c. 1210 Tristan
Birth and Early Life
(A) Tristan’s father, Rivalin, and his mother, Blanchefleur’s
tragic death in childbirth
(B) Tristan's service with his uncle, Mark, King of Cornwall, including
duel with Morholt of Ireland, the poisoned wound caused by a splinter
from Morholt’s sword, and his cure (disguised as "Tantris") by
Isolde, Morholt’s neice
(C) Seeking a bride for Mark in Ireland, including the dragon, the false
steward, Isolde’s discovery that the splinter in Tristan's wound
matches the gap in her dead uncle's sword, her confrontation of him in
his bath, his trial
Tristan and Isolde - First Love
(A) Tristan and Isolde mistakenly take the love potion Isolde’s
mother intended for Isolde and King Mark; the wedding night and the maid,
Brangäne's substitution to conceal Isolde’s lost virginity
(B) Plots against the lovers, and the lovers' allies, including Gandin's
boon, Marjodoc the Steward, Mark's questioning of Isolde, Melot the dwarf
and the lime tree, Isolde's ordeal of the hot iron, Petitcrieau, and
Tristan's return to court
Tristan and Isolde—Banished
(A) The "love idyll" in which Tristan and Isolde live in the
forest in the Cave of Lovers
(B) The hunt and Mark's discovery of the lovers
(C) Tristan and Isolde return to court
Tristan and Isolde—Discovered
(A) Gottfried on women, surveillance of lovers and prohibition of the
affair by jealous mate
(B) Isolde as Eve and the "Forbidden Fruit" of the garden leads to lovers'
discovery by Mark
(C) Tristan's pledge of loyalty and Isolde's implicit promise of suicide
should Tristan die
(D) Tristan flees court
Isolde of the White Hands—the "Other Woman"
(A) Tristan flees to Normandy, Isolde's lament
(B) The Duke of Arundel, Isolde of the White Hands, and her brother,
Kaedin li frains introduced; T defeats Arundel's enemies and gains fame
at court
(C) Tristan becomes "attached" to Isolde of the White Hands, despairing
of returning to Isolde
