The Life & Times of King Arthur

1. The Life & Times of King Arthur Historical Context & Background Information

2. Objectives & Questions I CAN -determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyzein detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details & provide an objective summary of the text. What does it mean to keep a story alive? What makes a hero? What makes a legend?

3. Things you NEED to know: “Might for Right” The heroic journey The importance of legends Characters The presence of the Arthurian legend today

4. So here we go...

5. What is a legend? Originally, a legend was a short story that recounted the life of a saint. By the end of the Middle Ages, the legend came to be regarded as an improbable if not unreliable story about a real person or event generally involving famous saints, rulers, heroes, and villains. Although the legend is clearly fictitious, larger numbers of people believed and still believe that there is a certain amount of truth to any given legend. Because of the seemingly real and somehow truthful elements of the narrative, the legend can be distinguished from the fairy tale and myth, which are clearly and totally based on fiction. Interestingly, the legend employs motifs, characters, and conventions of the fairy tale and myth to celebrate a person and event and convince readers or listeners that the heroes lived and the events actually happened. More than any of the other short story narrative genres, the legend was and is constantly used locally and nationally to reflect on notable people and events in families, communities, religions, and nations. Some of the feats attributed to people and some of the descriptions of events border on the supernatural, and thus the legend is often associated with the extraordinary and the fantastic in real life. Finally, there are many legends about the common people who have extraordinary talents and use them to benefit society.

6. What is a hero? Someone who has given his or her life for something bigger than oneself. “The moral objective is that of saving a people, or saving a person, or supporting an idea. The hero sacrifices himself for something…”

7. What are the traits of a hero? -responds to a call to adventure -is restless; missing something -has time of separation -is called--feeling of destiny -has a mentor -goes to the underworld (a point of no return) -faces tests and trials

8. Traits of a hero cont. -becomes the “dragon slayer” -finds the treasure -rescues the princess -confronts death -uses “wisdom of the heart” -has special weapon

9. Arthur is our hero What is Arthur’s cause? Arthur believes in using… Might for Right.

10. He also believes in Chivalry What is Chivalry? -knowing what to do in a situation and having the courage to act it out, regardless of the outcome -it’s about what we are on the inside, our character -be honorable, courageous, generous, forgiving, loyal -the idea is that chivalry is unattainable, but always striving towards it makes us better people

11. The Middle Ages/The Dark Ages The real Arthur, was NOT a king He was also alive during the Dark Ages The heroic legend, Arthur, was a king His story takes place during the Middle Ages

12. The Middle Ages Feudal system: the kings would divvy out the land (i.e. if you aren’t in the club, you’re not getting land). The Lords were given land and then gave subplots of their land to vassals, who then offered serfs and peasants protection if they worked for their village. And women? Housework.

13. Knight Training: Age 7- Page -taken from home to the court or castle -taught religion, respect and deep respect for their lords -performed menial tasks -taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, hunting, fishing, wrestling, & performing military exercises on horseback

14. Knight training: Age 14- Squire -learn how to ride a horse, scale walls, and run--all in heavy armor -taught courtesy and refined manners of society -encouraged to give his attentions to a young lady of the court

15. Age 21- Knighthood! After a bunch of ceremonies, they boys hit the big league! But now they have some rules: (there’s a lot, so here’s a few) -never murder -don’t be cruel and give mercy to those who ask -help women in distress -don’t get into battles over women or worldly goods -don’t attack one another

16. Arthur’s childhood -Uther Pendragon, King of the Britons falls in love with another man’s wife and has Merlin disguise him to look like her husband to have an affair with her -A child is born. King Uther dies shortly after and the child is taken by Merlin to be hidden for his own protection. This is Uther’s second child, but first son. -Merlin gives the child, Arthur, to a peasant who raises him as his own son. Arthur grows up ignorant of his royal background.

17. Objectives & Questions I CAN -determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyzein detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details & provide an objective summary of the text. What does it mean to keep a story alive? What makes a hero? What makes a legend?

18. Things you NEED to know: “Might for Right” The heroic journey The importance of legends Characters The presence of the Arthurian legend today

19. So here we go...

20. What is a legend? Originally, a legend was a short story that recounted the life of a saint. By the end of the Middle Ages, the legend came to be regarded as an improbable if not unreliable story about a real person or event generally involving famous saints, rulers, heroes, and villains. Although the legend is clearly fictitious, larger numbers of people believed and still believe that there is a certain amount of truth to any given legend. Because of the seemingly real and somehow truthful elements of the narrative, the legend can be distinguished from the fairy tale and myth, which are clearly and totally based on fiction. Interestingly, the legend employs motifs, characters, and conventions of the fairy tale and myth to celebrate a person and event and convince readers or listeners that the heroes lived and the events actually happened. More than any of the other short story narrative genres, the legend was and is constantly used locally and nationally to reflect on notable people and events in families, communities, religions, and nations. Some of the feats attributed to people and some of the descriptions of events border on the supernatural, and thus the legend is often associated with the extraordinary and the fantastic in real life. Finally, there are many legends about the common people who have extraordinary talents and use them to benefit society.

21. What is a hero? Someone who has given his or her life for something bigger than oneself. “The moral objective is that of saving a people, or saving a person, or supporting an idea. The hero sacrifices himself for something…”

22. What are the traits of a hero? -responds to a call to adventure -is restless; missing something -has time of separation -is called--feeling of destiny -has a mentor -goes to the underworld (a point of no return) -faces tests and trials

23. Traits of a hero cont. -becomes the “dragon slayer” -finds the treasure -rescues the princess -confronts death -uses “wisdom of the heart” -has special weapon

24. Arthur is our hero What is Arthur’s cause? Arthur believes in using… Might for Right.

25. He also believes in Chivalry What is Chivalry? -knowing what to do in a situation and having the courage to act it out, regardless of the outcome -it’s about what we are on the inside, our character -be honorable, courageous, generous, forgiving, loyal -the idea is that chivalry is unattainable, but always striving towards it makes us better people

26. The Middle Ages/The Dark Ages The real Arthur, was NOT a king He was also alive during the Dark Ages The heroic legend, Arthur, was a king His story takes place during the Middle Ages

27. The Middle Ages Feudal system: the kings would divvy out the land (i.e. if you aren’t in the club, you’re not getting land). The Lords were given land and then gave subplots of their land to vassals, who then offered serfs and peasants protection if they worked for their village. And women? Housework.

28. Knight Training: Age 7- Page -taken from home to the court or castle -taught religion, respect and deep respect for their lords -performed menial tasks -taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, hunting, fishing, wrestling, & performing military exercises on horseback

29. Knight training: Age 14- Squire -learn how to ride a horse, scale walls, and run--all in heavy armor -taught courtesy and refined manners of society -encouraged to give his attentions to a young lady of the court

30. Age 21- Knighthood! After a bunch of ceremonies, they boys hit the big league! But now they have some rules: (there’s a lot, so here’s a few) -never murder -don’t be cruel and give mercy to those who ask -help women in distress -don’t get into battles over women or worldly goods -don’t attack one another

31. Arthur’s childhood -Uther Pendragon, King of the Britons falls in love with another man’s wife and has Merlin disguise him to look like her husband to have an affair with her -A child is born. King Uther dies shortly after and the child is taken by Merlin to be hidden for his own protection. This is Uther’s second child, but first son. -Merlin gives the child, Arthur, to a peasant who raises him as his own son. Arthur grows up ignorant of his royal background.