Le Morte d'Arthur (also Le Morte Darthur) means "The Death of Arthur" in Middle French.
It was written by Sir Thomas Mallory while he was in prison in the late 15th c.
It is a compilation and translation and is not Mallory's original work. However, we have him to thank for the preservation of many of these tales and for the extensive nature of his collection.
It begins with the conception of Arthur and ends with the deaths of Guinevere. Lancelot, et al.
Legitimacy (in birth): Arthur and Mordred.
Morality / Immorality: Arthur's dubious morality; Merlin's amorality; Uther's immorality; the failure of any knight to live up to the chivalric code, etc.
Hope in Arthur, in a better future, in the honor of men
Love and desire and its aftermath
King Arthur
Merlin
Guinevere
Sir Lancelot (Sir Launcelot Du Lac; sir Lancelot of the Lake)
Sir Tristan (Sir Tristram de Lyones)
Isolde
Arthur's nephews by his half-sister Morgause, married to King Lot of Orkney:
Sir Gawain: refused to participate in Guinevere's execution
Sir Gaheris: refused to fight Lancelot; killed by accident by Lancelot
Sir Gareth: refused to fight Lancelot; killed by accident by Lancelot
Sir Agravain: plotted with Mordred to reveal Guinevere's adultery with Lancelot
Sir Mordred: actually the son of Arthur; kills Arthur after several attempts to humiliate and depose him.
Uther Pendragon
Morgause
Morgan le Fay
Sir Ector
Sir Kay
King Mark
Galahad
Bedivere
Lady of the Lake
“The king stablished all his knights, and gave them that were of lands not rich, he gave them lands, and charged them never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no mean to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship of King Arthur for evermore; and always to do ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen succor upon pain of death. Also, that no man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, ne for no world’s goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old and young. And every year were they sworn at the high feast of Pentecost.”