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The Bleeding Lance

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 sacred relic in Grail processions—a lance that bleeds perpetually—symbolizing Christ’s wound and the Fisher King’s suffering.

Detailed Definition
The Lance appears in visions before Percival and Galahad. In poetry, it embodies sacred suffering and the mystery of redemption, its blood a sign of divine presence awaiting the pure of heart to comprehend.
Example
Example in poetry:
The Bleeding Lance appears in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s "Parzival" as a sacred relic dripping blood in the Grail Castle; In "Perlesvaus," the Bleeding Lance is carried in solemn procession before the Grail; A poetic image: “The Bleeding Lance wept crimson tears for a wounded king”; The lance symbolizes Christ’s Passion and the Fisher King’s suffering; Victorian poets used the Bleeding Lance to evoke mystery and divine sorrow; Modern verse treats the Bleeding Lance as a metaphor for unresolved trauma in the land.
Additional Notes
The Bleeding Lance is a key Grail Hall symbol, dripping blood into a vessel; it represents Christ’s wound and the Fisher King’s suffering—poets invoke it to explore sacred mystery, silent witness, and the paradox of violence as source of healing and revelation.
Also Known As
Lance of Longinus Spear of the Grail Holy Lance
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