III.

Other Stories of the Grail

In later legend, the Holy Grail becomes the object of a quest in which many of King Arthur’s knights take part. In this version of the story, the knight Galahad, who is entirely free of sin, ultimately finds the Grail and completes the quest. Percival and the knight Bors accompany Galahad but are excluded from the final holy vision that appears to Galahad as he approaches the Grail.

Writings in which the Grail plays a major role include Parzival (1210?) by German epic poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, Le morte d’Arthur (The Death of Arthur, 1469-1470) by English writer Sir Thomas Malory, and the series of poems Idylls of the King (1859-1885) by English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The opera Parsifal (1882) by German composer Richard Wagner was based on Wolfram’s treatment of the legend. In his epic poem The Wasteland (1922), English writer T. S. Eliot draws on the story of the Grail, but he is most interested in the Fisher King and his realm.