King ArthurKing ArthurThe Classic The Classic RomanceRomance

The Middle Aged Romance

The Middle Ages marks the period from 1066 to 1517 approximately.New form of literature developed in the middle ages—the RomanceA Romance is a long verse narrative about the adventures of knights and other heroes.Romances express nostalgia for a past, more perfect, age.

Middle ages cont.

Storytelling was big entertainment; “scops, bards, minstrels, etc. spread their stories orally, as most were illiterate.

By the mid 12th century, literate poets such as Chretien de Troyes began to write the legends, creating more polished, “courtly” versions to be recited at formal gatherings.

Who was a Knight?Who was a Knight?

Celebrated in romance Celebrated in romance stories as believers in stories as believers in chivalrychivalryFollowed a chivalric code: Followed a chivalric code: bravery, honor, loyalty, bravery, honor, loyalty, piety, generosity to foes, piety, generosity to foes, protector of womenprotector of womenUsually a brave, but Usually a brave, but crude warrior in early crude warrior in early storiesstoriesIn 12In 12thth century, became century, became “polished” and aristocratic“polished” and aristocratic

His “lady” was rarely his His “lady” was rarely his wife or anyone he could wife or anyone he could hope to marry.hope to marry.Proved himself to his Proved himself to his “lady” by adventure or “lady” by adventure or questquestHis quest was fulfilled by His quest was fulfilled by a long journey with a long journey with supernatural events, evil supernatural events, evil adversaries, and magical adversaries, and magical allies allies Struggle between good Struggle between good and evil (journey into the and evil (journey into the dark side of humanity)dark side of humanity)

Was King Arthur real?Was King Arthur real?

The legend is based on The legend is based on a 6a 6thth century Celtic century Celtic warlord who lived in warlord who lived in Wales.Wales.

He led his people He led his people against Saxon invaders against Saxon invaders from Germany.from Germany.

He supposedly was He supposedly was wounded in battle and wounded in battle and buried at the abbey of buried at the abbey of Glastonbury in England.Glastonbury in England.

The legend emerges…

In 817, a monk named Nennius composed the 1st written account of King Arthur—in Latin.

In 12th cent., Geoffrey of Monmouth, a historian, added Arthur to his history of British kings, including the story of Merlin and Queen Guinevere.

The legend grows…

Stories about Arthur grew in number and detail as the legends cycled through France, Spain, Germany, and Italy.

New characters were added, including Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, and Sir Percival

In the 12th century, Chretien de Troyes wrote the version which became popular and accepted all over Europe

Sir Thomas Malory’s Arthur

Malory completed a prose version of the Arthurian saga in 1470.

He gathered all of the tales circulating in Europe since the onset of the Middle Ages.

Le Morte d’ Arthur was published 1st in 1485 by William Caxton, the first English printer.

Malory’s legacyMalory’s legacy Le Morte d’ ArthurLe Morte d’ Arthur proposes proposes

a return to the ideals of a return to the ideals of chivalry, to a simpler way of chivalry, to a simpler way of life with established codes life with established codes of behavior.of behavior.

Le Morte d’ ArthurLe Morte d’ Arthur is the is the first English prose epic, the first English prose epic, the last great medieval romance last great medieval romance and one of the 2 most and one of the 2 most important pieces from the important pieces from the Middle Ages (2Middle Ages (2ndnd is is Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales).).

T. H. White continues the T. H. White continues the chronicles of Arthurchronicles of Arthur

• The Once and Future The Once and Future KingKing: a tetralogy : a tetralogy consisting of “The consisting of “The Sword in the Stone,” Sword in the Stone,” “The Witch in the “The Witch in the Wood, “ and “The Ill- Wood, “ and “The Ill- Made Knight.”Made Knight.”

• He published He published The The Book of MerlynBook of Merlyn in in 1977.1977.

The story behind The story behind “The Sword in the Stone:“The Sword in the Stone:

King Uther of King Uther of England loved England loved Igraine, another Igraine, another Knight’s wifeKnight’s wife

With help of magic, With help of magic, he deceived Igraine he deceived Igraine into thinking he was into thinking he was her husband.her husband.

Arthur was the child Arthur was the child conceived of this conceived of this “trick.”“trick.”

Merlin and Arthur, the child

The great magician Merlin protected Arthur, taking him to Sir Ector and asking him to raise Arthur as his own child.

No one knew Arthur’s identity until he revealed it by pulling out the famous “sword in the stone.”

The Round Table

• As a part of his education, Arthur had been “turned into animals” to see the world from different perspectives.

• While he was King, Arthur established an order of knights who believed in “might for right.”

• To equalize ranking, knights would join each other at the “Round Table” to make laws and discuss ways to help the oppressed.

Deadly family tiesDeadly family ties Arthur’s half sister, Arthur’s half sister,

Morgan le Fay—an evil Morgan le Fay—an evil sorceress herself-- sorceress herself-- constantly plots to constantly plots to destroy him and his destroy him and his knights.knights.

Mordred, perhaps Mordred, perhaps Arthur’s son by Morgan Arthur’s son by Morgan le Fay or just his le Fay or just his nephew, wars against nephew, wars against Arthur for possession of Arthur for possession of his kingdom, Camelot.his kingdom, Camelot.

Arthur the Warrior King

Fought war against the Roman emperor Lucius and conquered much of Europe

Called home because his nephew Modred had seized his kingdom and queen

Began the quest for the Holy Grail upon returning home

Arthur, the husband and friend

Guinevere, the beautiful daughter of a king, became Arthur’s beloved Queen.

Launcelot, the greatest of Arthur’s knights, was the best and worst of friends to Arthur.

Arthur, Guinevere, and Launcelot emerge as the world’s most famous love triangle.

Sir Launcelot du LakeSir Launcelot du Lake• 150 Knights sat with King 150 Knights sat with King

Arthur at the Round Table, Arthur at the Round Table, but only one was his but only one was his favorite—Launcelot.favorite—Launcelot.

• Devoted to Arthur and in Devoted to Arthur and in love with Queen Guinevere, love with Queen Guinevere, Launcelot became torn Launcelot became torn causing great suffering for causing great suffering for all three. all three.

• To prove his worthiness and To prove his worthiness and overcome his dilemma, overcome his dilemma, Launcelot set off on a quest Launcelot set off on a quest like any brave knight would like any brave knight would do.do.

Even when man dies, the Even when man dies, the legend lives on.legend lives on.

• Arthur returns Arthur returns Excalibur before he Excalibur before he dies.dies.

• Arthur is taken away Arthur is taken away by “the ladies of the by “the ladies of the lake” to be buried in lake” to be buried in Avalon.Avalon.

• The ruins of The ruins of Glastonbury Abbey Glastonbury Abbey may be the original isle may be the original isle of Avalon.of Avalon.

Arthur’s gravesite?Arthur’s gravesite?A marker there reads…A marker there reads…• ““Site of King Arthur’s TombSite of King Arthur’s Tomb In the year 1191 the bodies In the year 1191 the bodies

of King Arthur and his queen of King Arthur and his queen were said to have been were said to have been found on the south side of found on the south side of the Lady Chapel.the Lady Chapel.On 19On 19thth April 1278 their April 1278 their remains were removed in remains were removed in the presence of King Edward the presence of King Edward and Queen Eleanor to a and Queen Eleanor to a black marble tomb on this black marble tomb on this site. The tomb survived site. The tomb survived until the dissolution of the until the dissolution of the abbey in 1539.”abbey in 1539.”

Is there “romance” today?

J.R.R. Tolkein was a professor of medieval languages and literature at Oxford University.

His Lord of the Rings trilogy draws upon medieval romance characteristics to create the memorable characters and story lines we love today.