and the Maid journey into the mountain pass, where the Maid blesses the Bear-folk and sends them home, then vanishes ahead. Walter follows but is overtaken by a violent storm, loses his way, and becomes separated 
- [XXX: Now They Meet Again](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxx-now-they-meet-again.md): Walter and the Maid reunite in a beautiful mountain dale. They share a meal of trout, discuss their fears and desires, and decide to continue their journey toward a distant city, with the Maid urging that they preserve h
- [XXXI: They Come Upon New Folk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxi-they-come-upon-new-folk.md): Walter and the Maid encounter a company of armed men in a valley, who courteously but silently escort them through mountain passes to a great city. They are separated into litters and brought to a magnificent house, wher
- [XXXII: Of the New King of the City and Land of Stark-Wall](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxii-of-the-new-king-of-the-city-and-land-of-stark-wall.md): Walter awakens in a magnificent chamber and is led by silent attendants to a bath, then to a great hall where he must choose between kingly robes of peace or worn war-gear. He chooses the war-weed and is hailed as King o
- [Concerning the Fashion of King-Making in Stark-Wall](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxiii-concerning-the-fashion-of-king-making-in-stark-wall.md): The newly made king questions an elder about the nature of his kingship and the customs of king-making in the city of Stark-wall. The elder explains that the city is mighty and wealthy, and that kings are chosen either b
- [XXXIV: Now Cometh the Maid to the King](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxiv-now-cometh-the-maid-to-the-king.md): The Maid appears before the King and the assembled court, clad only in a white coat and adorned with red roses. She kneels before Walter, acknowledging his true identity as a king-born man, and asks to be his servant. Wa
- [XXXV: Of the King of Stark-Wall and His Queen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxv-of-the-king-of-stark-wall-and-his-queen.md): King Walter and the Maid are acclaimed by the people of Stark-Wall, crowned and hallowed in the great church, and celebrated with a banquet. The chapter emphasizes their public reception, the Queen's transcendent beauty,
- [XXXVI: Of Walter and the Maid in the Days of the Kingship](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxvi-of-walter-and-the-maid-in-the-days-of-the-kingship.md): Walter and the Maid are reunited in the King's chamber, where she gives him her girdle as a token of her love and trust. They speak of their past dangers and rejoice in their safety. Walter begins his reign wisely, and t

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters