Idylls of the King, published between 1859 and 1885, is a cycle of twelve narrative poems by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) which retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, their court at Camelot and the quest for the Holy Grail, Arthur's love for Queen Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him with Lancelot, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom.
Each idyll features one or more of Arthur's knights, including Lancelot, Galahad, Tristan, and Gawain, as well as other characters such as Elaine of Astolat, Queen Iseult of Cornwall, and Vivien. They recount Arthur's attempt to unite lawless Britain and create a perfect chivalric kingdom, from his coming to power with the help of Merlin, the Lady of the Lake, and the sword Excalibur to his mortal wounding at the hands of the traitor Mordred and his mystical passing to Avalon.
The twelve idylls follow the progression of the seasons through the year, with Arthur crowned in spring, Guinevere embracing Lancelot in summer, Camelot decaying in autumn, and Arthur fighting Mordred in midwinter. They do not form an epic in structure or tone, but express elegiac sadness, in the style of the Idylls of Theocritus, at the gradual corruption and disintegration of Arthur's realm.
Written in blank verse while Tennyson was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, and dedicated to the late Albert, Prince Consort, the Idylls contain many of his most resonant lines, including "Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful," and "The old order changeth, yielding place to new." Despite Arthur's faith that "the whole round earth is every way / Bound by gold chains about the feet of God," the Idylls typify the cultural pessimism felt by many in the Victorian era.
Publishing chronology The first set of Idylls, "Enid", "Vivien", "Elaine", and "Guinevere", was published in 1859. via Google Books "Enid" was later divided into "The Marriage of Geraint" and "Geraint and Enid", and "Guinevere" was expanded. The Holy Grail and Other Poems appeared ten years later. "The Last Tournament" was published in Contemporary Review in 1871. "Gareth and Lynette" was published the following year. The final idyll, "Balin and Balan", was published in Tiresias and Other Poems in 1885. The Dedication was published in 1862, a year after the Prince Consort had died; the epilogue, "To the Queen", was published in 1873.
The Idylls The Coming of Arthur The first of the Idylls covers the period following Arthur's coronation, his accession, and marriage. via Internet Archive The besieged Leodogran, King of Cameliard, appeals to Arthur for help against the beasts and heathen hordes. via Internet Archive Arthur vanquishes these and then the Barons who challenge his legitimacy. via Internet Archive Afterwards, he requests the hand of Leodogran's daughter, Guinevere, whom he loves. via Internet Archive Leodogran, grateful but also doubtful of Arthur's lineage, questions his chamberlain, Arthur's emissaries, and Arthur's half-sister Bellicent (the character known as Anna or Morgause in other versions), receiving a different account from each. via Internet Archive He is persuaded at last by a dream of Arthur crowned in heaven. via Internet Archive
Lancelot is sent to bring Guinevere, and she and Arthur wed in May. via Internet Archive At the wedding feast, Arthur refuses to pay the customary tribute to the Lords from Rome, declaring, “The old order changeth, yielding place to new.” via Internet Archive This phrase is repeated by Arthur throughout the work. via Internet Archive Tennyson's use of the phrase in both the first and last Idyll, and throughout the work, is indicative of the change in Britain's, and Arthur's, fortunes. At this point, the phrase indicates the passing of Rome and the Heathens; In The Passing of Arthur, it indicates the downfall of Arthur's kingdom.
Gareth and Lynette Tennyson based "Gareth and Lynette" on the fourth (Caxton edition: seventh) book of Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. There are earlier versions of the Arthurian legends, Cretian being among the earliest. Malory's is perhaps best known; it is possible that Malory created the tale himself, though he may have relied on an older work.
Of all the Idylls, “Gareth and Lynette” is sweetest and most innocent. Gareth, Bellicent and Lot's last son, dreams of knighthood but is frustrated by his mother. via Internet Archive After a lengthy argument she clinches the matter, or so she thinks, by ordering him to serve as an anonymous scullion in Arthur's kitchens for a year and a day. via Internet Archive To her disappointment, he agrees. via Internet Archive Upon his arrival incognito at Camelot, Gareth is greeted by a disguised Merlin, who tells him the city is never built at all, and therefore built forever, and warns him that Arthur will bind him by vows no man can keep. via Internet Archive Gareth is angered by his apparent tomfoolery, but is himself rebuked for going disguised to the truthful Arthur. via Internet Archive
Arthur consents to the boy's petition for kitchen service. via Internet Archive After Gareth has served nobly and well for a month, Bellicent repents and frees him from his vow. via Internet Archive Gareth is secretly knighted by Arthur, who orders Lancelot to keep a discreet eye on him. via Internet Archive Gareth's first quest comes in the form of the cantankerous Lynette, who begs Arthur for Lancelot's help in freeing her sister Lyonors. via Internet Archive Rather than Lancelot, she is given Gareth, still seemingly a kitchen servant. via Internet Archive Indignant, she flees, and abuses Gareth when he catches up. via Internet Archive
On their journey, Gareth proves himself again and again, but Lynette continues to call him knave and scullion. via Internet Archive Gareth remains courteous and gentle throughout. via Internet Archive During the journey to the Castle Perilous, he overthrows the soi-disant knight of the Morning Star, knight of the Noonday Sun, knight of the Evening Star, and finally the most terrible knight of Death, who is revealed as a boy coerced into his role by his older brothers. via Internet Archive Tennyson concludes: “And he [Malory] that told the tale in older times / Says that Sir Gareth wedded Lyonors, / But he, that told it later [Tennyson], says Lynette.” via Internet Archive
Enid "Enid" was initially written as a single poem but was later divided into two parts: "The Marriage of Geraint" and "Geraint and Enid". It is based on one of the Welsh Romances, Geraint and Enid, of the Mabinogion.
The Marriage of Geraint Geraint, tributary prince of Devon and one of Arthur's bravest knights, is married to Enid, the only daughter of Yniol. via Internet Archive He loves his wife deeply and she responds with equal affection; her only wish is to please him. via Internet Archive At this time, the first rumours about Lancelot and Guinevere begin to spread throughout the court, but as yet there is no proof that any romance really exists. via Internet Archive Geraint believes the stories and begins to fear that Enid will follow the bad example of her friend, the queen. via Internet Archive His worries begin to plague him and he finally asks Arthur's permission to return to Devon. via Internet Archive
After they arrive home, Geraint is very affectionate and attentive to his wife. via Internet Archive He totally neglects his duties as a ruler and a knight, for he is obsessed with the idea that Enid has left a lover behind at the palace. via Internet Archive Made suspicious by his jealousy, he stays at Enid's side at all times. via Internet Archive Before long, Geraint's reputation begins to suffer. via Internet Archive His people secretly scoff at him and jeer that his manliness is gone. via Internet Archive Enid also is upset by his new and disgraceful way of life, but she is afraid to criticise him since she does not want to cause him any pain. via Internet Archive
One morning as they lie in bed, she muses out loud about her sad dilemma and berates herself as a bad wife for remaining silent. via Internet Archive Geraint awakens and overhears her last few words. via Internet Archive He jumps to the conclusion that she is confessing her infidelity and is infuriated. via Internet Archive He angrily shouts that he is still a warrior, despite all rumours, and that he will at once go on a quest to prove his prowess. via Internet Archive She alone is to accompany him, taking no baggage and wearing her oldest and most shabby dress. via Internet Archive
Geraint and Enid
Geraint and Enid set out on their journey that very morning. via Internet Archive Geraint orders Enid to ride in front of him and not to speak, whatever the provocation. via Internet Archive Perhaps, Tennyson hints, this command is because he still loves her and is afraid that in some outburst of his brooding jealousy he will harm her. via Internet Archive The two ride on slowly into the bandit-infested wilderness adjoining Devon. via Internet Archive Neither speaks, and both look pale and unhappy. via Internet Archive
After a while, Enid notices three knights and overhears them planning to attack Geraint. via Internet Archive He is riding so listlessly that he inspires no fear in them. via Internet Archive She does not wish to disobey his order to her, but is afraid that he might be harmed. via Internet Archive Finally, she rides back and warns him. via Internet Archive Rather than show any gratitude, Geraint criticises Enid for her disobedience and needles her about his suspicion that she really wants him to be defeated. via Internet Archive Geraint engages the knights and is victorious. via Internet Archive He piles the armour of the dead knights on their horses and makes Enid lead them as she rides. via Internet Archive
The same episode is repeated again with three other knights, and once more Geraint chastises Enid for her disobedience. via Internet Archive He is triumphant in each fight. via Internet Archive Now Enid is forced to lead six captured horses. via Internet Archive Geraint has some sympathy for her difficulty handling them, but does not offer to help. via Internet Archive
In the afternoon, Geraint and Enid dine with some farm workers and are then guided to an inn for the night. via Internet Archive After arranging for accommodations, Geraint continues to be sullen and nasty. via Internet Archive Later that evening, they are visited at the inn by the local ruler, Earl Limours, who, by chance, happens to have once been a suitor of Enid's. via Internet Archive Limours is a crude drunkard, and Geraint callously allows him to make all sorts of coarse jokes, much to the distress and embarrassment of Enid. via Internet Archive Before leaving for the night, Limours informs Enid that he still loves her and plans the next morning to rescue her from her cruel husband. via Internet Archive
When day breaks, Enid warns Geraint of the plot. via Internet Archive He, of course, suspects her of having encouraged the earl and is angry. via Internet Archive They leave the inn immediately but are pursued by Limours and his followers. via Internet Archive In a running fight, Geraint is able to drive them off. via Internet Archive
Soon the unhappy couple enters the lawless territory of Earl Doorm the Bull. via Internet Archive Suddenly Geraint collapses from his wounds. via Internet Archive Enid is powerless to aid him and she sits by his side, weeping while he lies unconscious. via Internet Archive After a while, Doorm and his soldiers ride past, returning from a raid, and the outlaw earl's curiosity is aroused by the lovely maiden and he questions her. via Internet Archive Doorm insists that the wounded knight is dead, but Enid refuses to believe him. via Internet Archive The outlaw chieftain has his soldiers bring Geraint's body and Enid to his stronghold. via Internet Archive