What is the story of King Arthur and the Excalibur?

Answer 1

King Arthur and the Legend of Excalibur:

King Arthur had won a fearsome battle by unhorsing and winning the loyalty of his enemy, Sir Pellinore, who had been a plague to many knights passing through his land. Unfortunately, the noble Arthur's sword was broken in the fight, and he was weakened from loss of blood. Merlin took him through the wood to a place where the trees receded to form a lake. There was a hut by the lake, and they went inside.
Merlin told King Arthur that this was the dwelling of the Lady of the Lake and that her maidens would come to care for him and make him well. A maiden dressed in white and gold then came forth and took Arthur to a room where there was a bed for him to lie upon and rest, which he did, weary. While he slept, the maidens healed Arthur with herbs and spells.

After a few days passed, and he had regained his strength, the maiden called Nimue came and led Arthur away from the house to the shore of the lake. There was a big hand sticking out of it. The arm was wearing white gossamer and the hand held a big sword. Then, a boat appeared on the lake. The Lady herself appeared, dressed in deep blue. She told Arthur to climb into the boat, which he did.

They rowed out to the middle of the lake, where the arm was. Arthur saw the sword up close and exclaimed at its grace and beauty. The Lady told him that it was his, he just had to pull it out of the hand. So he did, and then they rowed back.
When they got to shore, the Lady told Arthur that his sword was named Excalibur, "made from steel," and that it was the strongest one in the world. It would never break. Then she gave him a magical scabbard with symbols all over it. The scabbard would prevent him from any major blood loss. Arthur would never again be as weak as he had been on the day that he came to her domain.



This story of Excalibur is the most traditional one, in Pyle and also in Malory. Feminist versions have a different take, in which women play a greater role in Arthur receiving his sword. Queen of the Summer Country and The Mists of Avalon