Arthurian Legends

Arthurian Arthurian LegendsLegends

Arthurian LegendsArthurian Legends Takes place in Great Britain Takes place in Great Britain Fictional Legends with many Fictional Legends with many

different versionsdifferent versions Sir Thomas Malory brought together Sir Thomas Malory brought together the first collectionthe first collection

1212thth and 13 and 13thth Century Century

CamelotCamelot

CastleCastle

3 Classes of Medieval 3 Classes of Medieval SocietySociety

NobilityNobility CommoneCommonersrs

• Clergy

Round TableRound Table Mystical Table in Mystical Table in

CamelotCamelot

Symbol of UnitySymbol of Unity

Given to Arthur by Given to Arthur by King Lodegreaunce King Lodegreaunce (Guinevere's (Guinevere's Father)Father)

Holy GrailHoly Grail In Christian mythology the In Christian mythology the

cup used by Jesus during cup used by Jesus during the last supper.the last supper.

In Arthurian legends the In Arthurian legends the hero must prove himself hero must prove himself worthy to be in its worthy to be in its presencepresence

““Siege Perilous”Siege Perilous” Special seat at Round Table for the Special seat at Round Table for the

knight destined to return with the knight destined to return with the Holy GrailHoly Grail

Sir Galahad- only knight who sits in Sir Galahad- only knight who sits in it.it.

Fatal to anyone else who sat in it.Fatal to anyone else who sat in it.

Excalibur (Cut Stele)Excalibur (Cut Stele) King Arthur's King Arthur's

mythical swordmythical sword

Given by the Given by the Lady of the LakeLady of the Lake

Sword in the Sword in the stone could only stone could only drawn by real drawn by real king.king.

Page, Squire, KnightPage, Squire, Knight Age 7-PageAge 7-Page

Servant in a householdServant in a household Learns weaponry, courtesy, Learns weaponry, courtesy,

religion, etc.religion, etc. Age 14- SquireAge 14- Squire

Personal aide to a knight Personal aide to a knight Age 18-21- KnightAge 18-21- Knight

If he can master the skills If he can master the skills he is then knightedhe is then knighted

ChivalryChivalry Ideas associated Ideas associated

with medieval with medieval knighthoodknighthood

ExamplesExamples HonorHonor Courtly loveCourtly love BraveryBravery Loyalty to KingLoyalty to King

King ArthurKing Arthur Son of Uther Son of Uther

Pendragon + IgrainePendragon + Igraine

Raised by Sir EctorRaised by Sir Ector

Drew the sword fromDrew the sword from the stonethe stone

Married to Guinevere Married to Guinevere

Sir LancelotSir Lancelot A French inventionA French invention

Greatest of King Greatest of King Arthur’s KnightsArthur’s Knights

One of the most trustedOne of the most trusted

Has an affair with Has an affair with GuinevereGuinevere

Sir GalahadSir Galahad Son of Lancelot + Son of Lancelot +

ElaineElaine

The only knight to sit in The only knight to sit in the “siege perilous”the “siege perilous”

Quest for the Holy GrailQuest for the Holy Grail

Sir KaySir Kay Arthur and Kay Arthur and Kay

raised by Sir Ectorraised by Sir Ector

Kay was Arthur’s Kay was Arthur’s foster brotherfoster brother

Tries to claim sword Tries to claim sword in the stonein the stone

Sir GawainSir Gawain King Arthur’s King Arthur’s

nephewnephew

Defender of Defender of the poorthe poor

Ladies manLadies man

Sir MordredSir Mordred Illegitimate son of Illegitimate son of

Arthur & Morgan Le Arthur & Morgan Le Faye??Faye??

TraitorTraitor

Takes over Kingdom Takes over Kingdom while Arthur is awaywhile Arthur is away

Merlin(s)Merlin(s)

Warrior / Wizard / DisneyWarrior / Wizard / Disney

King’s AdvisorKing’s Advisor

Mentor to Morgan Le FayMentor to Morgan Le Fay

Morgan le FayMorgan le Fay ““Fay” is French for “fairy”Fay” is French for “fairy”

King Arthur’s half sisterKing Arthur’s half sister

Studied the evil arts under Studied the evil arts under MerlinMerlin

Conjured the Green Knight to Conjured the Green Knight to test test

the knights of the round tablethe knights of the round table

Seduced many knights (in one Seduced many knights (in one version, even King Arthur—version, even King Arthur—resulting in son, Mordred)resulting in son, Mordred)

The Siege of BenwickThe Siege of Benwick Lancelot kills Lancelot kills

Gawain’s brothers in Gawain’s brothers in the process of saving the process of saving GuinevereGuinevere

Gawain convinces Gawain convinces Arthur to lay siege on Arthur to lay siege on Benwick (France) Benwick (France) where Lancelot iswhere Lancelot is

Gawain calls out Gawain calls out Lancelot to avenge his Lancelot to avenge his brothersbrothers

The Siege of BenwickThe Siege of Benwick Sir Gawain and Sir Sir Gawain and Sir

Lancelot battleLancelot battle

Sir Gawain becomes Sir Gawain becomes stronger for 3 hours, stronger for 3 hours, until noon—weakensuntil noon—weakens

Sir Lancelot shows Sir Lancelot shows forbearance and forbearance and does not kill himdoes not kill him

Meanwhile:Meanwhile:The Siege of The Siege of BenwickBenwick

Mordred falsely Mordred falsely proclaimed himself proclaimed himself the King of England the King of England

Incestuously claimed Incestuously claimed Guinevere as wife.Guinevere as wife.

Guinevere escaped Guinevere escaped to the Tower of to the Tower of LondonLondon

The Siege of BenwickThe Siege of Benwick Bishop of Canterbury did not Bishop of Canterbury did not consent to Mordred’s—went consent to Mordred’s—went

away to become a hermitaway to become a hermit

Arthur dreams of dead Arthur dreams of dead Gawain warning him to Gawain warning him to postpone the battle till postpone the battle till Lancelot can helpLancelot can help

Gawain’s ghost tells Arthur Gawain’s ghost tells Arthur that he and Mordred will diethat he and Mordred will die

The Day of DestinyThe Day of Destiny Mordred meets Arthur Mordred meets Arthur

at Dover, they discuss at Dover, they discuss a delaya delay

They make a truce They make a truce until a knight draws until a knight draws his sword (to kill an his sword (to kill an adder)adder)

The opponents see The opponents see

the glint of his sword the glint of his sword and the battle begins.and the battle begins.

The Day of DestinyThe Day of Destiny As predicted, almost As predicted, almost

all die in the epic all die in the epic battlebattle

Arthur kills MordredArthur kills Mordred

But Arthur is But Arthur is mortally wounded mortally wounded and is brought by and is brought by Bedivere to the Bedivere to the nearest church.nearest church.

I am your father, Luke

The Day of DestinyThe Day of Destiny

Arthur tasked Arthur tasked Bedivere to throw the Bedivere to throw the sword into the lake.sword into the lake.

He failed to obey He failed to obey Arthur twiceArthur twice

Finally he throws Finally he throws Excalibur into the lakeExcalibur into the lake

The Day of DestinyThe Day of Destiny

The Lady of the The Lady of the Lake catches the Lake catches the sword and sword and brandished it brandished it thricethrice

The Day of DestinyThe Day of Destiny Bedivere carries Bedivere carries

Arthur to the Arthur to the waterside and puts waterside and puts him in a bargehim in a barge

He is then set adrift He is then set adrift by the four queensby the four queens

He is said to return He is said to return to Avalon (knight’s to Avalon (knight’s paradise)paradise)