Transcript Document

We’re finishing the
Anglo-Saxon and the Medieval
Periods 449-1485
Note: the Medieval period = the
Middle Ages
KING ARTHUR
Who is he?
A legendary British leader
According to medieval histories and
romances, he led the defense of Britain
against the Saxon invaders in the early 6th
century.
He is said to have led the Knights of the
Round Table at Camelot.
What is a LEGEND?
a story about mythical or supernatural
beings or events
There’s a debate about whether or not King
Arthur was a real person
One school of thought says YES
It cites the Historia Brittonum (History of
the Britons) and other sources to show he
was a leader who fought against the AngloSaxons
The Historia Brittonum lists twelve battles
that Arthur fought in
 The last battle of Mount Badon is where
Arthur is said to have single-handedly killed
960 men
 However, recent studies question the
reliability of the Historia Brittonum
One school of thought says NO
Arthur is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle (tells the history of the AngloSaxons) or named in any surviving
manuscript written between 400 and 820.
He is absent from Bede’s History of the
English People, another major early source
that mentions the battle of Mount Badon
They claim he was originally a fictional
hero of folklore who became credited with
real deeds of the past
Why would people want him to be
real?
The Tudor monarchs in England traced
their lineage to Arthur and used that
connection as a justification for their
reign.
Modern scholarship has generally
assumed there was some actual person
at the heart of the legends, though not, of
course, a king with a band of knights in
shining armor.
 What cannot be denied is
the influence of the Arthur
figure on literature, art,
music and society from the
Middle Ages to the present.
 Examples…
 Many movies and novels
about him
 Even adaptations for
theater, television, comics
and other media
Was he popular during his time?
 Yes
 Why?
 Stories took place in an idealized world –
a world of castles, courtly love, heroes,
and magical spells
 Very unlike Medieval world of plagues,
political battles
The Knights…
Most famous knight is Lancelot
Were supposed to be patient, humble,
meek, keep their word, never be cruel, be
kind and gentle to ladies, never do
anything dishonorable
Sat at the round table
Arthur devised the idea of a round table to
prevent quarrels between his knights over
the question of precedence
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
In the early tales, Arthur’s nephew Gawain (not
Lancelot) was the famous knight for his courage and
chivalry
It’s a romance
an imaginative adventure concerned with noble
heroes, gallant love, a code of honor, and daring
deeds.
Usually have faraway setting, depict events unlike
those of ordinary events, and idealize their heroes.
Often lighthearted in tone and involve fantasy.
Other figures…
Merlin:
Arthur’s advisor, who was a prophet and
magician
Excalibur:
the name of Arthur’s sword
Camelot:
The city Arthur was in charge of
Medieval Romance
The term “romance” comes from “Romance
languages,” meaning those languages
derived from Latin (French, Italian,
Spanish)
Many of the first romances were written in
those languages
Examples:
Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of King Arthur)
Le Roman du Rose (The Romance of the
Rose)
Tristan and Isolde
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
CHARACTERISTICS
A highly artificial and stylized genre
Characters are lords and ladies
Love and chivalry– somewhat contradictory
themes
Magic and enchantment, religious
mysticism
Lots of fighting, gore, pageantry
Quests
The Knight as a central character
The Knight
A WARRIOR, CHRISTIAN and LOVER
Possesses good manners, delicacy,
protocol
Has deference and passion (both!) for
ladies
Has skills as a poet, musician, writer,
speaker and dancer
The beginning of "The Knight's Tale"
illuminated manuscript, Huntington Library, California
13th century illuminated manuscript: Lancelot du lac fait porter un
échiquier magique à la Reine Guenièvre
"The Rescue of Guinevere" by William Hatherell (1855-1920)
The Romance and Love
The Romance tells of ideal, not
realistic love
Love is so passionate as to cause
fever and illness
Love is usually outside of marriage
Adultery is almost always inevitable,
but has tragic consequences
The Knight and Lady
The Knight dedicates himself to the
glorification of his Lady, either in secret or
openly
He wears her colors to tournaments, devotes
his trophies to her
All of his acts of heroism and valor are in her
honor
The Lady is generally demanding, sometimes
cruel, but always beautiful, intelligent and
spirited.
“Lancelot and Guinevere‘s First Kiss,” Manuscript illustration, c 1400.
Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris
Works Cited
 Hatherell, William. “The Rescue of Guinevere.” Oil on canvas,
1910. Rpt. “Arthurian Legends Illustrated.” Kathleen Nichols.
Pittsburg State U., 2003. 21 Sept. 2008.
<http://www2.pittstate.edu/engl/nichols/arthur2.html>.
 “The Knight’s Tale.” Ellesmere Manuscript, ca. 1400. Illuminated
manuscript. San Marino, CA.: The Huntington Library. Rpt. “The
Knight’s Tale in Images.” Luminarium.1997-2006. 21 Sept. 2008.
<http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/knightimg.htm>.
 “Lancelot and Guinevere’s First Kiss.” Unknown artist. Manuscript
illustration, c. 1400. Paris: Bibliotheque Nationale. Rpt. “Lancelot
du Lac.” Timeless Myths. 1999. 21 Sept. 2008.
<http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/lancelot.html#Kiss>.
 “Lancelot du lac fait porter un échiquier magique à la Reine Guenièvre.”
Unknown artist. Late 13th C. Rpt. “Tableaux ayant pour sujet les
échecs.” 21 Sept. 2008.
<http://www.jmrw.com/Chess/Tableau_echecs/pages/112.htm>.
 Leighton, Edmund Blair. “The Accolade.” 1901. Rpt. CGFA. 21 Sept.
2008. <http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/l/l-5.htm#eleighton>.
 Love, D. “‘Al this Peynted Process': Chaucer and the Psychology of
Courtly Love.” English Studies. 83.5 (Nov. 2002), 391-398.