Le Morte d’ArthurLe Morte d’Arthur

MaloryMalory ArthurArthur GuinevereGuinevere LancelotLancelot MordredMordred

ValkyrieValkyrie Easter SundayEaster Sunday Grail LegendGrail Legend Hero characteristicsHero characteristics Symbols/allusionsSymbols/allusions Why Arthur meets Why Arthur meets

Mordred at Mordred at Salisbury PlainSalisbury Plain

ArthurArthur

ArthurArthur

HistoricalHistorical Tribal chieftain?Tribal chieftain? Based on Lucius Artorius Castus (AD Based on Lucius Artorius Castus (AD

184),stationed in Britain, who led his 184),stationed in Britain, who led his troops into Gaul to quell a rebellion?troops into Gaul to quell a rebellion?

458-60: Riothamus leads British 458-60: Riothamus leads British contingent of British migrants into contingent of British migrants into Brittany; thought by some to be original Brittany; thought by some to be original “Arthur” figure“Arthur” figure

496: Britons under command of “war leader” 496: Britons under command of “war leader” Arthur, defeat Saxons at Seige of Mount BadonArthur, defeat Saxons at Seige of Mount Badon

501: Arthur mentioned in Welsh poem 501: Arthur mentioned in Welsh poem commemmorating Battle of Llongborth commemmorating Battle of Llongborth

537 or 542: Battle of Camlann. Death there of 537 or 542: Battle of Camlann. Death there of Arthur, acc’d to Geoffrey of Monmouth, AD 542Arthur, acc’d to Geoffrey of Monmouth, AD 542

600: Welsh bard writes “Y Gododdin” alluding to 600: Welsh bard writes “Y Gododdin” alluding to Arthur’s prowess as a warriorArthur’s prowess as a warrior

1019: Writers of saints’ lives include mentions of 1019: Writers of saints’ lives include mentions of Arthur and his exploitsArthur and his exploits

Guinevere in the Golden Daysby

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale (1872-1945), "Guinevere in the Golden Days" from: Idylls of the King. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1911.

                                                                                                                                                        

This picture illustrates the lines from Tennyson's "Guinevere" idyll:

As in the golden days.

GuinevereGuinevere

Born in CameliardBorn in Cameliard Married ArthurMarried Arthur Love affair with LancelotLove affair with Lancelot Joined a cloisterJoined a cloister Legends speak of “Gwenhwyfar” as Legends speak of “Gwenhwyfar” as

“ “more faithless” than all the faithless more faithless” than all the faithless wives in Englandwives in England

Yoko OnoYoko Ono

LancelotLancelot

LancelotLancelot

Comes late in the legendComes late in the legend Best of Arthur’s knightsBest of Arthur’s knights Paragon of ChivalryParagon of Chivalry Won’t kill defeated knights; never wore Won’t kill defeated knights; never wore

ladies’ favors during tournamentsladies’ favors during tournaments Wears a magical ring, given to him by Wears a magical ring, given to him by

Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, which Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, which protects himprotects him

LancelotLancelot

The Queen’s championThe Queen’s champion Betrays Arthur with GuinevereBetrays Arthur with Guinevere Caught by MordredCaught by Mordred Adulterers charged with treason; must Adulterers charged with treason; must

be punishedbe punished Lancelot escapes to FranceLancelot escapes to France Returns to rescue the condemned Returns to rescue the condemned

GuinevereGuinevere

MORDREDMORDRED

Mordred (Modred, Medrawd, or Medraut) Mordred (Modred, Medrawd, or Medraut) has become the quintessential traitorous has become the quintessential traitorous villain in the Arthurian tradition. villain in the Arthurian tradition.

Arthur's bastard son by his half-sister Arthur's bastard son by his half-sister Morgause, the wife of King Lot. This Morgause, the wife of King Lot. This incestuous begetting, alternately an incestuous begetting, alternately an innocent mistake on the part of both innocent mistake on the part of both parties, or a perverted seduction on parties, or a perverted seduction on Morgause's part, can in part explain why Morgause's part, can in part explain why Mordred's character and sense of loyalty is Mordred's character and sense of loyalty is so twisted so twisted

Why Arthur meets Mordred at Why Arthur meets Mordred at Salisbury PlainSalisbury Plain

When rescuing Guinevere, Lance kills When rescuing Guinevere, Lance kills Gawain’s brother, a guardGawain’s brother, a guard

Gawain demands vengeance, forcing Gawain demands vengeance, forcing Arthur to attack Lance’s French Arthur to attack Lance’s French castlecastle

While Arthur is away, Mordred leads While Arthur is away, Mordred leads a rebellion in England, claiming the a rebellion in England, claiming the throne, trying to seize Guineverethrone, trying to seize Guinevere

Salisbury Plain, cont’dSalisbury Plain, cont’d

Arthur returns from France to defend his Arthur returns from France to defend his crowncrown

Arthur and Gawain battle Mordred at Arthur and Gawain battle Mordred at Dover Dover

Gawain is fatally wounded, but manages Gawain is fatally wounded, but manages to message Lance to come and help Arthur to message Lance to come and help Arthur regain his courtregain his court

Arthur regroups his men and moves to Arthur regroups his men and moves to face Mordred, his sonface Mordred, his son

DE CASIBUS WHEELDE CASIBUS WHEEL

Wheel of Wheel of Fortune!!!!!!!!!!!Fortune!!!!!!!!!!!

Start at bottom, revolve Start at bottom, revolve as Fates decideas Fates decide

3 Fates: spin the 3 Fates: spin the thread, lead it out, cut it thread, lead it out, cut it offoff

ValkyrieValkyrie