Editing Galahad (section)

===Tennyson===
[[File:Sir Galahad Victoria College Jersey.jpg|thumb|upright|[[World War I]] memorial at [[Victoria College, Jersey]], featuring statue of Galahad by [[Alfred Turner (sculptor)|Alfred Turner]] with quotation from [[Tennyson]] and list of fallen [[Victoria College, Jersey#Notable_alumni|Old Victorians]]. The figure of Galahad was frequently used in [[British military]] propaganda during both world wars<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv136bvg0|jstor = j.ctv136bvg0|title = A New Companion to Malory|year = 2019|publisher = Boydell & Brewer| doi=10.2307/j.ctv136bvg0 |isbn = 9781843845232| s2cid=166203958 }}</ref>]]

In Thomas Malory's ''Le Morte d'Arthur'', Galahad's incredible prowess and fortune in the quest for the Holy Grail are traced back to his piety. According to the legend, only pure knights may achieve the Grail. While in a specific sense, this "purity" refers to chastity, Galahad appears to have lived a generally sinless life and as a result, he lives and thinks on a level entirely apart from the other knights around him. This quality is reflected in [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]]'s poem                   [[Sir Galahad (poem)|"Sir Galahad"]]:

{{Poem quote|
My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.<ref name=Tennysonpp181-2>Tennyson, Alfred Lord: Wordsworth Poetry Library, 1994. ''The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson''. Wordsworth Editions Limited. ''Sir Galahad'', published 1834. pp. 181–182. Beginning of the first stanza. [http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/Galahad.htm Camelot Project]</ref>}}

Galahad is able to conquer all of his enemies because he is pure. In the next verse of this poem, Tennyson continues to glorify Galahad for remaining pure at heart, by putting these words into his mouth:

{{Poem quote|
I never felt the kiss of love,
Nor maiden's hand in mine.<ref name=Tennysonpp181-2/>}}

Galahad pursues a single-minded and lonely course, sacrificing much in his determination to aspire to a higher ideal:

{{Poem quote|
Then move the trees, the copses nod,
Wings flutter, voices hover clear
“O just and faithful knight of God!
Ride on! the prize is near.”<ref name=Tennysonpp181-2/>}}

Tennyson's poem follows Galahad's journey to find the Holy Grail but ends while he is still riding, still seeking, still dreaming; as if to say that the quest for the Holy Grail is an ongoing task. Unlike many other portrayals of the legend of Sir Galahad, Tennyson has Sir Galahad speak in the first person, giving the reader his thoughts and feelings as he rides on his quest, rather than just the details of his battles, as in Malory.