Arthurian LegendArthurian Legend

The BasicsThe Basics

Who is King Arthur? Who is King Arthur?

• Warrior?• King? • Legend?

RecordsRecords

• What is Arthur famous for?

• Geoffrey on Monmouth?– History of Britain

• Sir Thomas Malory?– Author, Le’ Morte de Arthur

Important PeopleImportant People

• King Uther Pendragon • Duchess Igraine • King Arthur Pendragon• Queen Guinevere • Merlin• Lancelot• Morgause• Morgan Le Fay• Nyneve• Gawain• Mordred

King Uther and Duchess IgraineKing Uther and Duchess Igraine

• Arthur’s parents

• Self-seeking background

• Uther Loves Igraine

• Merlin interferes…

• Igraine begets Arthur– Who is Arthur’s father?

ArthurArthur• Childhood is obscure at

best• Sword in the stone

(Excalibur)• Warrior; teenage king• Marries Guinevere• Has an affair with many—

Morgause being the most famous

• Disney's Sword in the Stone

GuinevereGuinevere

• Noble birth (usually assumed)

• Married Arthur• Most versions claim

she has an affair with Lancelot

• Adultery leads to the downfall of Arthur

• Mordred?

MerlinMerlin• Wizard, warlock,

sorcerer • Arthur’s mentor• Involved/engineers the

birth of Arthur thru magic and intrigue: uses Uther as a vessel

• Villain or hero? • Lady of the Lake; Lover

or enemy?

LancelotLancelot

• Knight of the round table• Well respected and fully

trusted by Arthur• Historically accepted as

Guinevere’s lover• Retreated to France;

pursued by Arthur• Act results in the death of

Gawain's brothers, the rift b/t Lancelot and Gawain, and Mordred's betrayal of King Arthur.

Morgause & Morgan Le FayMorgause & Morgan Le Fay

• Morgause– Sister or half sister? Of

Arthur – Mother of Mordred &

Gawain – Sorceress? – Seductress or

innocent adulterer?

• Morgan Le Fay– Half sister of Arthur– Antagonist? V.

Guinevere – Sorceress– Healer? – Avalon? – Fairy?

Nyneve/Vivien/Lady of the LakeNyneve/Vivien/Lady of the Lake

• Merlin’s love• Merlin’s downfall• Lady of the Lake’s

Maiden• Enchantress• Antagonist?

Protagonist?

MordredMordred

• Son of Arthur and Morgause (Illegitimate)

• Discovers Lancelot and Guinevere

• Tries to take over the kingdom while Arthur is fighting Lancelot

• Seduces Guinevere?• Killed and “Kills” Arthur

GawainGawain

• Arthur’s nephew• Mordred’s half brother• Closest heir to the

throne• Courteous• Model for Chivalry • “Maiden’s knight”

Terms to Know…Terms to Know…• Code of Chivalry- moral system idealizing

knighthood, honor, and bravery

• Legend- a narrative of human actions told by a storyteller

• Medieval Romance- a tale of high adventure; can be a religious crusade, rescue, or conquest.

• Summarize- to express concisely in your own words.

What is Courtly Love?What is Courtly Love?

Andreas Capellanus:

“Love is a certain inborn suffering derived from the sight of and excessive meditation upon the beauty of the opposite sex, which causes each one to wish above all things the embraces of the other and by common desire to carry out all of

love’s precepts in the other’s embrace” (p.28).

C. S. Lewis:

Humility

CourtesyAdultery

Religion of Love