Who Is Elaine Of Ascolat

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Elaine of Ascolat Elaine is the “Fayre Maydyn of Ascolate.” She falls deeply in love with Sir. Lancelot du Lake, but when he does not return her love, she dies of heartbreak. One noticeable thing about this tale is how different it is from others. What point is Malory trying to make? Is he showing how Lancelot’s actions can affect others, is he adding some realism to his fantasy world, or is he showing Lancelot’s true affection for the Queen? When Lancelot rides to Ascolat, Elaine greets him by saying “have mercy upon me, and me nat to dye for your love” (614). She then asks Lancelot to become her husband or lover. “Sir, I would have you as my husband” (614). He rejects her, claiming he would never become a married man. She responds with “Than, …show more content…

Elaine is desperate for Lancelot's love, and she holds him in such high regard, yet he never gives her a chance, and that ultimately led to her death. “Alas than!” she said, “I must dye for youre love” (614). Lancelot, to his credit, trys to give her other options than death, such as marrying another good knight, paying her a thousand pounds yearly, not only for her but for her new love too. Elaine of Ascolat will have none of this, she is determined to die for her love. Days later Elaine, now suffering from heartbreak, calls her father, Sir Bernarde, and her brother, Sir Tirry. She then asks her father to write her letter to Lancelot. Her father granted her that wish and wrote the letter: “Moste noble knyght, my lorde Sir Launcelot, now hath dethe made us two at …show more content…

She wants Lancelot to read the letter, as a last testimony of her love. As her raft drifts down the Thames, it stirs up much attention from onlookers and eventually the king and queen. As Arthur and Guinevere look to the mysterious raft, they send out three knights to investigate. When the knights reach, they discover the most beautiful corpse of the Maiden Elaine. The raft steerer refuses to say a word to the three men. “And there they founde the fayryst corse lyyng in a ryche bed that ever he saw, and a poore man syttynge in the bargettis ende, and no worde wolde [he] speke” (616). The king and Queen came to observe Elaine of Ascolat when they saw the letter. Once the king, queen, and their knights were in their chamber, the king read the letter. Lancelot was then informed of her death and shown her letter. He denied having caused her death, even though she loved him “out of measure” (617). This passage in ‘Le morte D'arthur’ is different from the rest of the chapter. The book slowed down at this point and took a serious turn. Why did Malory feel the need to include this? Maybe to show a type of realism in his fantasy world, to show that not everything works out, that unfortunate things

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