Gornemant
Encyclopedia
Gornemant was Percival
's mentor in Arthurian
legend. He is mentioned in a few early romances, but achieves prominence in Chrétien de Troyes
' Perceval, the Story of the Grail
, where he instructs the young hero in the ways of knighthood. Percival is a quick learner when it comes to combat, but he does not know how to behave like a knight, so Gornemant tells him not to ask so many of his naive questions, hoping to make the boy look like less of a Welsh
hick
. This has grave implications later when Percival takes the advice too much to heart and refrains from asking the Fisher King
about the Grail.
Gornemant's niece is Blanchefleur
, who Percival later marries after successfully defending her city against attackers.
This character became famous as Gurnemanz in Richard Wagner
's opera Parsifal
, in which he is one of the main Grail Knights.
Percival
Percival or Perceval is one of King Arthur's legendary Knights of the Round Table. In Welsh literature his story is allotted to the historical Peredur...
's mentor in Arthurian
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
legend. He is mentioned in a few early romances, but achieves prominence in Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and trouvère who flourished in the late 12th century. Perhaps he named himself Christian of Troyes in contrast to the illustrious Rashi, also of Troyes...
' Perceval, the Story of the Grail
Perceval, the Story of the Grail
Perceval, the Story of the Grail is the unfinished fifth romance of Chrétien de Troyes. Probably written between 1181 and 1191, it is dedicated to Chrétien's patron Philip, Count of Flanders...
, where he instructs the young hero in the ways of knighthood. Percival is a quick learner when it comes to combat, but he does not know how to behave like a knight, so Gornemant tells him not to ask so many of his naive questions, hoping to make the boy look like less of a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
hick
Hick
-Surname:*Benjamin Hick, , a mechanical engineer*Graeme Hick, , an English cricketer*John Hick, , a philosopher of religion and theologian*Pentland Hick , a British entrepreneur, author, and publisher*W. E...
. This has grave implications later when Percival takes the advice too much to heart and refrains from asking the Fisher King
Fisher King
The Fisher King, or the Wounded King, figures in Arthurian legend as the latest in a line charged with keeping the Holy Grail. Versions of his story vary widely, but he is always wounded in the legs or groin, and incapable of moving on his own...
about the Grail.
Gornemant's niece is Blanchefleur
Blanchefleur
Blanchefleur may refer to:*Blanchefleur, the female heroine of the medieval tale of Floris and Blanchefleur*Blanchefleur, the beloved one of Perceval in Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, le Conte du Graal...
, who Percival later marries after successfully defending her city against attackers.
This character became famous as Gurnemanz in Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's opera Parsifal
Parsifal
Parsifal is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, the 13th century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail, and on Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail.Wagner first conceived the work...
, in which he is one of the main Grail Knights.