The stone in the forest of Brocéliande
The stone is mentioned in the beginning of the story and it is the place where Yvain’s cousin was killed and also the place where Yvain fought to restore his deceased cousin’s honor. From the way the stone is described, it is also clear it was used in the past as a mark to suggest a battle for honor. Because of this, the stone is used in this context as a metaphor for honor.
The forest
The forest is the place where most of the action takes place, the only place where worldly knights can meet in battle with strange otherworldly creatures. From the way the forests are described, it is clear they are somewhat of a neutral ground, not belonging to neither forces. Because of this, the forests are used in this story as a metaphor for the fight between good and evil.
The lion
The lion is the most important metaphor in the story, also being included in the title. Sir Yvain rescues a lion during his quest of wining back the heart of his wife and the lion becomes Yvain’s companion for the rest of his journey. The lion becomes used here as a metaphor, suggesting the knightly bravery men were supposed to have when dealing with problems and difficulties in life.
The dragon
In ancient literature, dragons were a common presence in most stories, poems and songs. Knights were tasked with slaying dragons which would torment a kingdom and bring misery to everyone who lived near them. In this particular story, a dragon attacks a mighty lion and Yvan saves the lion by killing the dragon. The dragon is used in this story as a metaphor, representing the forces of evil which will always be destroyed by the forces of good.
Fire
Fire is a common element which appears in the story time and time again, especially in relation with characters which are described as being evils or are seen as the antagonists. Fire is an element which is seen as having purifying properties and as such it is used here as a metaphor for purification, which often comes at a great personal cost.
