Le Morte Darthur, Chapter 119 summary

What happens

1. Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine object to Sir Kay’s mockery, but Kay dismisses Beaumains as someone interested only in food.
2. Beaumains refuses their offers of hospitality and accepts kitchen work, remaining gentle and obedient throughout the year.
3. Launcelot and Gawaine supply money and clothes, while Beaumains watches jousting and outperforms everyone in throwing contests.
4. At Whitsuntide in Carlion, a squire announces a damsel whose request gives the king an adventure to hear before eating.
5. The damsel seeks help for an unnamed lady whose castle and lands suffer under the Red Knight of the Red Lawns.
6. Gawaine describes the knight’s danger, and the king withholds consent until the damsel supplies more information.

In this chapter

What to notice

Launcelot directly challenges Kay’s judgment of Beaumains. His confidence contrasts with the mockery and low status Beaumains accepts.

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