Arthur and His Legend

1. Arthur and His Legend Man, Myth, Archetype

2. Why is Arthur important? • Gave conquered people a hero (6th-11th c) • warrior chief • Forms a cultural identity/common history for England (Anglo-Normans) • chivalric king • knights • 2nd most referenced character in Western literature

3. Did Arthur really exist? Possibly • Celtic/Anglo-Saxon Arthur • Welsh chieftain • warrior in the histories of 500-1100 • may have really existed – not a king • Anglo-Norman Arthur (the one we know) • could just be a combination of great leaders • Normans add chivalry, romance, quest, love, etc. • Norman romances focus more on knights.

4. Important Authors Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain • 12th century • fictional account • collects earlier writings and brings legend to the forefront • attracts attention of new generation of writers • no stories of knights, just Arthur and warfare • introduces Merlin • *one of the most influential books of the Middle Ages Chretien de Troyes, (Cray'te'en day Twa), Lancelot • 12th century • introduces character of Lancelot • romance / single hero adventures Sir Thomas Malory, (see literature book, page 169), The Death of Arthur • 1400's • premier Arthurian work • combines histories and romances

5. Themes of the Legend • Love Triangle • Copied throughout Western Literature • Traitor • Judas figure – Mordred • Lancelot • Grail • Cup that Jesus drank out of at the Last Supper • Joseph of Arimithea brought grail to England • What does the grail represent? • Unanswered philosophical / cosmological questions • “quest” which requires much of the individual • Fall of the central community / end of order • Messianic Return • “Once and Future King”

6. Characters • Arthur • wise, generous, magnanimous, trustworthy, loyal, human • the ideal Christian hero • son of UtherPengragon and Igraine

7. Characters • Guinevere – Arthur’s wife • Merlin – magician / protector of boy king • Sir Galahad • illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine • last descendant of Joseph of Arimethea • perfect knight • only one to fulfill Grail quest • fills Siege Perilous at round table • Percival (Perceval) • awarded sight of the Holy Grail • not an exceptionally bright knight • Sir Gawain • nephew of Arthur • known as “the Courteous” • the best of the chivalrous knights • (later stories downgrade his importance) • was Arthur’s favorite before Lancelot

8. Characters • Lancelot – most famous of all knights • favorite of Arthur • champion and lover of Guinevere • fights war with Arthur • kills Gawain • goes back to England to find Arthur dead, round table dissolved, and Guinevere a nun; becomes a monk himself • character was a French creation. Bedivere was Welsh figure • Mordred – Arthur’s son / traitor • Morgan Le Fay (Morgause) – Arthur’s half-sister • enchantress • seeks revenge on Arthur • Igraine – also known as Ygerna • wife of Duke Gorlois of Cornwall • mother of Arthur • UtherPendragon • in love with Igraine • came to Igraine disguised as her husband; thus Arthur was conceived

9. Important Places • Tintagel • Igraine • place of Arthur’s conception • Glastonbury • small town in England where Arthur is supposedly buried • lies in and around a cluster of hills, the tallest of which is called Tor • Avalon • island of Celtic mythology • supposedly where Arthur is taken after his final battle • home of Morgan Le Fay • Atlantis • Isle of Apples • Camelot

10. Important Objects • Sword in the Stone • Arthur’s royalty is revealed to him when he completes this test • establishes Arthur as defender of faith and king by divine right • Excalibur • given to him by the Lady of the Lake • in some versions it is the sword he pulls from the stone • Round Table • Symbol of equality