Or La Belle Iseult

1
Queen
Guinevere

• Or La Belle Iseult
• Only surviving painting by William Morris, 1858
• finished by Dante Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown

Lancelot
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Queen Guinevere
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King Arthur
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Background

• That was a basic illustration of the story of
  Guinevere most of us are familiar with
• Actually many variations
• Basic unifying theme Guineveres unfaithfulness
  destroys King Arthur, the Round Table, and
  Camelot

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Morris

• Interest in Arthurian legends developed while he
  was a student at Oxford (1853-1855)
• Influenced by Tennysons The Lady of Shalott
  Southeys edition of Malorys Morte dArthur
• In 1857, Rossetti declared that worlds two
  greatest books were the Bible and Morte dArthur
• Malorys version of Guinevere in Morte dArthur
  heavily influenced Morris less judgmental
• Morriss version- The Defense of Guinevere
• First time an account of her affair is given
  herself
• Readily confesses guilt
• challenges and scorns judgment
• proud woman

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Twilight Zone

• Subject is strange parallel to Morriss life
• Whether the lady is Guinevere or Iseult (Isolde,
  Isult, etc) these women are the central figures
  in love triangles

mistress
mentor
wife
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