Perceval

Perceval

In the story Perceval edited by Roger Sherman Loomis and Laura Hibbard Loomis, Perceval the main character has many adventures, in which he learns many lessons about life.

The story starts out with Perceval, the son of a widow, out in the forest listening to the sweet season and all the warbling of the birds. In the distance he discovers knights riding towards him. At first he thought that they were devils, which his mother had warned him to stay away from. Then he saw all their bright and shiny armor and he thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, so according to his mother, angels were more beautiful than everything else in the world. Basically, everything his mother told him he believed, because he was very naive and didn't know any better.

When the knights reached Perceval he through himself in front of them and began to worship them. Of course, the knights thought Perceval was crazy. They told him that they were not angels, but they were knights. During the whole conversation Perceval didn't answer any of the knights questions, he was too interested in finding out all he could about becoming a knight. The knights told him that if he wanted to become a knight then he would have to go to King Arthur.

When the youth returned home that same evening, he told his mother that he wanted to go to the king that made men knights. His mother was in dismay after she heard this. She began to tell him of his family who all were knights and how they had all been killed. She didn't want him to go because she feared for his life. Perceval was very stubborn didn't want to listen and he went even though it hurt his mother so.

Before he left his mother gave him clothes and some words of advise about ladies and lords. She also told him of church and told him to always go and worship the Lord. Perceval agreed. On the morning that he left his mother chased after him and fell down at the end of the bridge, but he didn't turn around he just kept going.

Perceval rode the whole day and slept in the forest that night. The next morning he woke up and began to ride until he came across and tent with splendid colors, which caught his attention. Inside the tent he found a maiden who was unattended at that time. He remembered what his mother had told about ladies, to always receive a kiss and a ring. Perceval misunderstood this to mean that he was supposed to take it whether or not the maiden wanted to give it to him or not. This particular maiden was very upset after he forced himself onto her and took her ring.

When her lover returned Perceval was gone, and the maiden was sitting alone crying. She told him the story of Perceval and he was very upset. Her lover told her that she had disgraced him and until he had killed Perceval her horse would have nothing to eat and she would not have any more luxuries.

Meanwhile, Perceval rode on down the road to King Arthur's castle. Outside there was a knight bearing red arms who had took King Arthur's golden cup. Perceval went into the castle and demanded that he be made into a knight, and he also told the King that he wanted the red arms that the knight outside the gate bore. So the king told him if he could take them from him he could have them. Perceval went out and took the knights arms and killed him.

On Perceval next stop he met a lord that taught him how to use his lance and how to use his armor. The lord also