Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart by Chrétien de Troyes (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart by Chrétien de Troyes. It provides a thorough exploration of the story’s plot, characters and main themes, including honor, love and chivalry. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 33-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Chrétien de Troyes
• Presentation of Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart
• Summary of Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart
• Character study
  • Lancelot of the Lake
  • Guinevere
  • Gawain
  • Meleagant
  • Bademagu
• Analysis of Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart
  • One of the first novels of French literature
  • A fairy tale story
  • The themes of the novel
  • Lancelot, a Christ-like figure
  • Representations of death
  • Courtly love
  • Love and honor

About Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart

The verse narrative Lancelot, or, The Knight of the Cart was written in the second half of the 12^th century and fuses courtly love with old Celtic legends. It tells the story of Lancelot, a Knight of the Round Table, and his bold quest to free Guinevere, King Arthur’s wife, with whom he is madly in love.

About Chrétien de Troyes

Chrétien de Troyes was born in the 12^th century, and went on to become one of the major figures of medieval literature. He served as a clerk at the courts of Marie of Champagne and Philip of Alsace, but is known primarily for his talents as a novelist. His best-known works include Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and Perceval, or, the Story of the Grail, and his writing played a major role in the popularization of a genre that was still relatively unknown during the Middle Ages.