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Tristram
Tristram, blank‐verse dramatic narrative by E.A. Robinson, published in 1927 and awarded a Pulitzer Prize. It belongs with Lancelot and Merlin in the author's Arthurian trilogy.
Prince Tristram of Lyonesse, wounded in combat in Ireland, is nursed to health by Princess Isolt. He tells his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall, of Isolt's beauty, and Mark sends him to bring her to be his queen. During the return voyage, Tristram falls in love with Isolt, but feels honor bound to carry out his mission. He contemplates suicide and refuses to attend the marriage feast. Three messengers are sent to persuade him: Gouvernail, his friend and counselor; Queen Morgan, who attempts to renew her former hold on him; and Brangwaine, Isolt's attendant. All fail, and Isolt herself comes. Their farewell embrace is spied by his treacherous cousin Andred, whom Tristram wounds. For this act Mark exiles Tristram, and Gouvernail follows him, rescuing Tristram when a fever overcomes him. While he is recuperating, Morgan tries to make him love her. He goes with Gouvernail to Brittany, where another Isolt—Isolt of the White Hands—daughter of King Howel, counters his indifference with her passionate love, and he marries her. Later he becomes a knight of Arthur's Round Table, and, when Mark is imprisoned for opposing the papal government, Tristram and Isolt of Ireland spend a blissful time together in Joyous Gard. Mark is released and takes his queen back to Cornwall. She is dying, and Mark, resigned and generous, allows Tristram to attend her. The final embrace of the lovers is interrupted by Andred, who brings about the death of Tristram and Isolt in each other's arms. |
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Cite this article
James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Tristram." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Tristram." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-Tristram.html James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Tristram." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-Tristram.html |
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Tristram
Tristram in medieval legend, a knight (also called Tristan) who was the lover of Iseult and nephew of her husband king Mark of Cornwall; sent by the king to Ireland to bring the princess to Cornwall, Tristram falls in love with her, a love which is reinforced by the love potion which they accidentally drink, and which binds them to one another.
Despite their fated love, Tristram leaves Cornwall, and later marries Iseult of Brittany; in some versions of the story, he returns to Cornwall and is killed by the jealous Mark, in others (used by Wagner) he falls ill, and asks that Iseult of Ireland be sent for. The ship bringing her is to fly a white sail if she is on board; his jealous wife tells him that it is black, and Tristram dies before Iseult of Ireland can reach him. The story of Tristram is now seen as one of the Arthurian romances, but it was incorporated at a late stage. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Tristram." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Tristram." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Tristram.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Tristram." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Tristram.html |
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Tristram
Tristram ♂ Variant of Tristan. Both forms of the name occur in medieval and later versions of the legend. In Laurence Sterne's comic novel Tristram Shandy (1759–67), the name is bestowed on the narrator through a misunderstanding and is regarded by his father as a great misfortune. Since the name originally intended for him was Trismegistus, the degree of misfortune may be taken as somewhat exaggerated.
Variants: Tristam, Trystram. |
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Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Tristram." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Tristram." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Tristram.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Tristram." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Tristram.html |
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Tristram
Tristram
•minimum • maximum • optimum
•chrysanthemum, helianthemum
•cardamom • Pergamum • sesamum
•per annum • magnum • damnum
•Arnhem, Barnum
•envenom, venom
•interregnum • Cheltenham • arcanum
•duodenum, plenum
•platinum • antirrhinum • Bonham
•summum bonum • Puttnam
•ladanum • molybdenum • laudanum
•origanum, polygonum
•organum • tympanum
•laburnum, sternum
•gingham • Gillingham • Birmingham
•Cunningham • Walsingham
•Nottingham • wampum • carom
•Abram • panjandrum • tantrum
•angstrom • alarum • candelabrum
•plectrum, spectrum
•arum, harem, harum-scarum, Sarum
•sacrum, simulacrum
•maelstrom • cerebrum • pyrethrum
•Ingram
•sistrum, Tristram
•Hiram
•grogram, pogrom
•nostrum, rostrum
•cockalorum, decorum, forum, jorum, Karakoram, Karakorum, Mizoram, pons asinorum, quorum
•wolfram • fulcrum • Durham
•conundrum • buckram • lustrum
•serum, theorem
•labarum • marjoram • pittosporum
•Rotherham • Bertram
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"Tristram." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Tristram." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Tristram.html "Tristram." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Tristram.html |
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