Transcript King Arthur Legends

King Arthur Legends
Introductions to the man, the
legend, the hero
The Soldier
• Not a king but a Celtic warlord/general
• Successful against barbarians who
invaded England
• Trained in way by the Romans
Legend
• Story passed down by word of mouth from
generation to generation
• Have been written down in 6 different
languages, therefore spellings vary
• Most popular: Thomas Malory’s Le Morte
d’ Arthur, Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the
King, and T. H. White’s The Once and
Future King
Legend of Excalibur
• Two versions: Sword in the Stone and
Lady of the Lake
Characteristics of Medieval
Romances
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Knights, kings, lords, queens
Chivalry—ideal qualities of knighthood
A quest
Good vs. evil
Magic—mysterious, supernatural events
Castles, gardens, forests
Larger than life heroes—can have magic or
extraordinary powers
• Use disguises to conceal true identity
• Romantic love
Quest
• Adventure for something/someone of
importance
• Has to be of personal significance
• Elements of mystery—monsters, evil, etc.
• Long voyage
• Defeats the foe
• Dangerous
• Hero matures through quest
• Examples: Star Wars, An American Tale, The
Fugitive, Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Characteristics of the Romantic
Hero
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Larger than life
Wants to make world better
Has inner drive, strength
Usually young
Physically and mentally strong
Close to nature; understands
ways of earth
• Lives clean life, uncluttered,
simple
• courteous; has self-control
• Has endurance
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Intelligent
Witty
Imaginative
Has contact with world above
Leader
Actions bring food to people
God-like
Can come from magical origins
Chivalry
Qualities of a Knight
• Physically strong
• Experienced
horsemen
• Well trained in use of
weapons
• Must love honor
• Must right wrongs
• Willing to risk own life
• Must defend weak
• Must make good on
his word
• Polite and courteous
• Could take on only
fair or just fight
• Swore to defend and
honor all women
• Loyal to his lord, his
family and his
comrades
Aspects of the Professional Warrior
• Weapons
• His flag
• Horse
– Had to have at least three
• A battle horse
• Horse for route
• Pack horse for luggage
• Attendants
– Required several
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One to conduct horses
One to bear heaviest weapons
One to aid master in mounting horses
One to guard prisoners
• Arthurian legends are examples of
medieval romances
• Sir Thomas Malory was responsible for
making the story English—also
romanticized it
• Tennyson wrote heroic version of legends
Important People and Places
• King Arthur—son of Uther Pendragon;
King of Britian; founder of the Knights of
the Round Table
• Avalon—island in the western seas where
King Arthur goes at his death
• Sir Bedivere—last of the Knights of the
Round Table
• Camelot—city where Arthur’s court is
established
• Sir Ector—Arthur’s foster father
• Excalibur—Arthur’s sword
• Sir Galahad—son of Sir Lancelot and
purest of Arthur’s knights; succeeds in the
quest for the Holy Grail
• Sir Gareth—Gawain’s brother and Arthur’s
nephew; assumes disguise as Beaumains
• Sir Gawain—nephew to King Arthur; son
of Morgana; most courteous of Arthur’s
knights
• Queen Guinevere—daughter of King
Lodegreaunce; Arthur’s wife
• Holy Grail—cup used at Last Supper;
object of quests of Knights of the Round
Table
• Sir Kay—Arthur’s foster brother and
steward
Lady of the Lake—Gives Arthur his sword
Sir Launcelot (Lancelot) du Lake—Greatest
of the Knights of the Round Table; father
of Sir Galahad
• Merlyn/Merlin—a magician; counselor to
Arthur
• Sir Modred—arthur’s nephew; plots to
overthrow the king
• Morgan le Fay—Arthur’s half sister; a
sorceress
• Round Table—a wedding gift from Arthur’s
father-in-law; provided seats for 150
knights
History of Britian/Significance of
Arthur
• The story begins with the battle at Troy.
Rome was then founded by Aeneas.
Britian’s royal lineage supposedly comes
from this ancient lineage. Felix Brutus
supposedly founded England and Arthur
and his royal successors follow this
fashion.
Movies
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First Knight
Excalibur
Camelot
King Arthur
The Sword in the Stone
Kinghts of the Round Table
Etc.
Quiz
1. What is the code of honor observed by
the knights?
2. The Arthurian legends are examples of
what form of writing?
3. What are the two different versions for
how Arthur received Excalibur?
4. Who was Arthur’s foster father? His real
father?