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King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The Man, The Myth…. Did King Arthur really exist??? We know very little historically If he did exist, Arthur was probably a 5 th century warrior chief who protected his people from the Saxon invaders for a time. The Legend Begins….

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King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

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  1. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

  2. The Man, The Myth… • Did King Arthur really exist??? • We know very little historically • If he did exist, Arthur was probably a 5th century warrior chief who protected his people from the Saxon invaders for a time

  3. The Legend Begins… • Arthur is the son of King UltherPendragon and Igrayne, wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. • Pendragon makes a pact with Merlin the Magician. If Merlin assists him in winning Igrayne, then the King will give Merlin their child. • Through Merlin’s magic, Pendragon is transformed to look like Gorlois and makes love with Igrayne. Gorlois is soon killed and Pendragon immediately marries Igrayne. • Merlin delivered the newborn unchristened to Sir Ector. • Sir Ector christened the child and raised him as his own, along with his other son, Sir Kay

  4. “Whoso pulleth this sword out of this stone and anvil is rightly King of all England” • King Ulther died two years after Arthur’s birth, leaving England in turmoil – a country without a king. • Several years passed, until the lords of the realm gathered on Christmas Day looking for a miracle to show them who should rightly be King. • The “Sword in the Stone” appeared in the church courtyard, bearing the famous inscription.

  5. Who would be King? • It was decided that a tournament would be held to determine who would win the right to pull the sword out of the stone and, thus, be king. • Sir Ector and his son, Sir Kay, traveled to the tournament. • Sir Kay forgot his sword and asked his younger brother, Arthur, to retrieve it. • Arthur decided to get the sword that was in the stone and give it to Sir Kay.

  6. Arthur becomes King • Sir Ector and Sir Kay both knelt down to Arthur and told him the circumstances regarding his birth. • The Lords were upset because they did not want a boy who was not of “high blood” to govern their country. • The commoners finally cried out that Arthur was the rightful king and should be crowned. • Arthur was first knighted, then crowned, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. • Arthur swore to his Lords and Commoners to be a true King, and to govern with “true justice.”

  7. Excalibur • King Arthur's mythical sword • Sword in the stone only drawn by real king.

  8. The Land Called Camelot • Camelot is the legendary center of King Arthur’s realm • A dream city, a Utopia • If King Arthur did exist, Camelot, would not have resembled any grand place with spired palaces, but would have been much more basic and under constant warfare. • Name Camelot is of unknown origin

  9. The Land Called Camelot Arthur ruled in peace for many years… • Guinivere, daughter of King Leodegrance, married Arthur. • Sir Lancelot, son of the Lady of the Lake, Arthur’s “First Knight” • Merlin, wizard and advisor to the King. • Other Knights of the Round Table: Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad, Sir Percivale, Sir Bedivere

  10. King Arthur’s Round Table • Has become a symbol for equality • Given to Arthur by King Lodegreaunce (Guinevere's Father) • Knights sat around a round table while Arthur sat on a dais, above the table (equality, but still king) • Total number of knights depends on the source you consult • Seems to have started with 50 seats and grown, in literature to 150 (Malory); however, some accounts have it up to 1600 seats (very unlikely) • One chair left blank…

  11. Holy Grail • The cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper and which was used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch Christ’s blood when he was on the cross • Was introduced into the King Arthur legends by Robert de Boron in his medieval romance near the end of the 12th or beginning of the 13th century • The quest for the Holy Grail was the highest spiritual pursuit for a knight • The blank chair at the Round Table was said to be for the knight who would fulfill the quest for the Holy Grail

  12. Lancelot • Both the greatest and worst of the knights at the court of King Arthur • Son of king and raised by the Lady of the Lake (based on Welsh stories of lake fairies • Does all sorts of good deeds, including rescuing Guinevere from Maleagant, an unsuccessful quest for the Holy Grail, and another rescue of the Queen after she is condemned to be burned to death for adultery (with Lancelot)

  13. Sir Galahad • Son of Lancelot + Elaine • Seat was siege perilous • Quest for the Holy Grail

  14. Sir Kay • Arthur and Kay raised by Sir Ector • Kay was Arthur’s foster brother • Tries to claim sword in the stone

  15. Sir Gawain • King Arthur’s nephew • Defender of the poor • Ladies man

  16. Sir Mordred • Illegitimate son of Arthur • Traitor • Takes over Kingdom while Arthur is away

  17. The Age of Chivalry Arthur and his Knights Practiced the Code of Chivalry: Courage Justice Mercy Generosity Faith Nobility Hope

  18. Page, Squire, Knight • Age 7-Page • Servant in a household • Learns weaponry, courtesy, religion, etc. • Age 14- Squire • Personal aide to a knight • Age 18-21- Knight • If he can master the skills he is then knighted

  19. Le Morte D’Arthur • Arthur is fatally wounded in a battle with Mordred • Arthur requests Sir Bedivere to throw Excalibur, his sword, into the lake. • After Arthur’s third request, Sir Bedivere throws Excalibur into the lake where it is reclaimed by the Lady of the Lake.

  20. The Tales of King Arthur • Le Morte D’ Arthur – Sir Thomas Malory • The Once and Future King & The Sword in the Stone – T. H. White • Camelot, a musical – Alan J. Lerner & Frederick Loewe • King Arthur-The Marvel of the Sword – Mary Macleod

  21. Films about King Arthur Films based on the romantic myths about Arthur: • Camelot (1967) • Excalibur (1981) • The Sword in the Stone (1963) Films that adhere to an historic portrayal of Arthur: • King Arthur (2004) • First Knight (1995) • Braveheart (1995) • King Arthur: His Life and Legends (1995)

  22. Sources Haskell, Merrie. “People in Arthurian Legend.” Merrie Haskell’s King Arthur Page. November 2002. http://www.personal.umich.edu/>6 Nov 2007. Farrell, Scott. “The Seven Knightly Virtues.” Chivalry Today.2002 Shining Armor Enterprises. www.chilvarytoday. 6 Nov 2007. Prentice Hall. Literature. Bronze ed. Upper Saddle River. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000. Price, Brian. “A Code of Chilvary.” The Knighthood Chivalry and Tournaments Resource Library. 2003. http://www.Chronique.com. 6 Nov 2007

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