Estoire de Saint Graal
“Nothing is hidden that is not known, and nothing is covered that is not uncovered”
As the last text written for the Vulgate Cycle, the Estoire provides a preface to the entire Grail Quest. Inspired by Robert de Boron's preface to the Grail Quest, the Estoire ambitiously attempts to unite sacred and secular history together through the object of the Grail. This text not only establishes a direct link between the Grail and Christ, but also forges a genealogy that creates direct ties between British chivalry and Holy Land Christianity. Here not only is the grail considered “the foundation of all stories” (4), the text itself is considered sacred, the “chronicle of chronicles” (74), due to its divine authorship: “You will never find a clerk bold enough to say that [Jesus] ever wrote anything after the Resurrection other than the high writing of the Holy Grail.” Nonetheless, although the book reveals much:“[A]ll the adventures of the Grail will not be known by any mortal man. Many must be left in silence.”
Themes/Motifs:
Formal Features:
List of Characters
Narrator - Anonymous "scriptor" of the book; receives the book from a Great Master
Great Master - The figure who gives the narrator the book and announces news of the Trinity
Joseph of Arimathea - His wife is called Elyab and his sons are Josephus and Galahad (who is conceived after an order from God). From Galahad there issued a "holy lineage."
Josephus - Son of Joseph of Arimathea; predicted to be a priest by a disembodied voice speaking to his father
Titus - Roman emperor
Vespasian - son of Titus and and future historical roman emperor; cured of his leprosy by an image of Christ; converts and liberates Joseph of Arimathea; click here for more on the historical Vespasian
Evalach the Unknown (Mordrain) - Lord of Sarras; descends from unknown country; Converted to Christianity due to Josephus' preaching; given a shield with a red cross possessing magical powers; changes name to Mordrain; carried away to a rock in the middle of the ocean by the Spirit of our Lord after a strange dream; learns about an old pirate named Foucaire; visited by man in silver ship and lady in black ship; leaves on silver ship; reunites eventually with Nascien and his ship; repairs broken sword
Seraphe (Nascien) - Brother-in-law and ally to Evalach; converts and changes name; loses his sight for looking into the ark but this is regained; changes the ark into the grail because it is "agreeable" to him; thrown in prison (along with his son) when Mordrain disappears; after 17 days carried away by a cloud; Nascien presented with but fails the test of the Tree of Life; travels in magical ship; reunites with son (Celidoine); wounded by flaming sword after not leaving boat quickly enough; healed by white-robed man; splits away, seeking Joseph, departs for Britain; has a dream about future descendants (Galahad and Lancelot), about whom he hears a prophecy
Sarrasinte - Wife of Evalach; secretly been a Christian for a while
Celidoine - Son of Nascien; also held in prison by Galafre; carried to distant island and converts King Label; when King dies, Celidoine is put on a boat with a lion; finds Nascien's boat and reunites with him
Flegetine - Wife of Nascien; receives a vision to go find Nascien
Tholomer - Egyptian Enemy to Evalach
White Knight - Unknown knight who shows up to rescue Evalach in battle with Tholomer
Galafre - traitorous man who imprisons Nascien after the disappearance of Mordrain; marked by a cloud and then his tower is struck by lightning, an event that kills him
King Label - king converts to Christianity, but soon dies; his family all killed soon (except daughter)
Plot Questions about the Estoire
What happened to King Mordrain after bringing the shield to the abbey where Nascien is buried at?
Why was Nascien blinded only to be healed?
Why is earth seen as a source of filth?
Nascien is said to have every bad thing happen to him and no joy since his conversion, why was it important that he was recently converted? Why not test the faith of someone born within the religion?
Nascien is punished the moment he questions his faith, what is the importance of the church having no tolerance odor questions?
Why must everything be described as the richest and the finest?
As a student who didn't grow up religiously, I'm confused about some of the terms or sayings. What does it mean to "sing hours"? Do they actually sing, or...?
On page 81, the narrator points out that Abel is born on a Friday and dies on a Friday. Why or how is that important?
Interpretive Questions about the Estoire
Why were women so harshly refered to, but still necessary in the success of certain adventures/tasks?
Why are women so downgraded and given less value within these text? On page 79 of The History of the Grail, poor, weak, sinner are all words used to describe women. Men are given more importance it seems like and this is consistent throughout other texts as well.
Why is genealogy and lineage of such great importance? Could a knight be made holy and great on his own or did he have to be biologically endowed with holiness?
Did people truly believe it was a work written by Jesus and faithfully believe in the stories, or were there doubters at the time it was written (just as there are now)?
Why is everyone who doubts, questions and refuses Christianity severely punished?
What is the meaning behind having visions?
On page 120 of “The History of the Holy Grail,” those who are not specifically without the sin of lustfulness are unable to cross the Sea on Josephus’ under-tunic. There were one hundred fifty in this group, and most were Josephus’ relatives. Two questions result from these circumstances:
1.) Why is the sin of lustfulness more condemnable than other sins, including the sins of warring with and killing other people; and
2.) Why are Josephus’ relatives inherently more pure than others who may be of polytheistic, Pagan heritage? Why is Christ depicted as being a source of "dread" and "fear" (24)? The story refers to him using romantic language, and also uses motifs of Christ as a powerful warrior figure.
Why was Joseph of Arimathea (and his son Josephus) given such importance? It seems out of place for a rich man who was not one of the apostles to be written into the narrative of the Holy Grail in such an essential way. I suppose not a lot was written about him, so it was easy to come up with a story that wouldn't be contradicted elsewhere, but the idea of a rich man being the first knight and such an important servant of Christ seems contradictory to Jesus's teachings in favor of the poor.
How widespread and influential was this text when it was written? Was it treated with the same authority as scripture? Was it acknowledged to be written recently, or was there some concept of the text being a rediscovered work? |
In The Tree of Life on page 79, it says Eve, the first sinner, carries the little branch because she is a woman but it also mentions she is a virgin. This is different from other interpretations of the Garden of Eden. My question is why did the author(s) choose to make this change and why is it important if Eve is a virgin?