The Arthurian Legend

1. The Arthurian Legend The Man, the Myth, the Archetype

2. Literary Focus: Archetypes • Anarchetypeis a pattern that appears in literature across cultures and is repeated through the ages. • An archetypecan be a character, a plot, an image, or a setting. • Ex. The Quest Circle of Character Archetypes

3. Why is Arthur Important? • Provided a hero to a conquered people. Think of all the invasions we’ve discussed • Tales form a common bond between Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman. Warrior King Arthur – Anglo-Saxon Chivalric Tradition – Anglo-Norman • Second most referenced character in Western Literature. King Arthur, c. 1385

4. Did He Exist? Historical Arthur Fictional Arthur Anglo-Norman Arthur could just be a combination of great leaders Normans add chivalry, romance, quest, love, etc. Norman romances focus more on knights. • Celtic/Anglo-Saxon Arthur • Welsh chieftain • warrior in the histories of 500-1100 • may have really existed – not a king

5. Arthurian Literary Tradition • Nennius • 9th century • Welsh monk • wrote HistoriaBrittonum • 1st reference to an Arthur • His Arthur is the “greatest of all the Celts” • an important hero to the declining Celtic community.

6. Arthurian Literary Tradition • Geoffrey of Monmouth • 12th century • wrote HistoriaRegumnBritanniae • one of the most important books of the Middle Ages • add Merlin to the Arthurian legend • tales mostly focused on Arthur with little mention of his other knights. • inspired the next generation of authors Merlin Reads his Prophecies to Vortigern

7. Arthurian Literary Tradition • Chrétien de Troyes • 12th century • French • introduces character of Lancelot and the Arthur / Guinevere / Lancelot love triangle • romance / single hero adventures • example of Anglo-Norman cultural influence with the increased influence of the chivalric tradition Sir Launcelot

8. Arthurian Literary Tradition • Sir Thomas Malory • 15th century • English • compiled the various tales into one work: Le Mort d’Arthur • The Death of Arthur • expands the characters of Lancelot and Guinevere and makes the affair chaste and pure • still read today and highly influential How Sir Bedivere Cast the Sword Excalibur into the Water

9. Arthurian Literary Tradition • Alfred, Lord Tennyson • 19th century • English • composed many works on the Arthurian tradition: “The Lady of Shalott,” “The Death of Arthur,” “Idylls of the King” • Father of the Arthurian Renaissance in Victorian England. Lady of Shallot Looking at Lancelot

10. Arthurian Literary Tradition • T. H. White • 20th century • English • wrote The Sword in the Stone (1938) and The Once and Future King(1958) • based heavily on Malory’s work • The Once and Future King deals with darker themes as Arthur grows older Cover, The Once and Future King

11. Key Themes/Archetypes • Love Triangle • Arthur / Guinevere / Lancelot • Traitor/Judas Figure • Mordred • Lancelot • Fall of the central community / end of order • Messianic Return • Once and Future King • 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

12. Key Characters • UtherPendragon– Arthur’s biological father • Igraine– Arthur’s biological mother • Sir Ector – Arthur’s adoptive father • Merlin – Arthur’s counselor, prophet & wizard • Morgan le Fay – Arthur’s half-sister; magical; adversary • Sir Kay – son of Sir Ector; Arthur’s step-brother • Mordred– Arthur’s nephew; kidnaps Guinevere and rebels; killed by Lancelot

13. Key Characters • Guinevere – • Arthur’s queen • has affair with Lancelot • childless • abducted by Mordred • Lancelot – • Arthur’s chief knight • usually French • the “perfect” knight but has affair with Guinevere Lancelot and Guinevere by Herbert James Draper (1863-1920)

14. Key Places • Camelot – King Arthur’s kingdom • Isle of Avalon – island to which Arthur is sent to recover from the last battle GustaveDoré’sillustration of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King”, 1868.

15. Key Objects • Excalibur – Arthur’s magical sword; given to him by the Lady of the Lake • The Holy Grail – the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper; used by Joseph of Arimatheato catch Christ’s blood • The Round Table – the table given as part of Guinevere’s dowry; the idea that everyone is equal Arthur and the Round Table

16. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight As the poem opens, King Arthur and his knights are celebrating Christmas at Camelot. Suddenly, an enormous green stranger armed with a huge ax rides into the hall where the knights are dining.

17. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Green Knight calmly picks up his own head, repeats the challenge, and gallops off with his head in his hand. Later, on his quest, Gawain comes upon a mysterious castle, where for three days he is tempted by the absent Lord’s wife.

18. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight He challenges any knight to hit him immediately and says that he will return the hit after a year and a day. Gawain, the best of the knights, accepts the terms and beheads the challenger.

19. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight On the last day, he accepts more than just her kisses and takes a magical green sash that she claims will protect him from harm. Gawain leaves with the green sash wrapped around his armor, intent on finding the Green Chapel and the dreaded Green Knight…