The Arthurian Legends

Genre

• Medieval Romance-adventure stories featuring kings, knights, damsels in distress, dangerous quests, battles, the supernatural, & doomed love-Has 3 stages:

1. Dangerous quest2. Test of honor/courage3. Return to point where quest began

7 Characteristics of Medieval Romance

1. Idealizes chivalry2. Idealized knights3. Idealized a knight’s love4. Settings are imaginary/not clear5. Mystery, suspense, supernatural6. Some identities are disguised7. Repeats the number 3

Themes in Medieval Romances

• Bravery• Loyalty and devotion• Virtue (honesty and goodness)• Chivalry and heroes• Wars, jousts, and contests

Legends

• Traditional stories about the past; may be based on fact

• Most medieval romances are based on legends

Traits of a Medieval Hero

1. Birth usually surrounded by mystery2. Raised away from home; doesn’t know true

parents3. Real identity discovered later4. Claims his birthright after meeting a big

challenge5. His triumphs benefit his kingdom/nation

Ideal Traits of Knights

1. Physical Ideals: strength, weapon skills, horsemanship

2. Nonphysical Ideals: courage, humbleness, courtesy, loyalty

About Armor

• Developed 1100-1400 AD• Purpose: protect• Flexible (if good, knight can do somersaults)• One suit: 200 separate plates of steel

What the Heck is Chain Mail?

• Mail: heavy metal netting made of interlocking rings

• One suit might contain 200,000 rings• Flexible and strong• Heavy: around 30lbs• Couldn’t protect from all weapons• Hauberks: knee-length suits of chain mail

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• Chivalry: medieval system, principles, & customs of knighthood.

*Refer to Ten Rules of Chivalry handout

Courtly Love(Not Courtney Love)

• In Medieval times, love was valued above all other things.

• Men were always gentlemen; women always acted like ladies

• Nobility and knights had to follow the rules of courtly love

*Refer to Courtly Love handout

“Arthur Becomes King of Britain”• Author: T.H. White• Written: Around 1920s/Modern English• Basically “The Sword and the Stone”• Vocab:

1. anvil (n)-an iron or steel block2. “Win the palm”-be the winner (palm leaf symbol of victory)3. shilling (n)-a British silver coin4. hurdy-gurdy (n)-musical instrument played by turning a crank5. squire (n)-a knight’s attendant

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

• Author: unknown; referred to as “The Pearl Poet;” assumed he was a clergyman; educated

• Date: around 1370, England • Gawain in several Arthur tales; sometimes

ruthless & bloodthirsty, sometimes noble & courageous

• In this: has ideal knightly traits• Story considered one of best medieval

romances

Vocabulary for Story

• Copiously (adv): plentiful• Intrepid (adj): fearless; courageous• Dauntless (adj): daring• Blithe (adj): carefree• Burgeoning (v): growing• Reprieve (n): a break• Discourse (n): speech• Covenant (n): binding agreement

• Whetted (v): sharpened• Audacious (adj/adv): daring and bold• Resolute (adj): determined• Absolved (v): forgivenSYMBOLS: Holly and Berries; Green

from “Le Morte d’Arthur”• Author: Sir Thomas Malory

-Wrote all the legends of Arthur and hisknights into 21 books of verse (poetry)

• Published 1485 (written while he was in jail)• Vocabulary:

1. doleful(adj)-sad2. peril (n)-danger3. brandish(v)-to swing (a weapon) threateningly 4. Yeomen (n)-assistants to nobles5. Smote (v)-struck