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Maleagant

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

In Arthurian legend, Maleagant is the villain who abducts Queen Guinevere, only to be defeated and killed by Lancelot in rescue.

Detailed Definition
Maleagant’s villainy provokes Lancelot’s first great rescue. In poetry, he embodies the archetypal threat to queenly honor, his defeat establishing Lancelot’s supremacy and the fragility of courtly peace.
Example
Example in poetry:
Maleagant abducts Guinevere in early Lancelot tales; Poets depict him as dark foil to Lancelot’s rescue; His name evokes malice (“male”) in allegorical readings; In modern verse, Maleagant’s motives explore political rivalry beyond lust; His death at Lancelot’s hands begins the queen’s public shame; Maleagant’s castle becomes symbol of violated sanctuary.
Additional Notes
Maleagant (or Meleagant) is the abductor of Guinevere in early versions of the Lancelot story; his role as antagonist highlights Lancelot’s rescuer identity—poets use him to examine captivity narratives, villainy, and the construction of heroic opposition.
Also Known As
Meleagant Meliagaunt Meliagaunce
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