In the one-page Prologue, Chrétien introduces the story he is about to tell of the knight Erec by speaking of himself in the third person. Chrétien opens by discussing several proverbs that “peasant folk maintain” (1), including the importance of using one’s intelligence that has been granted by God. He then explains that his story of Erec, which has typically been poorly told by other storytellers, will illustrate this proverb.

The chapter opens with King Arthur, whose court is in the “walled town of Cardigan,” announcing a “hunt of the white stag” (2)—a custom that had fallen out of practice. One of Arthur’s knights, Sir Gawain, warns Arthur that it is unwise to do the hunt. As the custom is that whoever kills the stag must select the most beautiful woman in the court to kiss, Gawain fears that the hunt will lead to a conflict among Arthur’s knights, who will each argue that their own maidens are the “fairest.” Arthur refuses to cancel the hunt, however, as he feels that a king should not go back on his word.

As the hunt begins, King Arthur and his knights chase after the stag through a forest.