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Book 3, Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Once and Future King, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Chivalry, Satire & Medieval Life
Fate (Time)
Quest and The Holy Grail
Might vs. Right
War
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Lancelot and Elaine are summoned to Guenever's chamber. Lancelot is content; the night before he had been summoned to Guenever's chamber in the darkness and they had made up in silence. When the two enter the Queen's chamber, she is stiff and drained of color. She asks Lancelot quietly, "Where did you go last night?" Lancelot is confused; Guenever's stiffness breaks and she screams at Lancelot to leave her castle immediately.
History has repeated itself—once more Elaine has seduced Lancelot and tricked Guenever. Elaine is a complex character and White describes her in such a manner that the reader simultaneously emphasizes with her plight, respects her, but also deeply condemns her.
Themes
Elaine speaks calmly: "Lancelot was in my room last night…He thought he was coming to you." The Queen does not believe the same lie again, she screams at Lancelot and Elaine. Finally, Lancelot (who has been sitting in a ball on the floor, speaking "Guenever" and "Arthur") gives a loud shriek, hurls himself through the window (the room is on the first floor) and runs off through the grounds.
