Base your study of meter on several passages (for example, ll. 100-150, 520-550, 1350-1394).
Compare the language used by Bellicent and Gareth in their dialogue (ll. 34-168), with descriptive passages (like 184-193, 209-226, 376-427, 650-685, and 883-900).
What differences do you note in the poet's choice of words?
Find passages that present a vivid picture, a vigorous action, simple narrative, true sentiment.
Lancelot and Elaine
Setting.—Where did the King keep court at the time of this story?
Where did Elaine live?
Where was the tournament held? What do we know of the relative positions of these places?
At what season of the year do the events of the story take place? How does the season fit the story? Do the places seem real?
Plot.—How is the story introduced? Compare with the introduction of the previous Idyll.