# Sir Lancelot — Idylls of the King character guide

> Sir Lancelot in Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lancelot, Sir Lancelot of the King, Lord Lancelot, the great Sir Lancelot

**First appearance:** 0002-the-coming-of-arthur

## Snapshot

Arthur's greatest knight, whose love-loyalty to Guinevere makes him lie to his king, ride unknown into jousts, and lose himself on solitary downs.

## Who they are

Lancelot stands beside Arthur as the flower of bravery, a knight whose name alone conquers, yet he is bound heart and soul to the Queen. When Guinevere urges him to joust and he makes a false pretext of an unhealed wound, the King glances at him, then at her, and goes his way in silence. His private devotion to Guinevere quietly undermines the very Table he defends, and his wroth-at-himself obedience to her will sets the tragedy in motion.

## In the story

### [Idylls of the King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/idylls-of-the-king)

Arthur's greatest knight, whose love for Guinevere leads to betrayal and the fall of the Round Table.

### [The Coming of Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/the-coming-of-arthur)

Arthur's most honored knight, sent to bring Guinevere to court.

### [Gareth and Lynette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/gareth-and-lynette)

Generously lends Gareth his shield and horse, offering advice on chivalry and combat.

### [The Marriage of Geraint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/the-marriage-of-geraint)

Mentioned in the rumor of guilty love with Guinevere, which affects Geraint's trust in Enid.

### [Balin and Balan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/balin-and-balan)

Observed by Balin in a private, ambiguous encounter with Guinevere in the garden.

### [Merlin and Vivien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/merlin-and-vivien)

Mentioned as the object of Vivien's slanderous gossip regarding his relationship with Guinevere.

### [Lancelot and Elaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/lancelot-and-elaine)

Grieves over Elaine's death, feels remorse for his love for Guinevere, and is praised by Arthur.

### [The Holy Grail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/the-holy-grail)

Swears the vow; confesses to Arthur that his sin prevented him from achieving the Grail.

### [Pelleas and Ettarre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/pelleas-and-ettarre)

Fights Pelleas in the dark and later is implicated in the Queen's infidelity.

### [The Last Tournament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/the-last-tournament)

Lancelot presides over the tournament as umpire, sick with guilt and grief over Arthur's words, and silently observes the broken laws.

### [Guinevere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/chapters/guinevere)

Met Guinevere for a final farewell; was discovered by Modred, fought him, and then parted from the Queen.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/characters/lancelot
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/idylls_of_the_king_se/characters