Week 7 KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS

(September 26- 30,

2022) OF THE ROUND TABLE

King Arthur is a medieval, mythological figure who was the head of the kingdom
Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. It is not known if there was a real Arthur,
though it is believed he may have been a Roman-affiliated military leader who
successfully staved off a Saxon invasion during the 5th to 6th centuries. His legend
has been popularized by many writers, including Geoffrey of Monmouth.

Pre-Competency Checklist

At the end of these weeks, the pre-service teacher (PST) should be able to:

a. recognize the early periods of English literature as relevant pieces in the

current world history and literature compendium;
b. outline the plot and literary elements of the stories, epics, poems, sonnets and
plays in Old English, Medieval English, Renaissance, and Restoration
literatures;
c. produce literary responses for the definitive selected texts under the early
periods of English literature.

Learning Resources

The contents of this chapter were taken from the following learning resources:
1. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/le-morte-darthur/book-
summary#:~:text=Arthur%2C%20who%20is%20son%20of,and%20is%20ofte
n%20at%20war.

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Le Morte d'Arthur tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights at the Round
Table. Arthur, who is son of King Uther Pendragon but was raised by another family,
takes his rightful place as king when, as a boy, he is able to pull the sword called
Excalibur from the stone. Although he rules wisely and is counseled by Merlin the
magician, Arthur makes enemies of other kings and is often at war.

When Arthur marries Genevere, her father gives Arthur the Round Table, at
which 150 men can sit. Genevere, who is often present at the convening of the Round
Table, acts as a moral compass for the knights, rewarding knights who behave well
and chastising those who choose poorly. Malory specifically relates the stories of Sir
Gawain, Sir Tor, and Sir Pellanor as a means of introducing the concept of chivalry.

Arthur is nearly betrayed by his sister Morgan le Fay, but he is helped by

Nineve, a sorceress who learned her magic powers from Merlin before killing him.
Arthur then fights the Romans when Emperor Lucius of Rome demands that Arthur
bow to him. Although the war requires several battles, Arthur and his knights win and
return to Guinevere and the other wives. Soon after, Launcelot establishes himself as
the greatest knight in all the world by his virtue, loyalty, and bravery. At the same time,
Sir Gareth, Gawain's brother, proves valiant in his adventures.

Tristam (also known as Tristan), who is son of King Melyodas de Lyones and
the sister of King Mark of Cornwall, is then introduced, and his adventures unfold. He
kills Sir Marhault to free his uncle from a debt owed to King Angwyssh of Ireland, and
then falls in love with Isode (also known as Isolde), Angwyssh's daughter. Isode
marries Tristam's uncle Mark, but Tristam and Isode remain lovers. Tristam is exiled
by Mark, which means he can no longer use his true identity; thus, he fights as The
Knight with the Black Shield. Tristam duels and beats many of Arthur's knights, but is
eventually thrown in prison and becomes ill. He escapes and eventually meets and
fights Launcelot in a duel predicted by Merlin. They become the best of friends.

Launcelot, who is in love with and completely loyal to Guinevere, rides one day
in search of adventure. He kills a dragon, sees the Grail, and is tricked into lying with
Pellas' daughter Elayne, with whom he has a son, Galahad. Guinevere, upon hearing
of the affair, has Launcelot banished from court; Launcelot then wanders from place
to place in his grief. Elayne, through her father, heals Launcelot through the Grail, and
he eventually returns joyously to Camelot and the Round Table.

Launcelot introduces his son, Galahad, to the court, and Galahad takes the
Sege Perilous, the seat at the Round Table that no knight has been worthy enough to
fill. Galahad also draws the sword from the floating stone, establishing him as the best
knight in the world, but also accepting the sword's curse — that it will later cause a
grievous wound.

Most of the knights then set out separately on Grail Quest. During the Quest,
Launcelot, Percival, and Bors experience deep religious conversion, while Ector and
Gawain are told by a hermit that they are not pure enough to achieve the Grail Quest.
Galahad, Percival, and Bors meet up and continue the Grail Quest, but they are briefly
parted. Launcelot and Galahad continue to the Grail at Castle Corbenic, where
Launcelot is shown to be unworthy of the Quest. When Sir Evelake dies after his
embrace with Galahad, Galahad is identified as the knight who will achieve the Grail
Quest. Galahad is made a king who dies shortly thereafter, while Percival becomes a
hermit. Bors returns to King Arthur's court.
 Launcelot also returns to the court and continues his love for Guinevere. After
a series of trials, Guinevere is convinced of Launcelot's love for her. Although Arthur
knows of the affair and overlooks it, he is prompted by Aggravain and Mordred
(Arthur's son by Lot's wife) to take action; Guinevere is sentenced to be burned at the
stake. Launcelot rescues her and takes her to his castle, Joyous Gard, but in the battle,
Launcelot kills Gareth and Gaheris, who are at the execution but are unarmed.
Launcelot returns Guinevere to Arthur, but Launcelot is banished, along with his
followers. Gawain swears vengeance for the death of his brothers and insists that
Arthur attack Launcelot. Arthur agrees, but while Arthur and Gawain are away,
Mordred makes himself King of England, claims Guinevere as his wife, and attacks
Arthur's army. Gawain is mortally wounded and warns Arthur in a dream not to
continue the battle. Through a misunderstanding, however, the battle continues; Arthur
kills Mordred but is mortally wounded by him, as Merlin has prophesied.

Launcelot and Guinevere both die of illness soon after, and Constantine
becomes king. The Round Table is disbursed.