Percivale's From The Forest To The Round Table

From the Forest to the Round Table
“Who in time became one of the noblest of all the Knights of the Round Table...Some call him simply ‘The Fair Unknown’ ” (228). In King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table edited by Roger Lancelyn Green, Percivale is said to be the son of Sir Gawain and Lady Ragnell. According to the tales he grew up isolated from the outside world in the forest of Wales with his mother. Percivale’s story , like the majority of all heros’, can be broken down into a single cycle or journey referred to as the Hero's cycle/journey. In the tales of King Arthur and his knights, Percivale sets out on the Hero's Journey as he is called to adventure and receives assistance, experiences trials and crises, and finds treasure and a new life at the end of his journey.
Percivale accepts the opportunity of adventure each time it presents itself. As shown when knights enter the forest where he lives and tell him that King Arthur will make him “a knight if you prove yourself, but worthy” (231). Following this encounter Percivale is ready to become a knight and is willing to do anything to make this happen. The knights, in telling him about themselves and knightship, call him to adventure, but Percivale is also called to adventure when King Arthur tells him what quest he must complete to become a knight. King Arthur says “A knight shall be you...if you bring back my cup and return wearing the armor of the knight who has taken it” (236). In this example King Arthur presents an opportunity to Percivale and Percivale accepts the journey. Percivale is once more called to adventure when “suddenly he saw a dark castle in front of him” (240) and chose to enter. The castle appearing gave Percivale yet another quest. Percivale responds to all calls of adventure, the first step in the Hero's