Transcript Arthurian Legend - Lake Dallas Independent School District

Arthurian Legend
The Crowning of King Arthur
from Le Morte d’Arthur
by Sir Thomas Malory
What is a Legend?
 A legend is a story told about extraordinary deeds that
has been told and retold for generations among a group
of people.
 Legends are often about a particular person
 Legends are thought to have a historical basis, but may
also contain elements of magic and myth
 Myths: stories that a particular culture believes to be true,
using the supernatural to interpret natural events & to
explain the nature of the universe and humanity
What is a Romance?
 A romance is an imaginative story concerned with noble
heroes, chivalric codes of honor, passionate love, daring
deeds, & supernatural events.
 In the Middle Ages in Europe, wandering storytellers
would retell adventurous tales of knights and other noble
heroes. These became known as romances, which, over
time, moved from the oral tradition into written versions.
 Writers of romances tend to idealize their heroes as well
as the eras in which the heroes live.
Romances cont’d…
 Romances typically include these motifs: adventure,
quests, wicked adversaries, & magic.
 Motif: an idea, object, place, or statement that appears
frequently throughout a piece of writing, which helps
contribute to the work’s overall theme
 Romance hero – a knight of superhuman strength,
intelligence, and virtue who follows the code of chivalry.
Romances cont’d…
 Exotic Setting: Romances are set in imaginary
kingdoms with great castles, enchanted lakes, and
forest populated with giants and monsters.
 Supernatural elements: sorcerers and magic spells,
giants and dragons, mysterious evil forces and
foreknowledge of future events---such elements all play
a part in romances.
 Hidden identities: In a romance, others are often
unaware of a character’s true identity. The truth is
usually revealed at the climax of the tale.
Medieval Romance
 Medieval romances, such as Le Morte d’Arthur, are
stories of kings, knights, and ladies, who are motivated
by love, religious faith, or simply a desire for adventure.
 Medieval romances are lighthearted in tone and loose in
structure, containing many episodes; characters simply
go from one adventure to the next.
 Usually the main character has a series of adventures
while on a quest to accomplish a goal. He must
overcome many obstacles on this quest.
 Le Morte d’Arthur recounts the heroic deeds of noble
knights and celebrates the chivalric code of honor.
Origins of the Arthurian Legend
 Arthurian legend emerged gradually over centuries as
storytellers told and retold popular tales about a great
chief who mysteriously disappeared but promised to
return when his people needed him.
 King Arthur legends are based on a 5th or 6th century
Celtic warlord who lived in Wales and led his people to
victory against Saxon invaders. The warlord was said to
have been fatally wounded in battle and buried in the
abbey of Glastonbury, where a gravestone can still be
seen bearing his name.
Sir Thomas Malory
 Ca. 1405-1471
 Arrested in 1451 for a variety of criminal acts
including brawling, escaping from prison,
plundering the Abbey of Combe, extorting
money, and committing rape.
 Strong evidence exists that the book from
which Arthurian legends were passed to the
world was written in prison by a man whose
violent career was at odds with the chivalric
ideals he professes.
Le Morte D’Arthur
 The title given by printer William Caxton to Sir
Thomas Malory’s work about the legendary King
Arthur. Malory’s work published in 1485.
 Described in the preface as “the noble histories of
King Arthur and of certain of his knights.”
 Translated by Malory from a series of long prose
romances in French.
 Although somewhat historical, the Arthurian
world is strictly fiction.
Malory’s Writing Style
 Malory’s style is terse and direct; he and his characters
are masters of understatement.
 Although professedly dedicated to the service of women,
Malory’s chivalry is primarily devoted to the fellowship
and competitions of aristocratic men.
 A code of honor is cherished in which men win or lose
“worship” through their actions in war or love.
(Lancelot)
The Legend
 King Uther of England, who was unmarried, loved Igraine,
another man’s wife. In disguise, the king deceived Igraine into
thinking he was her husband. Arthur was the child born to Igraine
as a result of their affair.
 The wise man, Merlin, knew the baby was in danger because many
men wanted Uther’s throne, so he asked Sir Ector & his wife to
raise the infant Arthur with their own son, Kay.
 When King Uther died, no one except Merlin knew Arthur’s true
identity, which would be revealed when Arthur completed a task
that only the rightful king could perform.
 According to legend, Arthur became King of England and
established his court at Camelot. He then gathered the best knights
from the area to join with him in the fellowship of the Round
Table. These knights lived according to the chivalric code.
Chivalry is not dead!
 Chivalry is a code of
behavior that medieval
knights followed. It is usually
associated with ideals of
knightly virtues, honor and
courtly love. The terms
chivalry and chivalrous are
used to describe courteous
[polite] behavior, especially
that of men towards women.
Code of Chivalry
 The chivalric code stressed, among other things, loyalty
to the king, courage, personal honor, and defending
those who could not defend themselves.
 The Code:
 Honor
Courage
Generosity
 Modesty
Honesty
Faith in God
 LoyaltyCivility
Compassion
RULES/CODES for KNIGHTS



To never do outrage nor murder
Always to flee treason
To by no means be cruel but to give mercy unto
him who asks for mercy





To always do ladies, gentlewomen and widows succor (to go to the aid of
one in distress; to help)
To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows
Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels for love or worldly goods
To never lay down arms
To seek after wonders
RULES/CODES for KNIGHTS
 When called upon, defend the rights of the weak with all one's
strength
 To injure no one
 Not to attack one another
 To fight for the safety of one's country
 To give one's life for one's country
 To seek nothing before honor
 Never to break faith for any reason
 To practice religion most diligently
 To grant hospitality to anyone, each according to his ability
 Whether in honor or disgrace, to make a report with the greatest
fidelity to truth to those who keep the annals
Knightly Hierarchy
 King: male ruler of the country
 Queen: female ruler of the country or wife of a king
 Duke: a nobleman of highest rank
 Duchess: a noblewoman of highest rank
 Knight: a member of a medieval warrior class
 Archbishop: a bishop of the highest rank
 Men and women of high social stature were addressed as
Sir and Lady.
KNIGHT TRAINING

AGE 7 

Become a
page or 
varlet


Taken from home to the court or castle
Taught first articles of religion, respect, and reverence for
their lords.
Initiated in ceremonies of the court
Carve, wait at table, and perform menial tasks
Taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, hunting, fishing,
wrestling, tilting with spears, & performing military
exercises on horseback
KNIGHT TRAINING
AGE 14 

Become
a squire

Taught to vault on a horse, to run, to scale walls, to
spring over ditches – all in heavy armor
Taught to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe without
raising the visor or taking a breath

Taught to perform gracefully on horseback

Taught courtesy or refinements of civilization

Encouraged to bestow his attentions on a young lady
of the court
KNIGHT TRAINING
Preparation for the Ceremony:
AGE 21 
• Fast and spend whole nights
Initiation
to the
knighthood
• Confession and communion
• Clothed in snow-white
in prayer
garment
• Go to church or hall where
the ceremony is to be held
• Wear a knightly sword
suspended from neck
KNIGHT SHIELDS
“May virtue lead to
immortal glory”
“One People, One Nation, One Destiny”
"Seize the Momentum of the New Era"
YOUR TURN!
Do you have what it takes to be a Knight?