LEGENDS

CHARACTERISTICS:

• Story about heroes or heroines that is handed down from the past

• Often based on real people and events– As story is passed through time the characters,

setting and events become more imaginary and less factual

YOUR TURN --

With your group identify as many legends as you can in the next 3 minutes.

clock

Destiny:

• A predetermined life that we can’t change even if we want to.

Destiny????• With your group, discuss whether people

are born to do some particular thing. Consider:

* your feelings about your own future * individuals who have changed history through their dedication to a job or a goal.

YES NO

Medieval times (Middle Ages)

• In the Middle Ages, a king’s oldest son was considered the heir to his father’s throne.

• When the enemies of a king wanted to overtake his kingdom, they might try to kill his son.

Knight

• A soldier who possessed weaponry and a horse – 2 signs he had greater advantages than most people of his time.

• Once knighthood has been achieved, they are titled ‘Sir’

PAGE• Usually a boy of nobility beginning age 7 or 8 • sent to a Lord's castle to be trained• Learned about: horses, armor, weapons, how to handle hawks and

falcons, how to cut up a deer and how to carve meat because he was expected to serve the knight’s meals.

• Practiced fighting with a sword against a wooden stake, or "pell”• Learned to use a bow and arrow• Cleaned the coats of mail by rolling it in a barrel filled with sand.

* Also had to learn how to be courteous• The lady of the castle taught a young page manners, social graces, how to sing, and play instruments

• A priest would give the page religious training and he would often teach the page how to read and write.

Squire• Age of fourteen the page became a squire. • Followed their master on the battlefield to protect him if he fell.

– From the 13th century, they fought on the battlefield beside their knight.

• A squire was the knight’s assistant and the only one allowed to help the knight

• Responsibilities included: dressing the knight for battles and tournaments and taking care of the knight's armor and weapons.

• He had to become skilled in the use of the armor as well as the weapons.

• A squire had to get used to wearing the armor so it would be second nature to him when worn.

• A squire had to become skilled in using the lance, spear, or sword.

Lance

King Henry VIII’s armor

Knighthood• When considered ready, usually between the ages of 18 and 20, a

squire was dubbed a knight usually performed by the knight who trained him.

• The eve before becoming a knight, he confessed his sins to a priest. • He was given a symbolic bath and then he fasted, cleansing his soul.• Dressed all in white he prayed and kept watch over his armor and

his weapons in the chapel all night. • The next morning he would be dressed in symbolically colored

clothes - red (for his blood), white (for purity), and brown (for the return to the earth when he died).

• Gilded spurs were attached to his ankles and he was "girded" with a sword.

• By a tap on each shoulder with a sword, he was dubbed a knight, thus reminding him of his vows he promised to uphold. If a knight broke his vows or was dishonorable, he was stripped of his knighthood in another ceremony to bury him, because in the Middle Ages, " a knight without honor is no longer alive."

Round towers are older than the square ones (12th century).

Each tower housed 20 knights

They were never more than 20 miles apart because that’s how far they could march in one day.

In this way, they kept control of the territory.

King Arthur

• The Glastonbury and Somerset legends involve the boy Jesus together with his Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea building Glastonbury's first wattle and daub (building material) church. These legends gave rise to the continuing cult of the Virgin on the site of the present Lady Chapel and inspired the title 'Our Lady St. Mary of Glastonbury,' which is still used today.

Legend says that Joseph brought the ‘holy grail’ (the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and the cup which Joseph used to catch Jesus’ blood) to Avalon. When he reached Avalon (England), he was so tired that he stuck his staff into the ground and by morning it had taken root and grew into a tree. This bush only grows in this area and blooms twice a year – once in the spring and once at Christmas. Even today, a sprig of thorn is cut by the local Anglican vicar and the eldest child from St John's School, and sent to the Queen.

• For safe keeping, Joseph is said to have buried the Holy Grail just below the Tor (hill) at the entrance to the Underworld. Shortly after he had done this, a spring, now know as Chalice Well, flowed forth and the water that emerged brought eternal youth (good health) to whoever would drink it.

• The purpose behind the quests of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table was to find The Holy Grail Joseph is said to have hidden.

Chalise Well has been in almost constant use for over 2000 years and produces 25,000 gallons of water per day. It has never failed even in a drought.It is believed to have healing properties.

What is chivalry?

• In a legend, the hero’s main traits usually reflect the cultural values of the society – or the standards of behavior the society wants to promote.

• In the Middle Ages those values included:– Loyalty to those you

serve– Courteous to all– Always truthful– Always keep your

promises– Face danger with

courage– Show mercy to the weak

Does chivalry exist today?What are some examples of

chivalry?

• With your group discuss these two questions.

• In your notebook, write your personal response to these questions.

Tapestries: huge wall hangings that

are sewn by handThe following examples are

hanging in a hallway of the Vatican (home of the Pope).

As you walk down the hallway, Jesus’ eyesfollow you. This is one of the first times a piece of artwork employed this technique.