Download Arthurian Legends

Arthurian Legends
*Note these slides in your notebook
Arthurian Legends
• Set in Britain
• Fictional Legends -- many versions
• Sir Thomas Malory assembled first
collection
• 12th and 13th Century
Camelot
• Castle
Round Table
• Mystical Table in
Camelot
• Symbol of Unity
• Given to Arthur by
King Lodegreaunce
(Guinevere's Father)
*Holy Grail
• Cup used by Jesus during the
last supper.
• In Arthurian legends the hero
must prove himself worthy to
be in its presence
Siege Perilous
• Seat reserved at Round Table for knight
destined to quest for the Holy Grail
• Sir Galahad - only knight who sits in it.
• Fatal to anyone else who sat in it.
Excalibur
• King Arthur's
mythical sword
• Sword in the stone
only drawn by real
king.
King Arthur
• Drew the sword in the stone
• Married to Guinevere
Chivalry
• Ideas associated
with medieval
knighthood
• Examples
–
–
–
–
Honor
Courtly love
Bravery
Loyalty to King
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
*Sir Lancelot
• Greatest of King
Arthur’s Knights
• One of the most
trusted
• Has an affair with
Guinevere
Sir Galahad
• Son of Lancelot + Elaine
• Seat was siege perilous
• Quest for the Holy Grail
*Sir Gawain
• King Arthur’s
nephew
• Defender of the
poor
• Ladies man
*Sir Mordred
• Illegitimate son of
Arthur
• Traitor
• Takes over Kingdom
while Arthur is away
REVIEW SLIDES
3 Classes of Medieval Society
• Nobility
• Clergy
• Commoners
The Ideal of Courtly Love
• This relationship was modeled on the
feudal relationship between a knight and
his liege lord.
• The knight serves his courtly lady with
the same obedience and loyalty which he
owes to his liege lord.
• She is in complete control; he owes her
obedience and submission
The knight's love for the lady inspires
him to do great deeds, in order to be
worthy of her love or to win her favor.
• “Courtly love" was not between husband
and wife because it was an idealized sort of
relationship that could not exist within the
context of "real life" medieval marriages.
• In the middle ages, marriages amongst the
nobility were typically based on practical
and dynastic concerns rather than on love.
• “Courtly love" provided a model of
behavior for a class of unmarried
young men who might otherwise
have threatened social stability.
• Knights were typically younger
brothers without land of their own
(hence unable to support a wife).
• They became members of the
household of the feudal lords
whom they served.
Illustrator: Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898)
Created 500 black & white drawings for J. M. Dent's Le Morte D'Arthur, 1893-94. Art Nouveau style.
Victorians were not enthusiastic about his tendency to portray men as passive, androgynous, unheroic
beings often reclining, asleep, or naked, while his women and feys were more active.
How Sir Bedivere Cast the Sword
Excalibur into the Water
How Sir Lancelot Was Known by
Dame Elaine.