Agravaine is another of the Orkney brothers and the most twisted of them all, excepting Mordred. He is deeply in love with his mother Morgause and eventually kills her when he finds her in bed with a knight. Later in the novel, he tries to prove Lancelot and Guenevers' adulterous relationship, but is killed by Lancelot in the attempt.
Get the entire The Once and Future King LitChart as a printable PDF.
Agravaine Character Timeline in The Once and Future King
The timeline below shows where the character Agravaine appears in The Once and Future King. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 2, Chapter 1
...fourteen yeas old, Gareth is the youngest, then Gaheris and next oldest to Gawaine is Agravaine—the bully of the family.
(full context)
...generous boy who hates the idea of strength against weakness. Gawaine feels only anger, while Agravaine is moved because of the fate of his mother.
(full context)
Book 2, Chapter 7
...pure white, with sad, tragic eyes. The unicorn lays its head in Meg's lap. Suddenly, Agravaine is running towards the unicorn with his spear raised, and begins to jab it fiercely....
(full context)
Book 2, Chapter 9
...his brothers. He finds them arguing about their mother. Suddenly, Gawaine has his hands around Agravaine's throat and beats his head against the floor.
(full context)
Book 3, Chapter 26
...and the color drains from his face. He tells Arthur and Lancelot that his brothers, Agravaine, Mordred and Gawaine have killed his mother because they found her in bed with Pellinore's...
(full context)
Book 3, Chapter 27
Gawaine and Mordred arrive at Camelot—although they do not know where Agravaine is. Gawaine is deeply saddened by his actions and penitent in the cold light of...
(full context)
Book 4, Chapter 1
The years have not been kind to Agravaine—he looks much older than his forty-five years and has become a drunk. Mordred, meanwhile, looks...
(full context)
The conversation moves to the subject of Lancelot—whereas before, Mordred had been enraged and Agravaine indifferent, now they are reversed. Agravaine raves about Lancelot's infidelity with the Queen. Suddenly, however,...
(full context)
Book 4, Chapter 2
Suddenly, the argument escalates and Agravaine pulls a sword on Gareth. Gawaine's old rage explodes and he pulls his own sword...
(full context)
It is at this moment, with Agravaine held at the floor with Gawaine's sword, Gaheris holding back Gawaine's arm and Gareth holding...
(full context)
Book 4, Chapter 5
...The brothers are arguing—Gareth, Gawaine and Gaheris want to be no part of the treason Agravaine and Mordred are plotting. Arthur enters the room quietly, but they all see him. Suddenly,...
(full context)
...the floor. He asks if they are ready to prove that accusation under the law. Agravaine asks that they use the new laws to prove the pair guilty, with a jury...
(full context)
Book 4, Chapter 6
...to warn Lancelot not to go to the Queen's room that night. He explains that Agravaine and Mordred hate Lancelot and that they are going to do something to trap him....
(full context)
Book 4, Chapter 7
...upwards. The handle falls back and there is a loud, iron knocking on the door. Agravaine's voice cries: "Open the door, in the King's name." Lancelot realizes he has forgotten his...
(full context)
...knight's body with the sword. They lift the visor once he is dead; it is Agravaine. Quickly Guenever dresses Lancelot in Agravaine's armor. The lovers exchange rings and Lancelot promises he...
(full context)
