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Introduction:
In final, incomplete, work Chrétien combines/contrasts secular and sacred:

1. New hero, Perceval le naïf, placed opposite the old exemplar, Gawain, the model Arthurian knight. Secular courtly chivalry transcended by spiritual knighthood.
2. Introduces for the first time in literature the Grail/Fisher-King, greatly developed in subsequent tradition (outlined by Kibler, p. 495-99).

Structural/Thematic Development:
Prologue, then alternately (with interconnections) A (Perceval) and B Gawain): A¹, B¹, A², B², [A³].
Perceval surprisingly absent at the (incomplete) end, with second part dominated by Gawain.

• Prologue:
  1. Celtic and Christian fertility/infertility presents theme.
  2. The secular classical exemplar of generosity, Alexander, subordinated to Christian patron, Philip of Flanders.
  3. Announces "the greatest story that has ever been told in royal court."
• A¹ Education of the Tiro:
  1. A¹ begins as comedy, even farce. The young "natural" hero, educated by his protective widow mother. He is impatient and self-centered.
  2. His first adventure a coarse encounter with the Tent Maiden.
  3. Adventure with the Red Knight and Arthur's Court, nasty Kay and the smiling maid.
  4. Masculine education as young knight by Gornemant of Gohort.
  5. Planning to return to mother, comes upon castle and Blancheflor, defeats her oppressors, who captured are sent to the smiling maid.
  6. Again on way to mother, encounters the Fisher/King. Has vision of the bleeding lance, the Grail, but is unable to ask the meaning of the Grail.
  7. Weeping damsel (his cousin) explains plight of Fisher King and his mother's death.
  8. He meets the wasted maiden of the tent, defeats her ami, the haughty Knight, who is sent as trophy to smiling maid at Arthur's court.
  9. The court discovers him contemplating three drops of blood on the snow, thinking of Blanchflor. Sagremor and Kay rebuffed as intruders; but Gawain successfully intrudes. Perceval, speaking with Queen Guenevere shows he has attained the status of chevalier courtois.
• Transition:  The Hideous Damsel arrives to condemn Perceval for not asking the questions at the Grail Castle. He resolves to solve the mystery of the Grail.
• B¹  At this point, the Perceval story (A¹) is interrupted by that of Gawain (vv. 4715-6180): Gawain champions younger sister on way to answer Guinganbresil's challenge. Caught in castle, Gawain is charged with bringing the lance of the bleeding point or facing prison.
• A² Education of the Christian Hero:  After five years of chivalric activity without God, Perceval encounters on Good Friday a party of knights on foot with ten penitent ladies, who direct him to a saintly hermit (his mother's brother), who hears his confession and explains his mother's love and the plight of the Fisher King (also his mother's brother). After two days sojourn, Perceval comes to understand the meaning of Good Friday, and attends mass and receives communion.
• B²  The romance (line 6518, p. 461) moves from Perceval to tell "a great deal" about the adventures of Gawain. After 8960 lines the romance breaks off, uncompleted.

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