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Arthur, King of Tales

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... (Troy), Brutus, Vortigern and his saxon allies, Merlin, Aurelius, and Uther ... Describe Merlin's role (cf. HRB) On whose authority does Arthur become King? ( cf. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Arthur, King of Tales


1
Arthur, King of Tales
  • Introduction modern Arthurian material (names,
    objects, books, movies, games), and research
    (IAS, BBSIA, conferences, editions, books,
    articles)
  • How to study this course manual
  • Chronology and thematical setup
  • Tasks and groups
  • Workshop on wednesdays
  • DVD

2
The historical Arthur
  • Map, A.D. 500
  • Romans (gone in 407), high king
  • Angles and Saxons invade
  • To the west!
  • Archeological evidence (Cadbury), 460 Britons
    fight back
  • Riothamus? High King disappears after trip to
    continent

3
Map invasion
4
The historical Arthur
  • Gildas
  • 12 battles and Nennius Dux bellorum
  • Saints lives (vb. vita Padarn, vita Gildas by
    Caradoc)

5
The historical Arthur
  • Easter Tables
  • Welsh oral tales, evidence
  • triads (Gwenhwyfar, Cai, Bedwyr, Medraut)
  • Spoils of Annwn (Arthur looks for cauldron in the
    underworld)
  • Y Gododdin
  • Mabinogion CulhwchOlwen, Rhonabwys dream
    (Iddawg, Medrawd)
  • Orality - written culture (Latin)
  • Vernacular - Latin

6
The historical Arthur
  • Geoffrey of Monmouth
  • Context (The Anarchy), patron(s)
  • Sources
  • Story up to Arthur Aeneas (Troy), Brutus,
    Vortigern and his saxon allies, Merlin, Aurelius,
    and Uther
  • Tasks A-C and D-F

7
Geoffrey (cl)aims
  • What did he want to achieve?
  • Personal gain bishopric (not until 1151 bishop
    elect of St. Asaph)
  • Presentation of courtliness and exemplary
    behavior
  • Providing Anglo-Norman dynasty with prestigious
    example/forerunner
  • Political claim the lands owned by the English
    king on the mainland are rightfully his, because
    Arthur conquered France (and Rome) well before
    Charlemagne ruled all of France

8
Geoffrey gt Wace gt Layamon
  • What is missing in HRB? (RT, Grail, Lancelot,
    etc.) It is a real chronicle (battle!)
  • Round Table in Wace (handout)
  • Wace, Roman de Brut (1154)
  • Given to Eleanor after wedding Henry II (cf.
    books on Dutch culture for Maxima)
  • Vernacular Anglo-Norman French, rhyming couplets
  • Influential for matière de Bretagne
  • Bretons as source for oral tales

9
Wace and Layamon
  • Additions like Round Table (lt Britons)
  • Equality, form of table relieves peer pressure
  • Modern equivalents aplenty, but not in the
    medieval texts (Arthur usually sits apart, or on
    a dais)
  • Layamons Brut (circa 1200), English translation
    of Waces Brut.
  • RT fatal food fight, carpenter creates the
    object ring shaped 1600 persons inside and
    outside
  • Modern version Thomas Berger, Arthur Rex wheel
    of Giants cart, axle hole used for cooking.

10
Tasks/questions for Friday
  1. Describe Merlins role (cf. HRB)
  2. On whose authority does Arthur become King? (cf.
    HRB)
  3. What is the function of the Round Table? (Cf.
    Wace, Layamon) Why is there an empty seat?
  4. Is Excalibur a magic sword? (cf. HRB)
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