The Story of the Grail / Perceval (Day Two)

To repeat -- just read what I have on-line, don't worry about the page numbering (we're just going to focus on Perceval's story and not read Gawain's adventures).

Use these questions as a guide (if you want) for your blog posting.

1. The Grail Castle and Procession – How does Chrétien present this scene to the reader? Why? What do you think is problematic about this scene? Why the emphasis upon mystery? (If you are familiar with the Jewish Seder meal – how might this procession mirror the meal, especially concerning questions asked during the meal and the significance of the meal? How have Christians appropriated this meal into their own rituals and mythology?) What is the (potential) outcome of this meal? How do you explain this?

2. The blood on the snow – The blood on the snow reminds Perceval of Blancheflor. How do you read it as an image of Blancheflor? What might its purpose be as an image of her? Might you see other meanings though in this very strong image? Blood…hmmmm….where have we seen this before? In what context? Might there be a connection here? (I think so!) In other words, how might this one image function on two (or more) levels of meaning -- some of which is still hidden from Perceval.

3. The scene with the hermit on Good Friday – How do you read this scene? Why is the day significant?
You can: (1) speak about the “build up” to this scene – the group of penitent soldiers and women – what do they signify? Why is Perceval so affected by them? How might this scene mirror what we have in the opening scene of the romance?
(2) Perceval’s repentance. What does he learn here (beyond the obvious)? How do you read the fact that the hermit happens to be his maternal uncle?

4. The Grail has entered into our modern vocabulary as that “elusive element” forever out of reach that we desire greatly. How do you interpret the Grail of this romance? What mythological signification might it have within or even beyond Chrétien’s tale? Why do you think this to be the case?

The Story of the Grail / Perceval (Day One)

You may choose to use one or more of the questions below as a guide in your response, or you may bring up your own analyses of scenes of interest:

1. Perceval’s encounter with the knights in the Waste Forest. How does Chrétien portray Perceval? And the knights? What image of knighthood does the text portray? And what is Perceval’s perception of knighthood? How do these portrayals conflict with one another? What do you think is the point of this?

2. Analyze the episode between Perceval and his mother. What is her reaction? What information does she try to impart to her son? Why do you think he reacts the way he does? Discuss his departure – how should he have behaved?

3. What does Perceval do in order to become a knight? How do you see this as problematic? Reference specific scenes or quotes from the text in your response. (We have the scene with the “Tent Maiden,” the scene in Arthur’s court, and the killing / murder of the Red Knight).

4. Discuss the scene with Gornemant of Gohort. How does the advice enter into a dialogue with previous advice? Why this need for repetition?

5. Blancheflor – Her name means “White Flower” (what do you think is the significance of this?) What do you think her role is in the text? How does Chrétien describe her? Why? What do her actions say about her (her weeping – for instance, this is not the first time we’ve seen a woman weeping over a sleeping knight)? Bring up other topics concerning Blancheflor you find interesting if necessary.