Medieval Narratives
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Transcript Medieval Narratives
Arthurian Legend
Romantic stories, those of adventure, gallant love,
chivalry, and heroism dominate the Middle Ages
They were based around a character named Arthur,
actually based on a Celtic chieftain who lived a
millennium prior (5th or 6th century??)
Arthur and his knights lived in a world very much
unlike England at the time, a world of justice and
fairness
Idealized or larger-than-life characters
A hero who faces a challenge or a test
Exotic settings or supernatural elements
Hidden or mistaken identity
Identify the 4 traits of Medieval Romance in the
following passage:
“Sir Gareth, pure of heart, laughed heartily as the giant
approached. “So you want to fight?” He asked. “Who
are you? What do you seek?” The giant said, “Guess.”
The plot of Medieval Romance is typically driven by
conflict, a struggle between opposing forces
Conflicts could be internal, external or both
Ex-in battle, a knight may externally struggle against an
enemy warrior and internally struggle to be courageous
and live up to the ideals of chivalry
Identify the internal and external conflict in the
following passage:
“Inch by inch. I climbed the rock. One false move and
I would fall. Was reaching the summit worth this
effort, or had I made a terrible mistake? “Just climb!”
I growled to myself. “This is no time for doubt!”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Written anonymously
Tells the story of a knight in King Arthur’s court who
embodies chivalric ideals
Sir Gawain – a nephew of the legendary King Arthur
The most important virtue was trawthe –Middle English
for “truth,” “devotion” and “fidelity”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is considered one of
the finest Arthurian Romances
Le Morte d’Arthur
Written by Thomas Mallory – fought in hundred years
war and was knighted in 1442
He was imprisoned repeatedly on a variety of charges:
rape, robbery, bribery and attempted murder (pleaded
innocent and was never found guilty)
He wrote Le Morte d’Arthur while serving a series of
prison terms between 1451 and 1469
It heralds the death of Arthur as well as some other
tumultuous events toward the end of his life