The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems is a collection of poetry written by William Morris, who was a supporter of the pre-Raphaelite movement. The poem focuses on the trial of Queen Guenevere, who was accused of adultery. She allegedly had an affair with Sir Lancelot, and this poem adds to this well-known narrative, suggesting that the affair may not have happened. As such, Morris is adding something new with his poem, and putting a spin on the traditional tale. In this regard, choosing to label the poem as a "defence" seems appropriate.
Guenevere herself is the speaker of this poem, which is again an innovative technique. Morris focuses on the key Medieval themes of love, betrayal, and romance, showing his respect for this era of literature. Morris uses imagery and various literary techniques in Guenevere's defence, including a physical description of her at the beginning of the poem, emphasizing her wet hair and her blushing cheeks. Later, Morris uses various images such as the blue and red cloths and the beautiful garden, in order to express Guevere's experiences and emotions.
Guenevere herself is presented as a talented wordsmith, who describes her memories in vivid detail. At the same time, some of these memories almost seem dream-like, and the validity of memory as evidence is called into question. Guinevere's sanity is also called into question, as she tells the court that she was disturbed by the beauty of the garden. She uses this in her defence, saying that she was not in the right mind to make good decisions. Although she denies having an affair with Lancelot, she questions her closeness to him, and how this may have been misconstrued.
