Tennyson's Idylls of the King Author:Alfred Tennyson Tennyson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: NOTES GARETH AND LYNETTE . Lot. King of Orkney; one of those who betrayed Arthur and fought against him in the barons' war (cf. The Coming of Arthur, 115).... more » A crafty and cold-hearted man. I. Bellicent. Daughter of Gorlois and Ygerne (cf. The Coming of Arthur, 189 ff. and 358 ft.), according to the old legends a reputed half-sister of Arthur (which would make Gawain, Modred, and Gareth his nephews); but Tennyson says no relation (The Passing of Arthur, 155; Guinevere, 570). 21-25. Here is the key-note of the poem : the noble quality of Gareth's ambition. 25. Gawain. Eldest brother of Gareth, surnamed " the Courteous," for his fine manners. He takes half after his father, half after his mother; being brave and polite, but not trustworthy. 26. Modred. Second son of Lot and Bellicent: a mean traitor. He takes wholly after his father. 40. Goose and golden eggs. An old nursery tale (cf. Tennyson's poem, The Goose). 66. Excalibur. Arthur's sword, wrought by magic in the Lake, (cf. The Coming of Arthur, 294); symbol of sacred authority. 119. Alludes to the doubts in regard to Arthur's birth and right to the throne (cf. The Coming of Arthur, 140-236). 133. Arthur's war with the Roman emperor ( The Coming of Arthur, 476, 503 ff.). 135. Arthur's war with the Saxon invaders of Britain ( The Coming of Arthur, 35-120). 185. Camelot. Arthur's capital, according to Tennyson, probably the site of Queen-Camel in Somerset; but some identify it with Winchester. 186-193. This passage is intended to show the mystical and dreamlike nature of the story. 199. To Northward. The Orkney Islands lie north of Scotland. 209-226. The gateway is symbolical. The statue of the Lady of the Lake symbolizes Religion : her dress ripples away like water, to show that the forms...« less