KING ARTHURKING ARTHUR

INTRODUCING KING INTRODUCING KING ARTHURARTHUR

Historical ArthurHistorical Arthur

Dark AgesDark Ages

Literary ArthurLiterary Arthur

Medieval Medieval

• Arthur as presented in the legends Arthur as presented in the legends was NOT a real person. was NOT a real person.

• There was, however, a chieftan There was, however, a chieftan named Arthur. named Arthur.

• Historical Arthur lived in the Dark Historical Arthur lived in the Dark Ages, at the end of the 5Ages, at the end of the 5thth and and beginning of the 6beginning of the 6thth centuries. centuries.

• Literary Arthur comes from Literary Arthur comes from medieval times, during the 12medieval times, during the 12thth century.century.

History of ArthurHistory of Arthur

Celtic mythologyCeltic mythology

Romantic themesRomantic themes

++ Fairylike elementsFairylike elements

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Arthurian LegendArthurian Legend

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

• Uther Pendragon – Arthur’s biological father.Uther Pendragon – Arthur’s biological father.• Igraine – Arthur’s biological motherIgraine – Arthur’s biological mother• Sir Ector - Arthur’s adoptive fatherSir Ector - Arthur’s adoptive father• Merlin – Arthur’s counselor, prophet, magician, & Merlin – Arthur’s counselor, prophet, magician, &

wizard; he placed Arthur with Sir Ector.wizard; he placed Arthur with Sir Ector.• Morgan le Fay – Arthur’s half sister; healer & Morgan le Fay – Arthur’s half sister; healer &

shape-changer; an adversary of both Arthur & shape-changer; an adversary of both Arthur & Guinevere; she took Arthur to the barge that Guinevere; she took Arthur to the barge that would take him to Avalon to be healed.would take him to Avalon to be healed.

• Morgause – Arthur’s half sister; married to King Morgause – Arthur’s half sister; married to King Lot; mother of Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, Lot; mother of Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, Gareth, & Mordred.Gareth, & Mordred.

• Sir Kay – son of Sir Ector; raised as Arthur’s Sir Kay – son of Sir Ector; raised as Arthur’s step-brother.step-brother.

• Mordred – Arthur’s nephew; seized Guinevere Mordred – Arthur’s nephew; seized Guinevere & rebelled against Arthur; killed by Lancelot & rebelled against Arthur; killed by Lancelot after the last battle.after the last battle.

• Guinevere – Arthur’s wife; Lancelot’s lover. Guinevere – Arthur’s wife; Lancelot’s lover. • Lancelot – Arthur’s chief knight & rival for Lancelot – Arthur’s chief knight & rival for

Guinevere’s love.Guinevere’s love.• The Lady of the Lake – aka Vivienne; gave The Lady of the Lake – aka Vivienne; gave

Excalibur to Arthur; enchanted & imprisoned Excalibur to Arthur; enchanted & imprisoned Merlin.Merlin.

• Joseph of Arimathea – soldier of Pontius Pilate Joseph of Arimathea – soldier of Pontius Pilate who was given the cup (Holy Grail) from the who was given the cup (Holy Grail) from the Last Supper; settled in Glastonbury.Last Supper; settled in Glastonbury.

IMPORTANT PLACES• Camelot – King Arthur’s kingdom.

• Tintagel Castle – conception place of Arthur.

• Isle of Avalon – island to which Arthur is sent to recover from the last battle.

• Glastonbury – claimed by some to be the actual Isle of Avalon, as it was once surrounded by marshes.

IMPORTANT OBJECTSIMPORTANT OBJECTS• ExcaliburExcalibur – Arthur’s magical sword; given to him – Arthur’s magical sword; given to him

by The Lady of the Lake.by The Lady of the Lake.

• The Holy GrailThe Holy Grail – the cup used by Christ at the – the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper; used by Joseph of Arimathea to Last Supper; used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch Christ’s blood when he was on the cross.catch Christ’s blood when he was on the cross.

• The Round Table The Round Table – the table given as part of – the table given as part of Guinevere’s dowry & used by Arthur and his Guinevere’s dowry & used by Arthur and his knights. Each knight’s name was magically knights. Each knight’s name was magically inscribed on the table. Everybody was equal.inscribed on the table. Everybody was equal.

Knights of the Round Knights of the Round TableTable

• Sir Galahad Sir Galahad • Sir Lancelot du LacSir Lancelot du Lac• Sir Gawain Sir Gawain • Sir Percivale Sir Percivale • Sir LionellSir Lionell• Sir Tristram de LyonesSir Tristram de Lyones• Sir GarethSir Gareth• Sir BedivereSir Bedivere• Sir BleoberisSir Bleoberis• Sir La Cote Male TaileSir La Cote Male Taile• Sir LucanSir Lucan• Sir KaySir Kay

• Sir PalomedesSir Palomedes• Sir LamorakSir Lamorak• Sir Bors de GanisSir Bors de Ganis• Sir SaferSir Safer• Sir PelleasSir Pelleas• Sir Ector de MarisSir Ector de Maris• Sir DagonetSir Dagonet• Sir DegoreSir Degore• Sir Brunor le NoirSir Brunor le Noir• Sir Le Bel DesconneuSir Le Bel Desconneu• Sir AlymereSir Alymere• Sir MordredSir Mordred

ChivalryChivalryknighthood & its code of honorknighthood & its code of honor

Invincible strength Invincible strength

ValorValor

JusticeJustice

ModestyModesty

Loyalty to superiorsLoyalty to superiors

Courtesy to equalsCourtesy to equals

Compassion to weaknessCompassion to weakness

Devotedness to the churchDevotedness to the church

KnightKnightMounted warriorMounted warriorMan of rank, or in service of a man of Man of rank, or in service of a man of

rankrankGenerally possesses some independent Generally possesses some independent

means of support, but relies on the means of support, but relies on the gratitude of those he has servedgratitude of those he has served

Knights errantKnights errant -- -- wandering knights wandering knights who traveled the country in quest of who traveled the country in quest of adventureadventure

Knight TrainingKnight Training

AGE 7 AGE 7 Become a page or varlet Become a page or varlet

• Taken from home to the court or castleTaken from home to the court or castle

• Taught first articles of religion, respect, and Taught first articles of religion, respect, and reverence for their lordsreverence for their lords

• Initiated in ceremonies of the courtInitiated in ceremonies of the court

• Carve, wait at table, and perform menial tasksCarve, wait at table, and perform menial tasks

• Taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, hunting, Taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, hunting, fishing, wrestling, tilting with spears, & fishing, wrestling, tilting with spears, & performing military exercises on horsebackperforming military exercises on horseback

AGE 14 AGE 14 Become a squire Become a squire

• Taught to vault on a horse, to run, to scale Taught to vault on a horse, to run, to scale walls, to spring over ditches – all in heavy walls, to spring over ditches – all in heavy armorarmor

• Taught to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe Taught to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe without raising the visor or taking a breathwithout raising the visor or taking a breath

• Taught to perform gracefully on horsebackTaught to perform gracefully on horseback

• Taught courtesy or refinements of civilizationTaught courtesy or refinements of civilization

• Encouraged to bestow his attentions on a Encouraged to bestow his attentions on a young lady of the courtyoung lady of the court

AGE 21 AGE 21 Initiation to the Initiation to the KnighthoodKnighthood

Preparation for the Ceremony:Preparation for the Ceremony:• Fast and spend whole nights in prayerFast and spend whole nights in prayer• Confession and communionConfession and communion• Clothed in snow-white garmentClothed in snow-white garment• Go to church or hall where the Go to church or hall where the

ceremony is to be heldceremony is to be held• Wear a knightly sword suspended from Wear a knightly sword suspended from

neckneck

Ceremony:Ceremony:• Officiating priest takes the sword, blesses it, Officiating priest takes the sword, blesses it,

and returns itand returns it

• Candidate folds arms, kneels before Candidate folds arms, kneels before presiding knight and answers questions presiding knight and answers questions about motives for becoming a knightabout motives for becoming a knight

• Takes an oathTakes an oath

• Receives armor and swordReceives armor and sword

• Kneels before presiding knight who Kneels before presiding knight who administers the accolade (3 strokes of a flat administers the accolade (3 strokes of a flat sword on the neck or shoulder) and says, sword on the neck or shoulder) and says, “In the name of God, of St. Michael, and of “In the name of God, of St. Michael, and of St. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, St. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal.”courteous, and loyal.”

• Receives helmet, shield, and spearReceives helmet, shield, and spear

The emblem of the Knights of the Round Table worn round the necks of The emblem of the Knights of the Round Table worn round the necks of all the Knights was given to them by King Arthur as part of the all the Knights was given to them by King Arthur as part of the

ceremony of their being made a knight. ceremony of their being made a knight.

The Order's dominant idea was the love of God, people, and noble deeds. The Order's dominant idea was the love of God, people, and noble deeds.

The cross in the emblem was to remind them that they were to live pure The cross in the emblem was to remind them that they were to live pure and stainless lives, to strive after perfection and thus attain the Holy and stainless lives, to strive after perfection and thus attain the Holy

Grail. Grail.

The Red Dragon of King Arthur represented their allegiance to the King. The Red Dragon of King Arthur represented their allegiance to the King.

The Round Table was illustrative of the Eternity of God, the equality, The Round Table was illustrative of the Eternity of God, the equality, unity, and comradeship of the Order, and singleness of purpose of all unity, and comradeship of the Order, and singleness of purpose of all

the Knights.the Knights.

RULES/CODES for RULES/CODES for KNIGHTSKNIGHTS

• To never do outrage nor murder To never do outrage nor murder • Always to flee treason Always to flee treason • To by no means be cruel but to give mercy To by no means be cruel but to give mercy

unto him who asks for mercy unto him who asks for mercy • To always do ladies, gentlewomen and To always do ladies, gentlewomen and

widows succor widows succor (to go to the aid of one in distress; to help)(to go to the aid of one in distress; to help)

• To never force ladies, gentlewomen or To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows widows

• Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels for Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels for love or worldly goods love or worldly goods

• To never lay down arms To never lay down arms • To seek after wonders To seek after wonders

• When called upon, to defend the rights of When called upon, to defend the rights of the weak with all one's strength the weak with all one's strength

• To injure no one To injure no one • Not to attack one another Not to attack one another • To fight for the safety of one's country To fight for the safety of one's country • To give one's life for one's country To give one's life for one's country • To seek nothing before honour To seek nothing before honour • Never to break faith for any reason Never to break faith for any reason • To practice religion most diligently To practice religion most diligently • To grant hospitality to anyone, each To grant hospitality to anyone, each

according to his ability according to his ability • Whether in honour or disgrace, to make Whether in honour or disgrace, to make

a report with the greatest fidelity to truth a report with the greatest fidelity to truth to those who keep the annals to those who keep the annals

Famous Works which include Famous Works which include ArthurArthur

• 1139 -- 1139 -- Historia Regum BrittaniaeHistoria Regum Brittaniae written by Geoffrey of written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. ALL LATER VERSIONS OF THE LEGEND Monmouth. ALL LATER VERSIONS OF THE LEGEND ARE BASED ON THIS WORK.ARE BASED ON THIS WORK.

• 1205-- 1205-- Roman de BrutRoman de Brut by Layamon (1st English by Layamon (1st English Arthurian story)Arthurian story)

• 1370 – 1370 – Sir Gawain and the Green KnightSir Gawain and the Green Knight anonymous anonymous• 1485 – 1485 – Morte d’ ArthurMorte d’ Arthur (Death of Arthur) by Sir Thomas (Death of Arthur) by Sir Thomas

MaloryMalory• 1590-99 – 1590-99 – The Faeire QueeneThe Faeire Queene by Edmund Spenser by Edmund Spenser• 1859-1885 – 1859-1885 – Idylls of the King Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennysonby Alfred, Lord Tennyson• 1880 – 1880 – A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by by

Mark TwainMark Twain• 1882 – 1882 – ParsifalParsifal an opera by Richard Wagner an opera by Richard Wagner• 1939-58 – 1939-58 – The Once and Future KingThe Once and Future King by T.H. White by T.H. White• 1960 – 1960 – CamelotCamelot a musical by Lerner & Loewe a musical by Lerner & Loewe