The Three Days' Tournament

Changing armour over three days becomes a clue to the history of Arthurian storytelling in Jessie L. Weston's study. Published in 1902 as an appendix to her work on Lancelot, it examines connections between medieval romance and popular tales. Weston argues that scholars need to consider Celtic traditions, shared story patterns and historical circumstances alongside the comparison of written texts. Her preface also questions how firmly the origins of the Arthurian cycle had been established.

The central comparison brings together tournaments, princesses held in an Otherworld prison, contests with monsters and rivals who claim another person's achievement. Weston follows these incidents across versions of the Lancelot story, paying particular attention to the changing colours of a knight's armour. Readers interested in folklore or literary criticism can follow an argument built from recurring details, while seeing how a scholar distinguishes a group of related tales from an isolated resemblance.