Hardships/Changes occurring during Medieval Times
Plagues
Lack of sanitation and spread of disease
Political battles
Civil unrest
Crusades
Spread of Christianity to all Pagans
A Legend….1. is a tale based on history passed down through
the oral tradition or written manuscript2. has more historical truth 3. has fewer supernatural elements4. celebrates the heroic qualities of a national or
cultural leader5. expresses the spirit, values, and character of a
nation6. is considered inherently true; whereas, a myth is
considered inherently false
The Code of ChivalryGentlemanly and heroic behavior Combination of Christian and military ideals
Valor and BraveryModesty and HonorLoyalty and Love of GodCourtesy and Justice
Knights of the Round TableBrotherhood of soldiersOf noble birth, but no longer wealthy Survived by working for the noblesAttempted to live up to the Code of Chivalry
The Legend of King Arthur
One of the most popular and enduring legends of Western culture
But, a real person named Arthur did not exist
Who is King Arthur?King Arthur is known as:
The King who combined all British tribes into one kingdomThe King who defended the British from invading Anglo-Saxon armiesAn amazing politician who used the Round Table as a way to prevent jealousy amongst his knightsThe “Arthur” character most likely based on one or more influential and successful Celtic military leaders
Characteristics of anEpic Romance
A hero
A quest
A perilous journey
An enchantment
A disguise
The triumph of good over evil
The HeroMust be of noble birth or high social position
Must reflect values important to his society
Must often battle supernatural forces
His actions consist of courageous, even superhuman deeds
The Quest
An expedition to achieve a specified goal
For the Knights of the Round table, their ultimate quest was to locate the Holy Grail
The Perilous JourneyConsists of dangerous obstacles and adventures that occur while on a quest, but not related to the ultimate goal
Epic romances usually follow characters through most of their lives as they quest for the goal
An Enchantment
Usually a magical spell of some sort
Acts as evidence of the supernatural involved in the legend
The Disguise
Sometimes a literal reference to someone hiding his/her identity through either normal means or magical means
Can refer to the hidden agenda/purpose of a character in a tale