1. Day 39
Le Morte d’ Arthur and Arthurian Legend

2. Agenda Warm-up Objectives and Essential Questions Arthurian Legend
Le Morte d’ Arthur
Closure

3. OBJECTIVES Introduce conventions and background of Arthurian Legend.
Read, summarize, and interpret “The Siege at Benwick” from Le Morte d’ Arthur.
Analyze a selected tale from The Canterbury Tales.

4. Essential Questions
Who was King Arthur and what was he best known for?
How does Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’ Arthur interpret Arthurian Legend?

5. Warm-up
Loyalty is still a highly valued human quality, one that sometimes requires personal sacrifice. Make a list of individuals or groups to whom you owe some loyalty. Review your list, then write a paragraph to explain which person or group is the one you would not abandon under any circumstances

6. View the Biography documentary King Arthur and answer the study guide questions on Canvas.

7. Le Morte d’ Arthur Turn to p. 248
Read along with the audio for Le Morte d’ Arthur
Write summative notes at the stopping points.
Look for instances when the characters in the story felt regrets for going to battle

8. Background
King Arthur’s favorite knight, Sir Launcelot, has fallen in love with the king’s wife, Gwynevere. The secret love affair is exposed by Sir Modred, Arthur’s son by another woman, and Gwynevere is sentenced to burn at the stake. While rescuing the imprisoned Gwynevere, Launcelot slays two knights who, unknown to him at the time, are the brothers of Sir Gawain, a favorite nephew of Arthur’s. After a reconciliation, Launcelot returns Gwynevere to Arthur to be reinstated as queen. At the urging of Sir Gawain, who still wants revenge on Launcelot, the king banishes Launcelot to France, where the following excerpt begins.

9. How might the outcome of the story been different if the characters had chosen, at various times throughout the story, not to go into battle?

10. selection Wrap–Up
How well did the story of King Arthur and his knights holds up after more than 500 years.
• revisit your response to the warm up and tell whether you have changed your opinion.

11. Closure What is your ultimate loyalty?
Should Arthur have forgiven Launcelot for his disloyalty? Why or why not?
Can loyalty, once lost, ever be restored? Explain your response.