Was Dunk Knighted by Ser Arlan? The Ongoing Debate in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’

A central question lingering after the finale of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is whether Ser Arlan of Pennytree actually knighted his squire, Duncan the Tall (Dunk). The ambiguity surrounding this event stems from George R.R. Martin’s original Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, which deliberately abandon the matter unresolved, and has been intentionally maintained in the television adaptation.

The Unanswered Question

Fans have been divided since the release of Martin’s novellas about whether Dunk received the honor of knighthood from Arlan before the knight’s death. The television series, adapting the first novella, The Hedge Knight, further fueled the debate. In the show’s finale, Dunk questions Arlan about why he was never knighted, but Arlan dies before providing a definitive answer.

George R.R. Martin’s Intentional Ambiguity

According to showrunner Ira Parker, the lack of a clear answer is not an oversight but a deliberate choice made at the request of George R.R. Martin himself. Parker explained to Collider that the scene isn’t meant to confirm Arlan never knighted Dunk. Martin wanted the question to remain open-ended, focusing instead on whether Dunk could earn the title of knighthood through his own actions, regardless of whether Arlan bestowed it upon him.

Who Was Ser Arlan of Pennytree?

Ser Arlan of Pennytree was a hedge knight who served as a mentor to Dunk. His coat of arms featured a silver winged chalice on a brown field. He was known as a kind and generous man, praising Dunk despite acknowledging his squire’s perceived slowness and lack of quick wit, famously stating Dunk was “thick as a castle wall and slow as an aurochs.” Arlan died in 209 AC in the Reach, near Ashford.

The Show’s Portrayal

In the television adaptation, Arlan of Pennytree is portrayed by Danny Webb. The series closely follows the ambiguity of the source material regarding Dunk’s knighthood.

Why the Ambiguity Matters

The unresolved question of Dunk’s knighthood highlights a key theme in Martin’s work: the importance of earning honor and respect through deeds, rather than relying on titles or lineage. Whether or not Arlan formally knighted Dunk ultimately becomes less important than the character Dunk becomes and the choices he makes throughout his journey.