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Age and build

Young and tender in age when made king

“Thou art full young and tender of age, said Arthur, for to take so high an order on thee” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

A man of prowess and physical strength in battle

“When the Damosel of the Lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess his body was” (Morte Darthur 1, part 8)

Face and hair

The book is silent here, so we keep this plain and neutral.

Dress

The book is silent here, so we keep this plain and neutral.

Voice and speech

Speaks with authority and directness as a king

“I will amend it, said Arthur” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Uses formal address and courtesy

“Sir Tristram, ye are as welcome as any knight that ever came to this court” (Morte Darthur 2, part 5)

Signature words

Addresses knights formally as 'Sir'

“Sir, said Merlin, it were great pity to lose Griflet” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Uses 'I will' to express royal command

“I will amend it, said Arthur” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Invokes God in speech

“Be ye a good knight, and so I pray to God so ye may be” (Morte Darthur 1, part 7)

Gait and mannerisms

Rides swiftly and with purpose

“So when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and tied his horse to the stile” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

Pulls sword from stone with ease and strength

“lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the stone” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

Fights with great force and determination

“And therewithal the king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle and threw him down” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Strengths

Rightfully destined to be king by divine will

“for God will have it so; for there should never man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be rightwise king of this land” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

Skilled jouster and warrior

“ye are a passing good jouster as ever I met withal” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Merciful and just in judgment

“mercy shalt thou have, because I feel by thy words at this time thou knewest not my person” (Morte Darthur 1, part 8)

Honors and rewards good knights

“ye are welcome to this court. And also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon” (Morte Darthur 2, part 5)

Flaws

Trusts his sister Morgan le Fay too much despite her treachery

“God knoweth I have honoured her and worshipped her more than all my kin, and more have I trusted her than mine own wife and all my kin after” (Morte Darthur 1, part 8)

Becomes wrathful when betrayed

“Then was Arthur more dismayed than he was beforehand” (Morte Darthur 1, part 8)

Traits

Noble and of rightful blood

“Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, I understand ye must be king of this land” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

Generous and willing to grant requests

“such cries I let make, and that will I hold, so it apair not my realm nor mine estate” (Morte Darthur 1, part 7)

Seeks to know the truth about his knights

“Fair sir, said King Arthur, what is the cause ye will not tell me your name” (Morte Darthur 2, part 9)

Deeply troubled by the love between Lancelot and Guinevere

“And when the king had heard how Sir Launcelot and he had foughten, and either had wounded other wonderly sore, then the king made great dole” (Morte Darthur 2, part 5)

Lines in their own words

Declaring his intent to pull the sword from the stone

“I will ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

Challenging a knight to cease his custom of forcing jousts

“I rede thee leave that custom, said Arthur” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Welcoming Sir Tristram to his court

“Sir Tristram, ye are as welcome as any knight that ever came to this court” (Morte Darthur 2, part 5)

Praising Tristram's accomplishments

“ye are welcome to this court. And also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon” (Morte Darthur 2, part 5)