Parzival: Plot Summary
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Chapter 1
The story begins with the story of P's parents. His father, Gahmuret, as
the younger son of the king of Anjou is left without inheritance and travels
into the East to seek his fortune. He serves the Baruc, whom Wolfram imagines
as a sort of pope and emperor of the Heathen World. He frees the black
queen Belakane, Queen of Zazamanc, from her enemies, and marries her. But
he sneaks away in the night (either because he isn't finding enough adventure
in his married life, or because he wishes she were Christian), leaving
her pregnant with Feirefiz, who turns out to be colored both black and
white, like a magpie.
Chapter 2
Gahmuret returns to Europe and fights in a tournament at Kanvoleis in Waleis.
As the winner, he is entitled to marry Herzeloyde. He is reluctant to betray
Belakane, but an arbiter holds that as the winner of the tournament he
must marry Herzeloyde. But he doesn't stay long; hearing that the Baruc
is besieged, he returns to the East, where he is killed near Baghdad. He
has left Herzeloyde pregnant; shortly after learning of his death, she
bears Parzival.
Chapter 3
Herzeloyde withdraws from courtly society and raises Parzival in the woods,
keeping him ignorant of almost everything, but especially of knighthood.
When he accidentally encounters three knights, he is overwhelmed by their
glory, and overcome with desire to be a knight himself. He insists on leaving,
but Herzeloyde dresses him in fool's clothes, hoping that people at court
will laugh at him and drive him away. She also gives him some parting advice,
which he takes very literally, with varying results. As Parzival rides
away, she dies of sorrow.
Parzival soon encounters Jeschute lying in a tent. Remembering his mother's
advice to "win a lady's ring and greeting" whenever he can, Parzival grapples
with her and takes a ring from her, thus disgracing her in the eyes of
her husband Orlius, who thinks she has been unfaithful, and punishes her
severely.
Parzival encounters Sigune, mourning over the dead Schionatulander.
She tells him his name and something of his ancestry.
Finally, Parzival arrives at Arthur's court, just after the Red Knight,
Ither, has visited the court with unacceptable demands. Parzival begs to
be given the Red Knight's armor, and Keie, whose role at court is often
to mock and scorn, persuades Arthur to make this gift. It is a trick, of
course, to provoke a fight between the foolish looking boy and the Red
Knight, but Parzival kills Ither with his hunting spear and takes the red
armor for himself.
Parzival rides on, and soon meets the old knight Gurnemanz, who trains
him, more or less overnight, into a perfect knight.
Chapter 4
Parzival rides into Belrapeire, where, in his first knightly combat, he
frees Condwiramurs from the besieging armies of an unwanted suitor. He
marries her. He soon leaves, to see his mother and to seek adventure. (But,
unlike his father, he will remain faithful to his first wife.)
Chapter 5
At a lake, Parzival encounters the Angler, Anfortas, who urges him to seek
lodging for the night at a nearby castle--Munsalvaesche. There Parzival
witnesses the marvelous rituals of the Grail and the Bloody Lance. The
grail is carried by Repanse de Schoye and magically provides food and drink
for everyone. Anfortas the Angler turns out to be the lord of this castle,
and to be suffering terribly from some unnamed malady. He presents Parzival
with a wonderful sword. We are told that Parzival ought to ask a question,
and he is curious about this strange place. But he remembers Gurnemanz's
advice not to ask unnecessary questions, and so he remains silent. The
next morning, he can find no one in the castle except a page who slams
the drawbridge shut as Parzival leaves.
He again meets Sigune, who tells him some things about the Grail and
the castle, and then curses him when she learns that he was there and did
not ask the Question. He defeats Orlius, and then swears an oath that Jeschute
had not done anything she shouldn't have when he took her ring and brooch.
Orlius and Jeschute are thus reconciled.
Chapter 6
Parzival again arrives at Arthur's court, and is made a member of the Round
Table. But as he sits with the other knights, the hideous Cundrie rides
up and curses him for his failure to ask the question at the Grail castle
(we still aren't told what this question would have been). She also challenges
the other knights to attempt the adventure of the Schastel marveile--the
marvelous castle.
Immediately after she rides away, Kingrimursel appears. He accuses Gawan
of murder and challenges him to judicial combat in Schanpfanzun. Parzival
questions the power and goodness of a God who would bring him such disgrace,
and rides off alone, swearing not to rest until he has found the grail.
Gawan, too, leaves the court, heading for his combat with Kingrimursel.
Chapter 7
From now on, the text will follow alternately Gawan and Parzival on their
separate journeys. For now, we hear of Gawan's adventures. In Bearosche,
King Meljanz has asked for the hand of Lippauts daughter Obie; because
she has refused him, he has attacked her father. Obie's little sister Obilot,
still a child too young for love, wins Gawan as "her knight," and Gawan
is able to bring the conflict to an end (Obie happily marries Meljanz,
after all).
Chapter 8
Gawan arrives in Schanpfazun, where he becomes amorously involved with
Antikonie, the sister of the king. They are caught in an awkward situation,
and defend themselves with a chess board and the chess pieces until Kingrimursel
appears and rescues Gawan, saying that the had promised safe passage to
the dueling place. The duel is postponed.
Chapter 9
Now we return to Parzival, who has been seeking the grail for four and
a half years, and continues to be angry with God. It is Good Friday when
he meets the Gray Knight and his daughters, who convince him to seek out
the hermit, Trevrizent. With the hermit, Parzival recognizes his sinful
state; specifically, he learns that he is guilty of killing a relative
in Ither, and that his mother died as he rode away. He learns much about
God, sin, the Devil, and the Grail--and about his own role in the Grail
story. He leaves Trevrizent a changed man.
Chapter 10
The narrative returns to Gawan, who has been cleared (off-stage, so to
speak) of the murder charge and the need to face Kingrimursel in combat.
Near Schastel marveile, he meets the beautiful Orgeluse, and immediately
offers her his services. She responds with insults and scorn.
Chapter 11
Gawan survives (barely) the adventure of Schastel marveile, especially
the marvelous Bed. This breaks the spell of the castle, and frees a variety
of women prisoners, including Arnive, who heals his wounds (she will later
turn out to be Arthur's mother, Gawan's grandmother).
Chapter 12
In a magical column which shows everything that is happening for miles
around, Gawan sees Orgeluse, and rides after her. She demands that he break
a twig off a certain tree, thereby challenging Gramoflanz to combat. When
he has done this, she bursts into tears, promises Gawan her love, and explains
that Gramoflanz killed her first husband. She and Gawan return to Schastel
marveile.
Chapter 13
The union of Gawan and Orgeluse is first celebrated and then consummated.
Gawan learns the secret of Schastel marveile--it had been placed under
a spell by the castrated magician, Klinschor, so that there could be no
love there. Gawan sends for Arthur to come with all his court; Gramoflanz
is also on the way, as is Orgeluse's army. Thus the castle will be reintroduced
to courtly society.
Chapter 14
Gawan encounters an unknown knight, and thinks it is Gramoflanz. The two
fight a terrible battle, and Gawan is on the verge of defeat when some
of Arthur's pages happen by. When they call out his name, Parzival throws
away his sword and announces who he is. They return to Arthur's camp, where
Parzival is welcomed back into the society of the Round Table. On the next
day, Parzival slips out very early and fights with Gramoflanz; again Parzival
is on the verge of victory when the fight is interrupted. Arthur manages
to resolve all the conflicts peacefully. Gawan marries Orgeluse, his sister
Itonje marries Gramoflanz, and Parzival slips away alone.
Chapter 15
Again, Parzival fights with an unknown knight, and this time he is in danger
of losing. His sword breaks, and his opponent calls a halt to the fight.
After a brief conversation, it becomes clear that this is Parzival's half-brother,
Feirefiz, who has come to Europe in search of his father. Parzival leads
him to Arthur's court. There Cundrie again appears, and announces that
Parzival has been called to become Grail King.
Chapter 16
Taking Feirefiz as a companion, Parzival goes to the Grail Castle, and
asks the question which frees Anfortas of his suffering. Condwiramurs joins
Parzival, bringing their twin sons Kardeiz and Loherangrin, born soon after
Parzival left. Feirefiz falls in love with Repanse de Schoye, and becomes
a Christian so that he can marry her. With a glance at the future deeds
of their son Prester John and Parzival's son Loherangrin, the narrative
ends.
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