King Arthur

Objectives Use prior knowledge to brainstorm definitions of

terms associated with the legend of King Arthur.

Participate in class discussions about the popularity of King Arthur over time and the way that the people, places, and things associated with King Arthur have become symbolic to people around the world.

Identify the historical background, appeal and value, Arthurian hero and principal characters.

Who is King Arthur?What is the historical background?

What is the appeal and value?Who is the Arthurian hero?Who are the principal characters?

Essential Questions

1) Please get into groups of FOUR.2) Grab ONE piece of paper per group. 3) Work together quickly and quietly to write

down what you know about each of the words revealed on the next few slides.

4) Work quiet enough so other groups will not hear and copy your information.

5) I will reveal the words one at a time. 6) Groups have 60 seconds to record as much

information/brainstorming as they can about each word.

Warm-Up Activity

King Arthur

We don’t know. #IDK

Tales of King Arthur, the great legendary hero of Britain, have been popular for more than 800 years.

Scholars have been unable to learn much about the real Arthur because no contemporary accounts of his deeds exist.

Probably a Welsh cavalry general named Artorius, who led 12 attacks against invading Saxons between A.D. 500 and 517

Who is King Arthur?

The Sword in the Stone

A novel by T.H. White published in 1938

Initially stand-alone work but now first part of The Once and Future King

A fantasy of the boyhood of King Arthur

Combines elements of legend, history, fantasy and comedy

Walt Disney made it an animated film and BBC adapted it to radio

In our version, “Whoever pulls out this sword is the lawfully born king of Britain.”

The Sword in the Stone

Excalibur

Legendary sword of King ArthurSeparate from the Sword in the

stoneOur version: Given to King

Arthur from the Lady of the Lake“Lady, what sword is being held

above that water by that arm? I wish that it were mine, for I have no sword.”

“King Arthur, that is my sword, Excalibur, but I will give it to you if you will give me a gift when I ask for it.” (Rosenberg, 433).

Excalibur

Knights of the Round

Table

King Arthur’s famed table where he and his knights congregate

First described in 1155 by Wace Briefly mentioned in our versionGiven to King Arthur as a

wedding gift to bring peace among all of his knights, since the table has neither a head nor a foot

“Whenever the knights meet, their thrones, their services, and their relationship to one another will be equal.” (Rosenberg, 433).

Knights of the Round Table

Sir Lancelot

One of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian legend

King Arthur’s greatest champion

Our version: Son of King Ban of Benwick; greatest knight of the Round Table; one of Arthur’s two favorite knights; champion of Guinevere and her favorite knight

Sir Lancelot

Please return to seats for foursquare note-taking.

1)Historical Background2)Appeal and Value3)Code of Conduct for Knights 4)Principal Characters

The Legend of King ArthurNo formal written records

about ArthurScholars think the real

Arthur was a Welsh cavalry general named Artorius- 12 successful attacks against the invading Saxons from 500-517 CE

Geoffrey Ashe, prominent Arthur Scholar, identifies Arthur with Riothamus, a Roman soldier who completed a campaign in Gaul around 454 CE

Historical Background

1) Geoffrey of Monmouth (1136 CE)Literature rather than

historyCreated the idea of

Arthur as a British kingAdded Guinevere and

MerlinAdded the aspects of

Arthur’s unusual birth and death

Historical Background

2) Chrétien de Troyes (1175 CE)Author of Chevrefoil-a

poem about Tristan and Isolde

Added courtly love, knights as heroes and lovers

Lancelot-epic poem-introduces the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere for the first time

Historical Background

3) Morte Arthure (14th c. CE)British pieceFocus was on Arthur as a

proud warrior and great hero

Nationalistic perspectiveNO courtly love, chivalry

or court of knightsGawain is the #1 Knight,

Lancelot is ancillary

Historical Background

4) Sir Thomas Malory (1485)• Pulled from Geoffrey of

Monmouth and Chrétien de Troyes previous works

• Arthur is known as one of the greatest world rulers, comparable to Alexander the Great.

• Arthur does not return to Britain until he is crowned Emperor of Rome.

• Introduction of Mordred’s treachery, Guinevere’s infidelity and collapse of the Round Table

Historical Background

Very complex and variedAppeals to almost every taste19th century versions: Mark Twain’s A

Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King

20th century: John Steinbeck, T.H. White and Mary Stewart

THEME: Conflict between personal desires and responsibility to others

Appeal and Value

1) Loyal to the king2) Loyal to relatives and friends3) Loyal to the lady he loved4) Courteous and gentle in the presence of

women5) Courageous at all times6) Be a man of honor

The challenge to Knights is to balance all of the above.

Code of Conduct for Knights

Principal Characters

Please answer the following briefly:1) What they would like to learn more about King Arthur’s legend?

2) What was one new piece of information about King Arthur’s legend you learned today?

Exit Slip