Tennyson begins with a divided Britain in which Arthur's birth and right to rule are disputed. Arthur defeats rival kings, forms the Round Table, marries Guinevere and binds his knights to demanding vows of truth, loyalty, chastity, service and justice. The Coming of Arthur establishes the high ideal against which the later idylls are measured.

Gareth and Lynette shows the younger generation attempting to live that ideal. Gareth accepts humble service before receiving knighthood, then follows Lynette on a quest to rescue her sister. The idyll is included in the 1896 source edition even though it sits outside the selected Mythopouch prose retelling.

Geraint and Enid, Merlin and Vivien, and Lancelot and Elaine turn inward towards failures of trust, judgement and desire. Geraint's suspicion nearly destroys his marriage before Enid's loyalty is proven. Vivien deliberately works against Arthur's court and finally obtains Merlin's imprisoning charm from him. Elaine of Astolat loves Lancelot without return, while Lancelot's hidden relationship with Guinevere deepens the strain within Camelot.

The Holy Grail changes the fellowship on a larger scale. Galahad's spiritual vision is genuine, but Arthur fears that a mass quest will draw knights away from the ordinary work of protecting the realm. Many do not return. Bors, Percivale and Lancelot experience the Grail differently, and the Round Table emerges weakened.

Pelleas and Ettarre and The Last Tournament show vows losing their force. Pelleas is betrayed by Gawain and becomes disillusioned with the fellowship. The final tournament, built around a ruby necklace connected with a dead child, descends into disorder while Arthur is away confronting a lawless Red Knight. Tristram wins the prize, carries it to Isolt at Tintagel and is killed by Mark.

In Guinevere the hidden relationship between Lancelot and the Queen becomes part of the kingdom's political collapse. Modred exploits the fracture, Arthur fights Lancelot, and Guinevere takes sanctuary at Almesbury. The Passing of Arthur then brings the final war in Lyonnesse, Modred's death, Bedivere's return of Excalibur to the lake and Arthur's departure towards Avilion.

The supplied 1896 Henry Altemus witness preserves the spelling and arrangement of that edition. It includes Gareth and Lynette but does not contain Balin and Balan, which is why the source-matched Mythopouch retelling does not include Balin and Balan.