The Vision of Sir Launfal : And Other Poems by James Russell Lowell; With a Biographical Sketch and Notes, a Portrait and Other Illustrations

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Vision of Sir Launfal" by James Russell Lowell is a poem written in the mid-19th century. It draws upon Arthurian legend to convey moral and social themes, focusing on the titular character, Sir Launfal, as he embarks on a quest for the Holy Grail. The poem explores topics such as charity, humanity, and the essence of true nobility, wherein the protagonist learns that true giving transcends material wealth. The opening of this work introduces us to Sir Launfal, a young knight eager to embark on his quest for the Holy Grail, a symbol of divine grace. As Launfal prepares for his journey, he encounters a leper who begs for alms, and upon recoiling in disgust, he gives a piece of gold but fails to recognize the human beneath the man's suffering. The stark contrast between Launfal's noble aspirations and his initial disdain for poverty sets the foundation for a life-altering revelation as the story unfolds. This initial encounter emphasizes the poem's central message that true honor lies in compassionate action toward those in need, setting the stage for Launfal's transformative quest. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by David Starner, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 70.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2005-11-20