“The Grave of King Arthur”
(1777) is a medievalist poem by the English literary historian, critic, and future poet laureate, Thomas Warton (1728-90). First published as “Ode X: The Grave of King Arthur” in
Poems: A New Edition(1777), the poem relates a fictional feast inspiring events leading to Henry II’s discovery and reclamation of the grave of King Arthur. The poem falls into four basic parts: an opening description of a “stately” feast (l. 1), the songs of two rival bards, and an account of Henry’s ambition to seek the grave. It is written in tetrameter in 182 lines.
The poem opens during a feast at which Henry and his men are preparing for an expedition into Ireland to suppress the rebellion raised by Roderick, King of Connaught. This places the action in 1171, and
1405 words
Citation: Blaney, Amy Louise. "The Grave of King Arthur". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 24 January 2019 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38918, accessed 18 April 2024.]
