1. British Literature-Medieval Unit
The Arthurian Legend
British Literature-Medieval Unit

2. Was King Arthur a real person?!
WDYKAKA Question #1
Was King Arthur a real person?!

3. WDYKAKA Question #2
What did King Arthur do?

4. Why did people write stories about him?
WDYKAKA Question #3?
Why did people write stories about him?

5. Why is Arthur Important?
Provided a hero to a conquered people.
Think of all the invasions we’ve discussed
Tales form a common bond between Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman.
Warrior King Arthur – Anglo-Saxon
Chivalric Tradition – Anglo-Norman
Second most referenced character in Western Literature.

6. Did he exist? Historical Arthur Fictional Arthur
Celtic/Anglo-Saxon Arthur
Welsh chieftain
warrior in the histories of
may have really existed – not a king
Anglo-Norman Arthur
could just be a combination of great leaders
Normans add chivalry, romance, quest, love, etc.
Norman romances focus more on knights.

7. What is a legend?
a traditional historical tale or collection of related tales popularly regarded as true, but usually contain a mixture of fact and fiction
not to be confused with a myth (A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society)

8. Arthurian Literary Tradition
Nennius
9th century
Welsh monk
wrote Historia Brittonum
1st reference to an Arthur
His Arthur is the “greatest of all the Celts”
an important hero to the declining Celtic community.

9. Arthurian Literary Tradition
Geoffrey of Monmouth
12th century
wrote Historia Regumn Britanniae
one of the most important books of the Middle Ages
add Merlin to the Arthurian legend
tales mostly focused on Arthur with little mention of his other knights.
inspired the next generation of authors

10. Arthurian Literary Tradition
Chrétien de Troyes
12th century
French
introduces character of Lancelot and the Arthur / Guinevere / Lancelot love triangle
romance / single hero adventures
example of Anglo-Norman cultural influence with the increased influence of the chivalric tradition

11. Arthurian Literary Tradition
Sir Thomas Malory
15th century
English
compiled the various tales into one work: Le Mort d’Arthur
The Death of Arthur
expands the characters of Lancelot and Guinevere and makes the affair chaste and pure
still read today and highly influential

12. Arthurian Literary Tradition
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
19th century
English
composed many works on the Arthurian tradition: “The Lady of Shalott,” “The Death of Arthur,” “Idylls of the King”
Father of the Arthurian Renaissance in Victorian England

13. Arthurian Literary Tradition
T. H. White
20th century
English
wrote The Sword in the Stone (1938) and The Once and Future King (1958)
based heavily on Malory’s work
The Once and Future King deals with darker themes as Arthur grows older

14. Key Themes Love Triangle Arthur / Guinevere / Lancelot
Traitor/Judas Figure
Mordred
Lancelot
Fall of the central community / end of order
Grail
Cup that Jesus drank out of at the Last Supper
Joseph of Arimithea brought grail to England
What does the grail represent?
Unanswered philosophical / cosmological questions
“quest” which requires much of the individual

15. Key Characters Uther Pendragon – Arthur’s biological father
Igraine – Arthur’s biological mother
Sir Ector – Arthur’s adoptive father
Merlin – Arthur’s counselor, prophet & wizard
Morgan le Fay – Arthur’s half- sister; magical; adversary
Sir Kay – son of Sir Ector; Arthur’s step-brother
Mordred – Arthur’s nephew; kidnaps Guinevere and rebels; killed by Lancelot

16. Key Objects
Excalibur – Arthur’s magical sword; given to him by the Lady of the Lake
The Holy Grail – the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper; used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch Christ’s blood
The Round Table – the table given as part of Guinevere’s dowry; the idea that everyone is equal

17. What is a Romance?
A romance is an imaginative story concerned with noble heroes, chivalric codes of honor, passionate love, daring deeds, & supernatural events.
In the Middle Ages in Europe, wandering storytellers would retell adventurous tales of knights and other noble heroes. These became known as romances, which, over time, moved from the oral tradition into written versions
Writers of romances tend to idealize their heroes as well as the eras in which the heroes live.

18. What is a Romance?
Romances typically include these motifs: adventure, quests, wicked adversaries, & magic.
Motif: an idea, object, place, or statement that appears frequently throughout a piece of writing, which helps contribute to the work’s overall theme
Romance hero – a knight of superhuman strength, intelligence, and virtue who follows the code of chivalry

19. What is a Romance?
Exotic Setting: Romances are set in imaginary kingdoms with great castles, enchanted lakes, and forest populated with giants and monsters.
Supernatural elements: sorcerers and magic spells, giants and dragons, mysterious evil forces and foreknowledge of future events---such elements all play a part in romances.
Hidden identities: In a romance, others are often unaware of a character’s true identity. The truth is usually revealed at the climax of the tale.

20. Chapter 1- The Prophecies of Merlin and the Birth of Arthur
Which aspects of Arthur’s birth are similar to Beowulf? How are they different?
How important is family to the development of an individual?
What does the explanation of Arthur’s coming suggest about Medieval culture? What was valued? What was not?