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Lanval

Arthurian Legend
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A knight loved by a fairy mistress, unjustly accused by Guinevere in Marie de France's lai; in poetry, he represents secret love, the supernatural beloved, and the injustice of slander against loyalty.

Detailed Definition
Lanval’s loyalty to his otherworldly lover saves him from false charges. In poetry, he represents the marginalized knight whose true worth is recognized only beyond mortal courts, highlighting themes of injustice and magical rescue.
Example
Example in poetry:
Lanval, in Marie de France’s lai, is loved by a fairy mistress who saves him from Guinevere’s false accusation; Poets use Lanval to explore otherworldly love and courtly injustice; His silence about his lover tests loyalty and secrecy; In modern verse, Lanval’s poverty contrasts with fairy wealth as critique of class; His trial becomes metaphor for truth versus power; Lanval’s departure to Avalon with his lady inspires dreamlike closures.
Additional Notes
Lanval is the protagonist of Marie de France’s lai, a knight loved by a fairy mistress who rescues him from Guinevere’s false accusation—his story critiques courtly justice and celebrates otherworldly love, offering poets a model of marginalized heroism and queer-coded desire.
Also Known As
Sir Lanval Lancelot (in some continental conflations though distinct)
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