LLe Morte e Morte d’Arthurd’Arthur

Sir Thomas Malory

CContents:ontents:

-Sir Tomas Malory- -Sir Tomas Malory- historical factshistorical facts

-Le Morte d’Artur-Le Morte d’Artur

SSir Thomas Malory (c.1405-ir Thomas Malory (c.1405-

14/03/1471)14/03/1471) Few facts are certain in Malory's history. He was

probably born sometime around 1416 (though some scholars have suggested an earlier date). He died in March of 1471, less than two years after completing his great book. Twice elected to a seat in Parliament, he also accrued an impressive list of criminal charges during the 1450s, which included burglary, rape, sheep stealing, and attempting to ambush the Duke of Buckingham. He escaped from jail on two occasions, once fighting his way out using a variety of weapons and swimming a moat. He was imprisoned at several locations in London, but was occasionally out on bail. He was never brought to trial for the charges that had been levelled against him. In the 1460s he was at least once pardoned by the king (Henry VI), but more often, he was specifically excluded from pardon by both Henry VI and his rival and successor, Edward IV.

LLe Morte d’Arthure Morte d’Arthur This epic story, culminating with the death of King Arthur,

is based on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s much earlier one, but Malory introduces elements already popularised by the Romance- writers, and brings in other Arthur-related stories from elsewhere of the continent. Most of the events in the book take place in Britain and France in the latter half of the 5th century.

Malory likely started work on it while he was in prison in the early 1450s and completed it by 1470. Originally Malory intended Le Morte d’Arthur to be the title of only the final book of his cycle; he cals the full work The hoole booke of kyng Arthur & of his noble knyghtes of the rounde table. Coxton, who first printed the book in 1485, may have misunderstood the author’s intentions wen naming the book.

Caxton was also responsible for separating it into 21 books comprised of 507 chapters for easy reading. Originally, Malory divided his work principally into 8 tales.

1. The birth and rise of King Arthur 2. King Arthur’s war against the Romans 3. The book of Lancelot 4. The book of Gareth (brother of Gawain) 5. Tristram and Isolde 6. The Quest of the Holy Grail 7. The affair between Lancelot and

Ginevere 8. The breaking of the Knights of the

RoundTable and the death of Arthur.

PPlotlot Book 1 - The Prologues: the rape of Igraine by King

Uther. Arthur is born, fostered by Sir Ector and draws the sword from the stone. His coronation and his first three battles (Carlion, Bedegraine and Cameliard). He receives Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. By his half-sister Margawse, he unknowingly begets Mordred who is then lost at sea.

Book 2 - The adventures of Balin: his part in Arthur's fourth battle (Terrabil, in which most of Arthur's main enemies are defeated and his grip on the kingship of Britain is made secure) and how he deals the Dolorous Stroke to King Pellam, who becomes the Maimed King. The deaths of Balin and his brother Balan.

Book 3 - The wedding of Arthur and Guenevere and the adventure of Gawaine, Gaheris and Tor. Pellinore brings Nimue to court. The Knights of the Round Table are first sworn in.

Book 4 - Merlin's entombment by Nimue. Arthur's fifth battle (Humber) and Morgan le Fay's various magical attacks with Merlin safely out of the way. The adventures of Gawaine, Uwaine and Marhaus with The Goddess. Baby Mordred is lost at sea.

Book 5 - Arthur's 6th battle - his conquest of Rome. Launcelot appears.

Book 6 - The adventures of Sir Launcelot.

Book 7 - The adventures of Gareth: his conquest of the Red Knight as Beaumains and his marriage to Dame Lionesse.

Book 8 - The adventures of Tristram: his birth, coming of age and slaying of Marhaus. King Mark's marriage to La Beale Iseult in Cornwall and Tristram's marriage to Iseult la Blanche Mains in Brittany. His rivalry with Palomides for the love of Iseult, and his friendship with Lamorak on the Isle of Servage.

Book 9 - The adventures of Breunor le Noire: his shield quest as La Cote Male Taile. Tristram returns to Cornwall, goes mad, recovers, and is banished for ten years. The jousts at the Castle of the Maidens and at the Castle of the Hard Rock.

Book 10 - Odd tales, including the continuing rivalries between Tristram and Palomides, and between Gawaine and Lamorak, the treachery of King Mark and the adventures of Launcelot, Dinadan and various other knights. More jousting at Surluse and Lonazep.

Book 11 - Mention of Arthur's 7th battle, in France. Elaine rapes Launcelot and begets Galahad. Bors meets Baby Galahad and has a Sangreal adventure at Castle Corbin. Elaine rapes Launcelot again at Camelot, driving him insane.

Book 12 - After several years lost and in madness (possibly the entire youth of his son) Launcelot is cured by the Sangreal and becomes the Chevalier Mal Fet in exile. Eventually he returns to Camelot as Galahad comes of age at 15.

Book 13 - Galahad joins the Round Table, and it breaks up to pursue the Sangreal. He learns the story of Joseph of Aramathie and his magic shield.

Book 10 - Odd tales, including the continuing rivalries between Tristram and Palomides, and between Gawaine and Lamorak, the treachery of King Mark and the adventures of Launcelot, Dinadan and various other knights. More jousting at Surluse and Lonazep.

Book 11 - Mention of Arthur's 7th battle, in France. Elaine rapes Launcelot and begets Galahad. Bors meets Baby Galahad and has a Sangreal adventure at Castle Corbin. Elaine rapes Launcelot again at Camelot, driving him insane.

Book 12 - After several years lost and in madness (possibly the entire youth of his son) Launcelot is cured by the Sangreal and becomes the Chevalier Mal Fet in exile. Eventually he returns to Camelot as Galahad comes of age at 15.

Book 13 - Galahad joins the Round Table, and it breaks up to pursue the Sangreal. He learns the story of Joseph of Aramathie and his magic shield.

Book 14 - Percivale's temptation in the wilderness.

Book 15 - Launcelot's failure on the quest.

Book 16 - Bors' temptation in the wilderness, his estrangement from his brother Lionel, his meeting with Percivale, and his victory on the Quest.

Book 17 - Galahad, Bors, Percivale and his sister board King Solomon's magic boat, find the Sword of David and recount its long, twisted history. Percivale's sister dies giving blood. The remaining holy trio achieve the Sangreal and heal the Maimed King at Castle Corbin. They sail to Sarras, Galahad and Percivale die there. Bors returns to Camelot.

Book 18 - After more than a quarter of a century, Launcelot and Guenevere's adultery starts to become a problem. Guenevere is accused of murder and Launcelot saves her from being burned at the stake for the first time. He unwillingly causes the death of the Fair Maiden of Astolat.

Book 19 - Sir Meliagrance kidnaps Guenevere for lust and accuses her of sexual treason - Launcelot kills him, saving her from being burned at the stake for the second time. He cures Sir Urre by the laying-on-of-hands.

Book 20 - Agravaine finally catches an adulterous

Launcelot and Guenevere, Arthur sentences her for treason, Launcelot rescues her from being burnt at the stake (for the third and last time) and Arthur lays siege to his castle (his eighth battle), until the pope intervenes. Guenevere returns to Arthur and Launcelot returns to France with his kin. Arthur pursues Launcelot to France and Gawaine and Launcelot fight, but Arthur receives news (about Mordred) that causes him to return to England.

Book 21 - Mordred seizes his chance to usurp. Arthur returns and defeats him at Dover (his ninth battle) and Barham Down (where Gawaine dies, in his tenth battle). Father and son finally slay one another near Salisbury, Arthur's eleventh and final battle.

SSymbolsymbols

TThe Holy Grail- it is generally considered to be the cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper and the one used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch his blood as h hung on the cross. The term ‘grail’ comes from the Latin gradale, which meant a dish brought to the table during various stages or courses of a meal. In Chretien and other early writers, such a plate is intended by the term ‘grail’. In medieval romance, the grail was said was said to have been brought to Glastonbury in Britain by Joseph of Arimathea and his followers. In the time of Arthur, the quest for the Grail was the highest spiritual pursuit. For Chretien, author of Perceval and his continuators, Perceval is the knight who must achieve the quest for the Grail. For other French authors, as for Malory, Galahad is the chief Grail knight, though others (Perceval and Bors in the Morte d’Arthur) do achieve the quest.

CCamelotamelot- Although Camelot is, - Although Camelot is, for many modern readers, the for many modern readers, the legendary centre of King Arthur’s legendary centre of King Arthur’s realm, in many medieval texts realm, in many medieval texts Arthur holds court at Carleon or Arthur holds court at Carleon or other city. Camelot is first other city. Camelot is first mentioned in line 34 of mentioned in line 34 of Chretien Chretien de Troyes’s Lancelot;de Troyes’s Lancelot; and the and the name does not appear in all name does not appear in all manuscripts of that poem. In the manuscripts of that poem. In the thirteenth- century thirteenth- century Vulgate Vulgate Cycle, Cycle, Camelot becomes the Camelot becomes the principal city of Arthur’s kingdom principal city of Arthur’s kingdom and remains so in many later and remains so in many later texts. For the English- speaking texts. For the English- speaking world Camelot is Arthur’s central world Camelot is Arthur’s central city because of Malory, who city because of Malory, who identifies it with Winchester. identifies it with Winchester. Since Camelot is a legendary Since Camelot is a legendary place, we can not speak of its place, we can not speak of its exact location. exact location.

KKing Arthuring Arthur- King Arthur is a figure at the - King Arthur is a figure at the heart of the Arthurian legends. He is said to heart of the Arthurian legends. He is said to be the son of Uther Pendragon and Ygraine be the son of Uther Pendragon and Ygraine of Cornwall. Arthur is a near mythic figure in of Cornwall. Arthur is a near mythic figure in Celtic stories such as Celtic stories such as Culhwch and Olwen.Culhwch and Olwen. In early Latin chronicles he is presented as In early Latin chronicles he is presented as a military leader, the a military leader, the dux bellorumdux bellorum. In later . In later romance he is presented as a king and romance he is presented as a king and emperor. One of the questions that has emperor. One of the questions that has occupied those interested in King Arthur is occupied those interested in King Arthur is whether or not he is a historical figure. The whether or not he is a historical figure. The debate has raged since the Renaissance debate has raged since the Renaissance when Arthur’s historicity was vigorously when Arthur’s historicity was vigorously defended, partly because the Tudor defended, partly because the Tudor monarchs traced their lineage to Arthur and monarchs traced their lineage to Arthur and used that connection as a justification for used that connection as a justification for their reign. their reign.

If there is a historical basis to the character, If there is a historical basis to the character, it is clear that he would have gained fame it is clear that he would have gained fame as a warrior battling the Germanic invaders as a warrior battling the Germanic invaders of the late 5of the late 5thth and 6 and 6thth centuries. Since there centuries. Since there is no conclusive evidence for or against is no conclusive evidence for or against Arthur’s historicity, the debate will continue. Arthur’s historicity, the debate will continue.

IInconsistencynconsistency In book 2 Merlin states that Basdemagus is Arthur's cousin; in book

4 Sir Bagdemagus finds Merlin under a rock and eventually becomes a knight of the Round Table. In book 6 Launcelot fights at joust for King Bagdemagus and they are friends, yet by book 10 Bagdemagus hates Launcelot for no reason that is ever explained. In book 13 Sir Bagdemagus is sorely wounded by an otherworldly white knight, and barely survives. His tomb is found in book 17, his death at the hands of Sir Gawaine never being described, only referred to, and yet he is alive again advising Launcelot as a friend in book 20.

More crucially, King Pellam of Listeneise is wounded by Sir Balin with his own Spear of Longinus in book 2, and his (un-named) castle mostly destroyed. He becomes a (probably "the") Maimed King. In book 13 he is referred to once as King Pescheour - the Fisher King. In book 11, 15-20 years later, we meet the curiously similar King Pelles "of the foreign country", his spear-wound received magically on Solomon's boat is hardly mentioned and his castle (called Corbin, Carbonek or Adventurous) seems perfectly intact. His spear is called the Spear of Vengeance, and he has the Sangreal and a magic sword too. Pelles is referred to once as the Maimed King, suggesting he and Pellam are the same person, but because of one reference in book 17 where both appear briefly together, this author has assumed that Pellam and Pelles are two different Kings.