Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: Which Knight never actually joined the Round Table?

Sir Lucan
Sir Dwalin
Sir Lionel
Sir Balin

The correct answer is Sir Balin

So why is this answer correct? : Sir Balin was one of King Arthur’s Knights, who went on a long and mysterious quest on the behest of a mysterious damsel who gifted him a cursed sword. Although Sir Balin had all of the qualities of a Knight of the Round Table, he unfortunately died before the Table was ever created. According to Merlin, if Balin had survived, he would have been one of King Arthur’s best Knights.

Trivia: Which Knight was known for confronting the Green Knight?

Sir Kay
Sir Galahad
Sir Lancelot
Sir Gawain

The correct answer is Sir Gawain

So why is this answer correct? : Sir Gawain is best known for being the subject of the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight, where he undertakes a quest from a mysterious, magical knight to protect King Arthur. The quest takes a full year to complete and becomes a lesson in romantic chivalry, as many Arthurian quests were. Gawain was also known for being courteous and kind towards those unable to protect themselves, a mark of a chivalrous character in medieval times.

Trivia: Which Arthurian character is featured in “Dante’s Inferno”?

Merlin
Mordred
Uther Pendragon
Sir Lancelot

The correct answer is Mordred

So why is this answer correct? : In “Dante’s Inferno,” Dante accompanies Virgil to the ninth circle of Hell, which is reserved for traitors. In the text, he personally witnesses Mordred frozen to his neck in ice for acts of treachery against members of their own families. In some legends, Mordred is King Arthur’s son, while in others, he is depicted as Arthur’s nephew. In either case, his continual attempts to take the throne from Arthur, the rightful king of Camelot, was enough to make author Dante Alighieri think of him as a traitor, and condemn him to the final circle of Hell in writing.

Trivia: Who quested for the Holy Grail before being replaced by Sir Galahad?

Sir Lamorak
Sir Tristan
Sir Palamedes
Sir Perceval

The correct answer is Sir Perceval

So why is this answer correct? : While Sir Galahad is now immortalized as the Knight who succeeds in pursuit of the Holy Grail, he actually replaced another Knight with the same purpose: Sir Perceval. Similar to Sir Galahad, Sir Perceval was known for being an innocent man, valued for not falling victim to the same temptations as the other Knights. Perceval’s original quest for the Holy Grail culminated in him learning the true meaning of chivalry. However, while Perceval was still allowed to play a part in later iterations of the legend, he was slowly phased out when Sir Galahad entered the canon.

Trivia: What is one prospective origin for Arthurian myth?

The writings of a Welsh monk
A real-life French king
A set of legends about the Knights
The writings of C.S. Lewis

The correct answer is The writings of a Welsh monk

So why is this answer correct? : While some people still believe that King Arthur was a real person, most historians are not actually sure. The first mentions of King Arthur appear in the writings of Nennius, a Welsh monk and historian in the 9th century. Nennius attributed twelve battles to a mythical King Arthur, which he drew from ancient Welsh poetry. Eventually, other Welsh and Celtic writers continued adding to the tale, leading to King Arthur becoming local legend.

Trivia: Where does legend say King Arthur lies while Britain waits for his return?

Rivendell
The Isle of Avalon
Camelot
Narnia

The correct answer is The Isle of Avalon

So why is this answer correct? : There are many differing legends about where King Arthur went after he was mortally wounded during his last battle. One legend, popularized by Geoffrey of Monmouth, says that Arthur left for the Isle of Avalon to be cured. Throughout Geoffrey’s work, he heavily implies that King Arthur will return at some point. This is what possibly led to the enduring legend that King Arthur will return at some point in the future.

Trivia: Why did King Arthur and the Knights want to obtain the Holy Grail?

To obtain knowledge
To obtain healing powers
To time travel
To defeat Morgan Le Fay

The correct answer is To obtain healing powers

So why is this answer correct? : The Holy Grail is important in Christian legends for many different reasons, the most important being that it was used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. It is also a notable part of Arthurian legend. There are many different stories that surround King Arthur and his men’s most famous quest; however, the most common one describes the Holy Grail as able to cure all illness, bestow eternal youth, and provide a life free of strife and worry.

Trivia: King Arthur was part of a group of notably chivalrous men known as what?

The Circle of Five
The Nine Worthies
The Twelve Angry Men
The Nine Old Men

The correct answer is The Nine Worthies

So why is this answer correct? : King Arthur was often referred to as part of a group that medieval scholars believed embodied the ideal virtues of men in chivalry, service towards God, and service towards country: the Nine Worthies. The Nine Worthies were composed of three Christian men, three Jewish men, and three pagan men. Among the three Christian Worthies, King Arthur was believed to represent the ideal Christian king, valuing religion, honor, and justice above all. Other notable names from the Nine Worthies include Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and King David.

Trivia: Which Knight was the son of another Knight of the Round Table?

Sir Gawain
Sir Gaheris
Sir Galahad
Sir Gareth

The correct answer is Sir Galahad

So why is this answer correct? : Sir Galahad was the illegitimate son of Sir Lancelot from an affair with Lady Elaine. Although Sir Lancelot had a bit of a reputation as a ladies’ man, Sir Galahad was notable for being pure of heart, virginial, and virtuous. These qualities later aided Sir Galahad as the Knight chosen to quest after the Holy Grail, a religious artifact that was often the aim of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Trivia: What was the significance of the Round Table?

Equality between members
Easier to draw plans on
An ancient symbol of chivalry
Represented the shape of Camelot

The correct answer is Equality between members

So why is this answer correct? : A traditional rectangular table is shaped so that important figures sit at the widths, or the “heads,” of the table. For that reason, King Arthur specifically commissioned a round table for his knights. The Round Table symbolized that no man was above any other, and allowed every Knight to have an equal voice in discussion.