Arthurian Legendthe body of stories and medieval

romances, centering on the legendary king Arthur

King Arthur is a Legend

Legend: anonymous traditional stories that reflect the attitudes and values of the society that created them

You may remember the story about the (Sword in the Stone, Merlin’s Magic, Excalibur)

King Arthur The LegendArthur was the first born son of King Uther Pendragon and heir to the throne. However these were very troubled times and Merlin, a wise magician, advised that the baby Arthur should be raised in a secret place and that none should know his true identity.

As Merlin feared, when King Uther died there was great conflict over who should be the next king. Merlin used his magic to set a sword in a stone. Written on the sword, in letters of gold,  were these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born king of all England." Of course all the contenders for the throne took their turn at trying to draw the sword, but none could succeed. Arthur, quite by chance, withdrew the sword for another to use in a tournament. Following this he became King.

He gathered Knights around him and fought back against the Saxons who, since the Romans left Britain, were slowly but surely taking the country over. After many great battles and a huge victory at Mount Badon the Saxons' advance was halted.

Arthur's base was at a place called Camelot. Here he built a strong castle. His knights met at a Round Table. They carried out acts of chivalry such as rescuing damsels in distress and fought against strange beasts. They also searched for a lost treasure, which they believed would cure all ills - this was the 'Quest for the Holy Grail'.

Under the guidance of Merlin, Arthur had obtained a magical sword from The Lady Of The Lake. This sword was called 'Excalibur" and with this weapon he vanquished many foes.

Queen Guinevere, Arthur's beautiful wife brought romance to the story while his equally beautiful half sister Morgan le Fay added a dark side.

Unfortunately, as peace settled over the country things turned sour within the court of Camelot and civil war broke out. In the final battle at Camlan both Arthur and Mordred, Arthur's traitorous nephew, were mortally wounded. Arthur was set upon a boat and floated down river to the isle of Avalon. Here his wounds were treated by three mysterious maidens. His body was never found and many say that he rests under a hill with all his knights - ready to ride forth and save the country again.

The location of Camelot is not positive. Some stories reference Caerleon, Somerset, and Winchester.

Medieval Romance

Medieval

Romance

LoveTotal

Devotion

Supernatural

(setting/qualities)

Damsels in

Distress

Chivalry

Adventures

Kings

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Code of Chivalry

• Started from the 12th century – Medievel /Middle Ages

•Medieval literature glorifies the valor, tactics and ideals of ancient Romans.

• Understood to be a way of living among the knights who protected the King’s people or commoners

• Knighthood Ceremonies: Knights took sacred oaths and made vows

Feudalism

Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval

Europe that flourished

between the ninth and fifteenth centuries

•The Arthurian legend revolves around the Code of Chivalry which was adhered to by

the Knights of the Round Table.

• Restricted to nobility, The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to God, his lord, & his lady

* It was a moral, religious, and social code of knightly conduct that went beyond combat.

• The codes would emphasize qualities idealized by knighthood, such as loyalty, bravery/valor, courtesy, honor, honesty, and gallantry toward women.

•Sir Gawain is an example

Vocabulary Foreshadow (n): hints of what is to

come in a story or play Symbolism (n): The practice of

representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects

Alliteration (n): a pattern of sound that includes the repetition of consonant sounds.

Irony (n): the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning: the irony of her reply› 2 types of irony› Situational Irony: involving a situation in

which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected. (ex: the knight is polite when we expect him to be mean )

› Dramatic irony: the audience knows something that characters do not (keeps us engaged) (ex: Sir Gawain is dishonorable by lying to King Birtalik)

Vocabulary continued chivalry (n): bravery and courtesy; Medieval

system of knighthood righteous (adj): just; virtuous; good; honest largesse (n): gift; donation feigned (v): pretended entreated (v): ask earnestly; pleaded peril (n): Exposure to harm or injury

Agree or DisagreeCopy the questions and answer the following1. On a date a man should always pay for the

woman. Agree or Disagree. Explain. 2. A man should always confront another man for

hitting on his girlfriend. Agree or Disagree. Explain.

3. A man should always protect his woman, even if it means impending doom or death. For example; a bear attack. Agree or Disagree. Explain.

4. It is always the man that must pursue the woman. Agree or Disagree. Explain.