Sir Galahad Character Analysis in Le Morte d’Arthur

Son of Launcelot and Elaine of Corbin, destined to surpass even his father in knightly prowess. Galahad comes to court as a young, untested knight, but he soon proves himself fated to become an unequalled knight in a similar fashion to King Arthur—by pulling a sword out of a stone. Galahad is contrasted to his father Launcelot in that the son is pure in body and mind in addition to being a knight of great prowess. As a result, only Galahad, among all the knights of the Round Table, is allowed to see the mysteries of the Holy Grail.

Sir Galahad Quotes in Le Morte d’Arthur

The Le Morte d’Arthur quotes below are all either spoken by Sir Galahad or refer to Sir Galahad. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin Classics edition of Le Morte d’Arthur published in 1970.

He called to Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the servant of Jesu Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired to see. And then he began to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh began to hold the spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward heaven and said: Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been my desire many a day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it might please thee, Lord.

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Related Symbols:

Page Number and Citation: Vol 2, 369

Explanation and Analysis:

Sir Galahad Character Timeline in Le Morte d’Arthur

The timeline below shows where the character Sir Galahad appears in Le Morte d’Arthur. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...and King Pellam will lie wounded for many years (and will later be healed by Galahad in the quest of the Sangreal). It’s revealed that the blood of Jesus Christ was... (full context)

Jealousy, Competition, and Revenge Theme Icon

Trickery and Mistaken Identity Theme Icon

...in the world will be able to handle it, either Sir Launcelot or his son Galahad. Launcelot will, with this sword, kill the man he loves best, Sir Gawaine, Merlin foretells.... (full context)

...the castle pay homage to Tristram, but meanwhile one knight rides to Breunor’s son, Sir Galahad (not Galahad, Launcelot’s son), and tells him what happened to his parents. (full context)

Chapter 1 We move from Tristram to Launcelot and his son, Galahad. Around the time of Galahad’s birth a hermit comes to Arthur’s court and predicts that... (full context)

...her for witchcraft. After a time, Elaine gives birth to a child and calls him Galahad. Later, Sir Bromel la Pleche desires to marry Elaine, and finally she tells him she... (full context)

...knight but Tristram. Launcelot agrees, and leaves with them. Elaine of Corbin tells him that Galahad will also come to court to be made knight. (full context)

...where he finds Bors de Ganis and Lionel. They embrace. Meanwhile 12 nuns bring in Galahad, saying that they’ve brought him up: now they ask Launcelot to make him a knight.... (full context)

Chapter 2 Galahad refuses to accompany Launcelot to Arthur’s court, however, instead leaving with Bors de Ganis and... (full context)

...Perilous. Letters in gold on the seat now say that this is the place of Galahad. Galahad (the young knight in red) sits down, and asks the old man to depart... (full context)

...the river, saying that many knights have failed to take the sword from the stone. Galahad easily draws it out and puts it in his scabbard. The sword had belonged to... (full context)

Chapter 6 Arthur orders all his knights to have a great tournament. Galahad wins against every knight, except for Percivale and Launcelot. (full context)

Chapter 7 Guenever asks Galahad to take off his helmet, and says this must be Launcelot’s son. They are distantly... (full context)

...for only a knight clean of sin can see the mysteries of Christ. Guenever asks Galahad where he comes from, and praises his lineage. In the morning Arthur goes to Launcelot... (full context)

Chapter 9 On the 4th day, Galahad comes to a White Abbey and comes upon Bagdemagus and Uwaine. They say that within... (full context)

Chapter 10 Galahad takes the shield and goes off alone, meeting the White Knight by the valley, who... (full context)

...of his own blood upon it. He said that none should bear this shield until Galahad. Now, the squire that had brought Galahad the shield asks to be made knight, and... (full context)

Chapter 12 Galahad goes to the tomb and lifts it up, seeing a terrifying figure leap out. A... (full context)

In the morning the squire knight tells Galahad his name, Melias de Lile, and asks to accompany him in the Sangreal quest. The... (full context)

...demands it back. The knight charges at Melias and knocks him down, as if dead. Galahad comes along and finds Melias wounded. He fights against the knight, and Galahad strikes him... (full context)

...man says that Melias was wounded on account of his sins: pride, covetousness, and theft. Galahad departs on his quest, and comes to a mountain where there is an old chapel.... (full context)

Chapter 15 Galahad rides to the castle and rests by the river Severn. Seven maidens come and tell... (full context)

A priest comes to Galahad and tells him how the brothers had been lodged at this castle, which belongs to... (full context)

...had called him wicked. The hermit agrees that Gawaine has lived in sin, and since Galahad has not lived in sin he will achieve the Sangreal. The hermit tells Gawaine he... (full context)

Chapter 17 Meanwhile Galahad departs from the Castle of Maidens and, disguised, meets Percivale and Launcelot. Galahad strikes them... (full context)

...father like the lion exceeds the leopard. Merlin crafted the Siege Perilous for this knight, Galahad, to sit in. Now Percivale’s aunt tells him to find Galahad in a castle Goethe,... (full context)

...prepare to kill him, but Percivale fights back. They are about to overtake him when Galahad, in red colors, rides forward and strikes every man down. Percivale cries to Galahad to... (full context)

...Arimathea’s battles. The kings are the rulers of various countries. One of the knights was Galahad, whom none will equal. The hermit counsels Launcelot to let it be known that Galahad... (full context)

...humility and patience. But most of the knights are blackened by sin and wickedness: only Galahad and Percivale, as virgins, are white, and Sir Bors de Ganis only broke his chastity... (full context)

Chapter 1 We return to Galahad, who, after many adventures, passes by a castle where a tournament is taking place. Galahad... (full context)

Galahad rides on to the Castle of Carboneck, where he stays in a hermitage. A damsel... (full context)

Chapter 2 Galahad rides with the damsel to the sea and a castle called Collibe, where the damsel’s... (full context)

Chapter 3 Galahad, the lady, Sir Bors, and Percivale enter the ship. They find a bed with a... (full context)

...out of her own hair. She sets it on the sword. Then they all tell Galahad that the sword belongs to him. He grasps the sword, and tells the lady that... (full context)

...9 They take the earl out of prison. Then they all hear a voice telling Galahad that he has performed well, and now must go to the Maimed King to heal... (full context)

...of silver, saying they require blood from the lady’s right arm. Percivale, Sir Bors, and Galahad race towards the knights and kill them all. Then 60 knights emerge and tell them... (full context)

Chapter 12 Galahad and Percivale remain in the castle all night. After the storm they emerge and see... (full context)

Chapter 13 Percivale and Galahad leave each other. Meanwhile, Launcelot has heard in a dream to seek out a ship.... (full context)

Chapter 14 One Monday Galahad and Launcelot find a knight in white armor, who asks Galahad to leave his adventures... (full context)

...the knights of the Round Table have been killed. Launcelot tells Arthur that out of Galahad, Percivale, and Sir Bors, he will only see one again. (full context)

Chapter 18 Meanwhile Galahad rides to the abbey where King Mordrains is held. Mordrains asks Galahad, as a pure... (full context)

Chapter 19 Galahad rides on to the Maimed King. He meets Percivale and Sir Bors, and they ride... (full context)

...then the Sangreal, covering it with a vessel. The bishop performs Mass, and then kisses Galahad, telling him that all will be fed with great food and drink. A man that... (full context)

Chapter 21 Galahad touches the spear’s blood and then anoints the Maimed King, making him whole. Galahad, Percivale,... (full context)

...knights, asking them for forgiveness. When he dies, the whole city council decides to ask Galahad to be king. He makes a table of silver on which to place the Sangreal.... (full context)

...bishop praying before the vessel, and then beginning to say Mass. The holy man tells Galahad to come forth and see spiritual things as no man has before, which he does,... (full context)

Chapter 23 Percivale and Sir Bors weep over Galahad’s death, and they bury his body. Percivale then becomes a holy man and lives in... (full context)