King Arthur Legends

Introductions to the man, the

legend, the hero
 The Soldier
• Not a king but a Celtic warlord/general

• Successful against barbarians who

invaded England

• Trained in way by the Romans

 Legend
• Story passed down by word of mouth from
generation to generation
• Have been written down in 6 different
languages, therefore spellings vary
• Most popular: Thomas Malory’s Le Morte
d’ Arthur, Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the
King, and T. H. White’s The Once and
Future King
 Legend of Excalibur
• Two versions: Sword in the Stone and
Lady of the Lake
 Characteristics of Medieval
Romances
• Knights, kings, lords, queens
• Chivalry—ideal qualities of knighthood
• A quest
• Good vs. evil
• Magic—mysterious, supernatural events
• Castles, gardens, forests
• Larger than life heroes—can have magic or
extraordinary powers
• Use disguises to conceal true identity
• Romantic love
 Quest
• Adventure for something/someone of
importance
• Has to be of personal significance
• Elements of mystery—monsters, evil, etc.
• Long voyage
• Defeats the foe
• Dangerous
• Hero matures through quest
• Examples: Star Wars, An American Tale, The
Fugitive, Lord of the Rings Trilogy
 Characteristics of the Romantic
Hero
• Larger than life • Intelligent
• Wants to make world better • Witty
• Has inner drive, strength • Imaginative
• Usually young • Has contact with world above
• Physically and mentally strong • Leader
• Close to nature; understands • Actions bring food to people
ways of earth • God-like
• Lives clean life, uncluttered, • Can come from magical origins
simple
• courteous; has self-control
• Has endurance
 Chivalry
Qualities of a Knight
• Physically strong • Must make good on
• Experienced his word
horsemen • Polite and courteous
• Well trained in use of • Could take on only
weapons fair or just fight
• Must love honor • Swore to defend and
• Must right wrongs honor all women
• Willing to risk own life • Loyal to his lord, his
• Must defend weak family and his
comrades
Aspects of the Professional Warrior
• Weapons
• His flag
• Horse
– Had to have at least three
• A battle horse
• Horse for route
• Pack horse for luggage
• Attendants
– Required several
• One to conduct horses
• One to bear heaviest weapons
• One to aid master in mounting horses
• One to guard prisoners
• Arthurian legends are examples of
medieval romances
• Sir Thomas Malory was responsible for
making the story English—also
romanticized it
• Tennyson wrote heroic version of legends
 Important People and Places
• King Arthur—son of Uther Pendragon;
King of Britian; founder of the Knights of
the Round Table
• Avalon—island in the western seas where
King Arthur goes at his death
• Sir Bedivere—last of the Knights of the
Round Table
• Camelot—city where Arthur’s court is
established
• Sir Ector—Arthur’s foster father
• Excalibur—Arthur’s sword
• Sir Galahad—son of Sir Lancelot and
purest of Arthur’s knights; succeeds in the
quest for the Holy Grail
• Sir Gareth—Gawain’s brother and Arthur’s
nephew; assumes disguise as Beaumains
• Sir Gawain—nephew to King Arthur; son
of Morgana; most courteous of Arthur’s
knights
• Queen Guinevere—daughter of King
Lodegreaunce; Arthur’s wife
• Holy Grail—cup used at Last Supper;
object of quests of Knights of the Round
Table
• Sir Kay—Arthur’s foster brother and
steward
Lady of the Lake—Gives Arthur his sword
Sir Launcelot (Lancelot) du Lake—Greatest
of the Knights of the Round Table; father
of Sir Galahad
• Merlyn/Merlin—a magician; counselor to
Arthur
• Sir Modred—arthur’s nephew; plots to
overthrow the king
• Morgan le Fay—Arthur’s half sister; a
sorceress
• Round Table—a wedding gift from Arthur’s
father-in-law; provided seats for 150
knights
 History of Britian/Significance of
Arthur
• The story begins with the battle at Troy.
Rome was then founded by Aeneas.
Britian’s royal lineage supposedly comes
from this ancient lineage. Felix Brutus
supposedly founded England and Arthur
and his royal successors follow this
fashion.
 Movies
• First Knight
• Excalibur
• Camelot
• King Arthur
• The Sword in the Stone
• Kinghts of the Round Table
• Etc.
 Quiz
1. What is the code of honor observed by
the knights?
2. The Arthurian legends are examples of
what form of writing?
3. What are the two different versions for
how Arthur received Excalibur?
4. Who was Arthur’s foster father? His real
father?