engl220 tristan chapters 30-40
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TristanChapter 30: The Wedding
Tristan dithers and rationalizes over whether or not to marry white hands
Because he is lonely – and a bit angry – he proposes to white hands.
The wedding is planned
The wedding takes place
But the wedding night goes awry…
Tristan has imagined sexual satisfaction.
when he saw Isolde’s gold ring on his finger
Although he tried to be strong
He couldn’t do the deed.
White Hands is not pleased.
But Tristan tells her he has a painful old groin injury
Chapter 31: Cariado
The last Isolde had heard of Tristan, he had been wounded fighting a giant in Spain
Count Cariado comes to woo Isolde
Cariado tells Isolde that Tristan has a wife
Isolde tells Cariado she despises him.
Isolde is in despair.
Chapter 32: The Hall of Statues
Tristan captures a giant and orders him to carve statues inside a cave
The statues are of Isolde and Brangane
Tristan often goes into the cave and hugs the statue of Isolde.
Mark suffers, Isolde suffers, Tristan suffers, and Isolde of the white hands suffers.Who suffers the most?
Chapters 33-40
Chapter 33: The Bold Water
Tristan, Caerdin and White Hands ride to a festival
When crossing a stream, water splashes high on White Hands’ thigh
White Hands laughs
Caerdin wants to know the reason for her laughter
He threatens to withhold his love if she refuses to answer.
White Hands tells her brother the truth:
She laughed because the bold water traveled higher up her thigh than the hand of a man—including her husband—had ever reached!
Caerdin is shocked
Angry at this affront to his family honor, Caerdin demands an explanation from Tristan.
Tristan doesn’t use the “groin injury” excuse
He tells Caerdin he loves a far more beautiful Isolde.
Caerdin demands proof.
Chapter 34: Tristan’s Return
Tristan takes Caerdin to the Hall of Statues
He points out Brangane to Caerdin, then hugs the statue of Isolde.
Caerdin falls in lust with Brangane
Tristan promises Caerdin he shall “have” Brangane, and all is forgiven.
Family honor, apparently, doesn’t matter all that much, to Caerdin…
Disguised as pilgrims, Tristan and Caerdin head to England.
They spy on Mark’s retinue
Caerdin agrees that Isolde is more beautiful than his sister.
Caerdin takes Tristan’s ring to Isolde
Isolde tells Caerdin she will sleep at the next castle
Isolde feigns illness, and sleeps in a chamber near the forest
Tristan and Caerdin sneak into the chamber and join Isolde and Brangane
A night of revelry ensues, though Brangane slips a magic pillow under Caerdin’s head that makes him fall asleep early…
No nookie for Caerdin that night, and the next, but
Caerdin gets teased and is really bummed, so Brangane takes pity on him the third night.
Warned of the approach of enemies, Tristan and Caerdin flee in such a
hurry they cannot take their horses
Chapter 35: Brangane’s Revenge
Carido and his men find the horses
When the pages run, Carido assumes the runners are Tristan and his pal
Carido tells the ladies their lovers are cowards
Brangane is really angry, and curses both Tristan and Isolde. She brings up the fact that Isolde once ordered her killed.
Brangane vows revenge.
Brangane threatens to tell Mark all
She will recommend he cut off Isolde’s nose.
Brangane tells Mark that Isolde is in love with Carido!
Mark vows to rid the court of Carido.
Mark orders Brangane to watch Isolde 24/7.
Chapter 36: Reconciliation
Tristan disguises himself as a leper and heads back to Mark’s court.
(warning: tacky leper cartoon)
Tristan follows Mark and Isolde into the chapel
At first Isolde is disgusted by the leper
Then she recognizes the bowl as belonging to Tristan
Brangane watches as Isolde gives the leper her gold ring.
Furious, Brangane orders the leper removed from the chapel
Distressed and weeping, Tristan languishes under an old stairway in the castle yard.
The porter’s wife finds Tristan
The porter rescues Tristan and sends a message to the queen
After much begging, Isolde convinces Brangane to visit Tristan.
Tristan tells Brangane Carido lied; Brangane, reconciled, brings Tristan to
Isolde
Tristan and Isolde enjoy a night of passion
At dawn, Tristan leaves the court and sails back to Brittany, where White Hands has
been pining in his absence
Chapter 37: Tristan returns again
Queen Isolde sorrows after Tristan leaves.
She wears a leather corselet as penance and punishment
Isolde sends a fiddler to Tristan to tell him how she suffers.
Tristan grows melancholy; he must see this corselet
Tristan and Caerdin set out for England disguised as penitents
The court is holding a tournament.
Tristan wins all the contests
Caerdin comes in second
A friend recognizes Tristan and provides horses for his escape
Caerdin kills Carido
Pursued, Tristan and Caerdin escape back to Brittany
Chapter 38: The Poisoned Spear
Back in Brittany, Tristan and Caerdin happily amuse themselves with hunts, tournaments, and many visits to the statues.
While hunting, they come across a knight who calls himself “dwarf Tristan,”
who is searching for “Tristan the amorous”
Dwarf Tristan is depressed, as his mistress has been stolen by Estult l’Orgillus
Estult keeps the lady captive in his castle
Tristan offers to set out early the next morning
Dwarf Tristan accuses Tristan of being an imposter—the real Tristan would understand love and sorrow, and would not delay.
Tristan sends for his arms and rides off with Dwarf Tristan
The haughty Estult and his six brothers engage the two Tristans in furious battle
The seven brothers are slain, but so is dwarf Tristan
And Tristan is wounded in the loins by a poisoned lance.
Tristan makes it home, but the venom spreads
Many doctors try to help, but nothing works.
Tristan swells up, turns black, and stinks.
Chapter 39: Caerdin’s Mission
Tristan and Caerdin consult about what to do.
White Hands, fearing Tristan has decided to become a monk (!), listens in.
Only Isolde can cure Tristan’s groin wound
Caerdin sails to go get her. He takes the ring.
He must return within 40 days, and if Isolde accompanies him, put white sails on the ship. If she cannot come, then black sails will be the signal.
Caerdin sails for England
Meanwhile, White Hands now knows all and seethes with anger.
She takes care of Tristan, but plots revenge.
Caerdin, disguised as a merchant, gives the news to Isolde
Brangane and Isolde sneak off in the night and sail on a fast ship
Chapter 40: The Death of Tristan and Isolde
Tristan, dying, waits for Isolde
First storms, then lack of wind delay the ship
Finally, White Hands tells Tristan she has seen her brother’s ship
She lies, saying the sails are black
Tristan says “Dearest Isolde” three times, then dies.
Isolde, anxiously waiting on board the ship, sees land, but also hears the toll of a bell
As Isolde races to Tristan’s bedside, the Bretons are struck dumb by her beauty
Isolde goes to him, lies down beside him, kisses him, and dies
Thus, Tristan dies for love, and Isolde for tenderness and pity