Heroism as Portrayed by Malory's Knights
             In order spur interest in a story, one must accentuate the protagonist to make his prowess seem to surpass all others. Malory exemplifies this in all his stories comprising Le Morte d'Arthur. In both "The Tale of Sir Gareth" and "The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake", Malory uses knightly heroism to exaggerate Sir Gareth and Sir Launcelot in their respective stories.
             In "The Tale of Sir Launcelot Du Lac", Malory sets Sir Launcelot as the undisputed champion among all the knights. Sir Launcelot displayed loyalty to Queen Gwynevere as he rejected the four queens and showed chivalry through his commitment towards the daughter of King Bagdemagus. His incredible defeat of over twenty knights in one day adds to his heroic state of prowess and bravery. Then his battle Sir Tarquire serves to be consummation of all of Sir Launcelot's quests and places him on the hero platform. The foreboding signs of shields of his prisoners and the rumors of various rumors from he passes mark Sir Tarquire as Sir Launcelot's final and greatest foe. This climactic battle is characteristic of most of Malory's tales. It lasts the longest, it causes much blood shed, it presents the knight with the most difficult task, and it results in hand to hand combat which usually ends in the death of the primary enemy knight. Malory uses this climactic battle to mount the final hyperbole, which sets Sir Launcelot as the great hero of the story.
             Then in "The Tale of Sir Gareth", Malory makes Sir Gareth seem equally as heroic and deft as Sir Launcelot. Sir Gareth's corresponding chivalry towards Lady Lynet, loyalty to King Arthur, and bravery prove him to be on the same level as Sir Launcelot. In his duel with Sir Launcelot, Sir Launcelot is caught asking for mercy for fear that this boy might surpass him. On his quest, Sir Gareth exhibits the same basic h...