101 pages • 3-hour read
Marion Zimmer BradleyA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summaries & Analyses
Plot Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 3
Part 1, Chapters 4-6
Part 1, Chapters 7-10
Part 1, Chapters 11-13
Part 1, Chapters 14-16
Part 1, Chapters 17-20
Part 2, Chapters 1-3
Part 2, Chapters 4-6
Part 2, Chapters 7-11
Part 2, Chapters 12-14
Part 2, Chapters 15-17
Part 3, Chapters 1-3
Part 3, Chapters 4-6
Part 3, Chapters 7-10
Part 3, Chapters 11-13
Part 4, Chapters 1-3
Part 4, Chapters 4-6
Part 4, Chapters 7-10
Part 4, Chapters 11-13
Part 4, Chapter 14-Epilogue
Character List
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Quizzes
Reading Tools
Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Morgaine is the daughter of Igraine and Duke Gorlois, gifted with a natural affinity for magic and the psychic ability known as the Sight. Taken to the magical island of Avalon by her aunt Viviane, she undergoes seven years of intense training to become a priestess of the Goddess. She possesses a sharp intellect and strong resolve but constantly fights against the heavy obligations placed upon her by Avalon's leaders. Her dedication to her homeland frequently conflicts with her personal desires and relationships.
Daughter of Igraine
Daughter of Gorlois
Older Half-Sister of Arthur Pendragon
Niece and Apprentice of Viviane
Niece of Morgause
Childhood Friend of Lancelet
Colleague of Kevin Harper
Sister-in-Law of Gwenhwyfar
Arthur is the son of Igraine and High King Uther Pendragon, prophesied before his birth to become a legendary ruler who will unite Britain. Raised away from his royal parents for his own protection, he receives combat training and learns to bridge the gap between Christian Britain and the magical ways of Avalon. He is a charismatic, even-handed leader who strives to honor the oaths he makes to the people who place him in power.
Son of Uther Pendragon
Son of Igraine
Younger Half-Brother of Morgaine
Husband of Gwenhwyfar
Best Friend of Lancelet
Sworn Ally of Viviane
Advisee of Taliesin
Gwenhwyfar is the beautiful, intensely pious daughter of King Leodegranz. Raised in the quiet safety of a convent, she suffers from agoraphobia and views the outside world with suspicion. Her strict Christian upbringing causes her to view women as inherently sinful, leading to a cycle of constant anxiety and self-punishment over her desires and perceived shortcomings. She leverages her political position to champion Christian supremacy in Britain.
Daughter of Leodegranz
Wife of Arthur Pendragon
Romantic Interest of Lancelet
Sister-in-Law of Morgaine
Mistress of Elaine
Half-Sister of Meleagrant
Born Galahad but known as Lancelet for his unmatched military prowess, he is the son of Viviane and King Ban of Less Britain. Though he spent part of his childhood in Avalon, he rejects the emotional detachment required by the Druid religion, preferring the direct action of a warrior's life. He is handsome, brave, and caught in a web of conflicting loyalties to his king, his homeland, and the people he loves.
Son of Viviane
Loyal Knight of Arthur Pendragon
Romantic Interest of Gwenhwyfar
Friend of Morgaine
Admired by Elaine
Viviane is the formidable Lady of the Lake, the highest spiritual authority in Avalon. She possesses immense magical power and foresight, which she uses to orchestrate the political and religious future of Britain. Believing completely in the supremacy of fate, she is willing to manipulate her own family members and place them in traumatic situations to ensure the survival of the Goddess's worship.
Older Sister of Igraine
Older Sister of Morgause
Aunt and Mentor of Morgaine
Mother of Lancelet
Co-Leader with Taliesin
Magical Patron of Arthur Pendragon
Born into Avalon royalty, Igraine is married off at fifteen to the Christian Duke of Cornwall. She possesses the magical Sight, but her abilities diminish under the strain of her unhappy, restrictive marriage. When Avalon's leaders tell her she is fated to bear the child of Uther Pendragon, she initially rebels against being used as a pawn, but she eventually finds agency and love in fulfilling her destiny.
Wife of Gorlois
Wife of Uther Pendragon
Mother of Morgaine
Mother of Arthur Pendragon
Younger Sister of Viviane
Older Sister of Morgause
Daughter of Taliesin
The youngest sister of Igraine and Viviane, Morgause grows up to become the Queen of Orkney. Unlike the other women in her family who are burdened by fate or religious guilt, Morgause is pragmatic, ambitious, and unashamedly power-hungry. She leverages her intelligence and occasional use of sorcery to secure her own political standing alongside her husband.
Holding the ancient title of the Merlin of Britain, Taliesin is the chief Druid and a revered advisor to kings. He possesses immense wisdom and foresight, serving as the diplomatic counterpart to Viviane's firm rulership in Avalon. Taliesin advocates for harmony between the Old People and the growing Christian population, hoping they can worship peacefully side by side.
Co-Leader with Viviane
Father of Igraine
Advisor to Uther Pendragon
Advisor to Arthur Pendragon
Mentor of Kevin Harper
A talented musician and Druid in training, Kevin suffered severe burns during a Saxon attack, leaving him with misshapen hands and facial scars. Handpicked by Taliesin to become the next Merlin of Britain, he is perceptive and pragmatic. He believes that Avalon must adapt to the spread of Christianity rather than fight a losing war against it.
A fierce warlord who rises to become the High King of Britain following the death of Ambrosius. Uther inspires intense loyalty from a fractured assortment of Roman, Celt, and Welsh soldiers. While he rules as a Christian and distrusts sorcery, he feels an unshakeable, past-life connection to Igraine and ultimately relies on Avalon's magic to secure his throne.
Raised as the foster son of King Lot and Morgause, Gwydion is an intelligent, observant child who inherits strong magical abilities and a sharp strategic mind. He trains with both the Druids in Avalon and the Saxon warriors, eventually earning the knighthood name Mordred. He harbors complicated feelings about his origins and feels torn between the grand destinies imposed upon him by others.
Son of Morgaine
Foster Son of Morgause
Foster Son of Lot of Orkney
Subject of Viviane
Knight of Arthur Pendragon
The Duke of Cornwall and Igraine's first husband. Gorlois is an aging, battle-hardened Christian warlord who demands strict obedience from his household. He frequently belittles his young wife's intelligence and relies on physical intimidation to assert his dominance.
The King of Orkney and Morgause's husband. Lot is a calculating, politically savvy ruler who treats his wife as a trusted advisor in matters of state. He is constantly looking for ways to elevate his sons closer to the High King's throne.
The King of the Summer Country and Gwenhwyfar's father. A practical and somewhat dismissive man, he removes his daughter from her beloved convent specifically to use her marriage as a bargaining chip for military protection.
The firstborn son of King Lot and Morgause. Gawaine is an earnest, capable young man who takes immense pride in his royal lineage. He serves as one of Arthur's most trusted companions, upholding the honor of his family name at court.
A dedicated priestess of Avalon who lives under a strict vow of silence. She acts as a pure vessel for the Goddess, frequently falling into intense trances to deliver terrifying but accurate prophecies to the other priestesses.
Friend of Morgaine
Subordinate to Viviane
The son of King Uriens of North Wales, Accolon is a young, handsome Druid prince. He proudly wears the blue serpent tattoos that signify his dedication to Avalon and works to spread the Old Religion throughout his father's lands.
The aging King of North Wales. Uriens is a devout Christian who nevertheless allows his subjects, including his son Accolon, to practice the ways of Avalon. He is a gentle, forgiving man who values peace in his household.
The bastard son of King Leodegranz. Meleagrant is a bitter, aggressive man who feels cheated out of his royal birthright. He lacks the honor of Arthur's true knights and frequently lashes out at those with higher status.
Son of Leodegranz
Half-Brother of Gwenhwyfar
The daughter of King Pellinore and a lady-in-waiting to Gwenhwyfar. Elaine is sweet-natured but possesses a desperate, unrequited obsession with Lancelet. She is willing to make drastic bargains to secure a marriage with the man she loves.
Daughter of Pellinore
Lady-in-Waiting to Gwenhwyfar
Admirer of Lancelet
Accomplice of Morgaine
Mother of Nimue
A zealous Christian bishop who serves as a spiritual advisor to Arthur. Patricius is utterly uncompromising in his faith, traveling across Britain to stamp out the Old Religion and demanding harsh public penances from those who sin.
The daughter of Elaine, Nimue is promised to Avalon's service from before her birth. She is a beautiful, highly inquisitive young girl who displays a natural aptitude for the Sight. She struggles with the emotional isolation required of a priestess.
Daughter of Elaine
Apprentice of Morgaine
Assigned to Seduce Kevin Harper