# Pelleas — Idylls of the King character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Pelleas, This Pelleas

**First appearance:** 0010-pelleas-and-ettarre

## Snapshot

A raw island knight who rides out of the waste to win a queen's circlet and a scornful lady's love, believing every smile.

## Who they are

Pelleas arrives at Caerleon from the barren isles, having known only his sisters and rough fisher-wives, and is knighted just in time for the tournament whose prize is a golden circlet. He falls instantly for Ettarre, a great lady who flatters him into fighting for her while her knights and damsels laugh behind his back. His chaste awe and stammering sincerity make him the story's measure of innocence—and a target for the court's casual cruelty.

## Relationships

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

_psychological_

Guinevere cruelly toys with the naive Pelleas's affections, leading to his disillusionment and bitterness.

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

_psychological_

Guinevere cruelly toys with the naive Pelleas's affections, leading to his disillusionment and bitterness.

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

_psychological_

Guinevere cruelly toys with the naive Pelleas's affections, leading to his disillusionment and bitterness.

## In the story

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

Newly knighted by Arthur, falls in love with Ettarre, is betrayed by Gawain, and becomes disillusioned with the Round Table.

## Links

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