Arthurian Arthurian LegendLegend

The Crowning of King Arthur

from Le Morte d’Arthurby Sir Thomas Malory

What is a Legend?What is a Legend?

A legend is a story told about extraordinary deeds that has been told and retold for generations among a group of people.

Legends are often about a particular person

Legends are thought to have a historical basis, but may also contain elements of magic and myth

Myths: stories that a particular culture believes to be true, using the supernatural to interpret natural events & to explain the nature of the universe and humanity

What is a Romance?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.

Romances cont’d…Romances cont’d…

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.

Romances cont’d…Romances cont’d…

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.

Medieval RomanceMedieval Romance

Medieval romances, such as Le Morte d’Arthur, are stories of kings, knights, and ladies, who are motivated by love, religious faith, or simply a desire for adventure.

Medieval romances are lighthearted in tone and loose in structure, containing many episodes; characters simply go from one adventure to the next.

Usually the main character has a series of adventures while on a quest to accomplish a goal. He must overcome many obstacles on this quest.

Le Morte d’Arthur recounts the heroic deeds of noble knights and celebrates the chivalric code of honor.

Origins of the Arthurian Origins of the Arthurian LegendLegend

Arthurian legend emerged gradually over centuries as storytellers told and retold popular tales about a great chief who mysteriously disappeared but promised to return when his people needed him.

King Arthur legends are based on a 5th or 6th century Celtic warlord who lived in Wales and led his people to victory against Saxon invaders. The warlord was said to have been fatally wounded in battle and buried in the abbey of Glastonbury, where a gravestone can still be seen bearing his name.

Sir Thomas MalorySir Thomas Malory Ca. 1405-1471

Arrested in 1451 for a variety of criminal acts including brawling, escaping from prison, plundering the Abbey of Combe, extorting money, and committing rape.

Strong evidence exists that the book from which Arthurian legends were passed to the world was written in prison by a man whose violent career was at odds with the chivalric ideals he professes.

Le Morte D’ArthurLe Morte D’Arthur The title given by printer William Caxton

to Sir Thomas Malory’s work about the legendary King Arthur. Malory’s work published in 1485.

Described in the preface as “the noble histories of King Arthur and of certain of his knights.”

Translated by Malory from a series of long prose romances in French.

Although somewhat historical, the Arthurian world is strictly fiction.

Malory’s Writing StyleMalory’s Writing Style

Malory’s style is terse and direct; he and his characters are masters of understatement.

Although professedly dedicated to the service of women, Malory’s chivalry is primarily devoted to the fellowship and competitions of aristocratic men.

A code of honor is cherished in which men win or lose “worship” through their actions in war or love. (Lancelot)

The LegendThe Legend King Uther of England, who was unmarried, loved

Igraine, another man’s wife. In disguise, the king deceived Igraine into thinking he was her husband. Arthur was the child born to Igraine as a result of their affair.

The wise man, Merlin, knew the baby was in danger because many men wanted Uther’s throne, so he asked Sir Ector & his wife to raise the infant Arthur with their own son, Kay.

When King Uther died, no one except Merlin knew Arthur’s true identity, which would be revealed when Arthur completed a task that only the rightful king could perform.

According to legend, Arthur became King of England and established his court at Camelot. He then gathered the best knights from the area to join with him in the fellowship of the Round Table. These knights lived according to the chivalric code.

Chivalry is not dead!Chivalry is not dead!

Chivalry is a code of behavior that medieval knights followed. It is usually associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love. The terms chivalry and chivalrous are used to describe courteous [polite] behavior, especially that of men towards women.

Code of ChivalryCode of Chivalry

The chivalric code stressed, among other things, loyalty to the king, courage, personal honor, and defending those who could not defend themselves.

The Code:

Honor Courage Generosity

Modesty Honesty Faith in God

Loyalty Civility Compassion

RULES/CODESRULES/CODES for 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 unto To by no means be cruel but to give mercy unto

him who asks for mercy him who asks for mercy

To always do ladies, gentlewomen and widows succor To always do ladies, gentlewomen and 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 widows To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows

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

To never lay down arms To never lay down arms

To seek after wonders To seek after wonders

RULES/CODESRULES/CODES for for KNIGHTSKNIGHTS When called upon, defend the rights of the weak When called upon, defend the rights of the weak

with all one's strength 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 honor To seek nothing before honor

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 according to his To grant hospitality to anyone, each according to his ability ability

Whether in honor or disgrace, to make a report with Whether in honor or disgrace, to make a report with the greatest fidelity to truth to those who keep the the greatest fidelity to truth to those who keep the annals annals

Knightly HierarchyKnightly Hierarchy

King: male ruler of the country

Queen: female ruler of the country or wife of a king

Duke: a nobleman of highest rank Duchess: a noblewoman of highest rank

Knight: a member of a medieval warrior class Archbishop: a bishop of the highest rank

Men and women of high social stature were addressed as Sir and Lady.

KNIGHTKNIGHT TRAININGTRAINING

Become Become a page a page

or or

varletvarlet

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 lords.reverence for their lords.

Initiated in ceremonies of the courtInitiated in ceremonies of the court

Carve, wait at table, and perform menial Carve, wait at table, and perform menial taskstasks

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

AGE 7 AGE 7

KNIGHTKNIGHT TRAININGTRAINING

AGE 14 AGE 14

BecomBecome a e a

squiresquire

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 Taught courtesy or refinements of civilizationcivilization

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

KNIGHTKNIGHT TRAININGTRAINING

AGE 21 AGE 21 Initiation Initiation

to the to the knighthooknighthoo

dd

Preparation for the Preparation for the Ceremony:Ceremony:

• Fast and spend whole Fast and spend whole nights in prayernights in prayer

• Confession and communionConfession and communion

• Clothed in snow-white Clothed in snow-white garmentgarment

• Go to church or hall where Go to church or hall where the ceremony is to be heldthe ceremony is to be held

• Wear a knightly sword Wear a knightly sword suspended from necksuspended from neck

“May virtue lead to immortal glory”

"Seize the Momentum of the New Era"

“One People, One Nation, One Destiny”

KNIGHTKNIGHT SHIELDS SHIELDS

YOUR TURN!YOUR TURN!

Do you have what it takes to be a Knight?Do you have what it takes to be a Knight?