Excalibur
King Arthur grows up with Sir Ector instead of in a fancy palace, which surprises people because of his royal blood. He becomes king by pulling a special sword from a stone, something no other knight can do. This sword, called Excalibur, is a big deal because it shows that Arthur is meant to be king and is very honorable. But it also represents fate and destiny, suggesting that humans can't change what's already decided for them. Arthur didn't get Excalibur because he did something great; he got it because it was supposed to happen.
There are two stories about how Arthur gets Excalibur. In one, he pulls it from the stone, and in the other, the Lady of the Lake gives it to him later when he's already king. These stories don't match up, which can be confusing.
The Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a special cup from ancient stories, believed to have held the food Jesus ate before he died. In Malory's tale, it's kept in an English castle, giving endless food and wine to those around it, but only to good-hearted people. It's said to leave England because its people aren't holy enough anymore.
Besides its magical powers, the Grail lets whoever finds it see spiritual things that others can't. But to find it, you must be completely pure, like a virgin without major sins. So, the quest for the Holy Grail is about proving how spiritually good you are. It's like Excalibur, but more about being spiritually strong than physically tough.
In Malory's story, achieving the Grail means reaching a level of spiritual wholeness unmatched while on Earth. Only those who are pure in heart, like virgins without serious sins, can achieve it. So, the quest for the Holy Grail is also a journey for those of the Round Table to show their spiritual worthiness. Just like Excalibur, the Grail symbolizes honor and glory, but it's about spiritual greatness rather than physical strength.
Round Table
In the middle of the book, we find out that Merlin created Arthur's Round Table. He made it round to represent the world and placed the most deserving knights in its seats. Each year, at Pentecost, Arthur fills any empty seats left by a knight's death. So, the Round Table is both a symbol of Arthur's kingdom and a gathering of honorable knights.
But it also represents certain ideals, like chivalry and honor. Every year, the knights renew their vows at Pentecost. They can often recognize each other, but sometimes they need to introduce themselves. The round shape shows equality among the knights, emphasizing friendship over competition—though they don't always live up to this ideal.