The Legend of King Arthur

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The Legend of King Arthur
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What is a Legend?

• a traditional historical tale or collection of
  related tales popularly regarded as true, but
  usually contain a mixture of fact and fiction
• not to be confused with a myth (A traditional,
  typically ancient story dealing with supernatural
  beings as a way of explaining the natural world)

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True History

• Most scholars believe that a Welsh King named
  Arthur did defeat the Saxons in the 5th or 6th
  century. There are old historical records of his
  feats.
• There are ruins of a castle in Cornwall that many
  believe to belong to Arthur
• Not much else is known of the real Arthur, most
  accounts are very exaggerated.

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The Legend - Arthurs childhood

• Arthur is the son of King Uther Pendragon, but is
  orphaned at a young age, unaware of his royal
  heritage
• Upon King Uthers death, Merlin places the
  magical sword Excalibur in a stone containing a
  spell that only the rightful king could remove it
  from the stone
• In need of a sword for his adoptive brother,
  Arthur pulls Excalibur from the stone, proving
  himself the rightful king of England

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The New Kings First Challenge

• When Arthur assumes power, England is torn apart
  by war and is on the brink of invasion by the
  Saxons
• To unite the country and defeat the Saxons,
  Arthur creates the Knights of the Round table.
  This is a revolutionary idea for the time in
  which each city-state is represented by a knight.
  No one knight has more power than another.
  Arthur creates a democratic society.
• It is said that the key to Arthurs success is
  the sword Excalibur which he always takes into
  battle. Excalibur is said to make its owner
  invincible.

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Guinevere

• After the battles with the Saxons, England
  finally experiences peace.
• During this time, Arthur decides to marry the
  lovely Guinevere. She does not see him before
  they are married. Arthur sends his most trusted
  knight Lancelot to fetch her. He marries her and
  they are happy for some time.
• Guinevere, upon seeing Lancelot, falls in love
  with him.

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Mysteries and Evil Plots

• Arthur unknowingly had a half-sister, Morgan le
  Fey. She believed that she was rightful ruler.
  In an attempts to steal the throne, she conceived
  a son with Arthur. Morgan was said to be a
  powerful sorcerer, though not as great as Merlin.
  Her son, Mordred, threatened Arthurs marriage
  and his throne.

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The Holy Grail

• Arthur and the land are one in a supernatural
  way. In the tales, he is often depicted as Gods
  chosen king so when he becomes ill, his land
  becomes ill as well. Only the Grail, a relic of
  Christianity, can save him and his country from
  starvation.
• Arthurs knights go on a quest for the Holy Grail
  and after numerous years only a few survive the
  journey.

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The Most Famous Affair in Literary History

• Mordred discovers Guinevere and Lancelots affair
  (the two people that Arthur loves most) and
  convinces the rest of the Round Table to capture
  Lancelot in the act.
• Lancelot escapes but Guinevere is captured and is
  to be burned at the stake for her treachery
  against the king. She is rescued at the last
  minute by Lancelot and the two escape.
• Arthur does not follow them due to the problems
  of his kingdom. They are once again on the brink
  of war.

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The Fall of Camelot

• Metaphorically, the country already had fallen
  with the betrayal of Arthurs only love and his
  best friend
• There are many versions of the story. All of
  which end with Arthurs death in battle and
  Excalibur returned to the Lady of the Lake.
• Arthurs body is then taken to Avalon to rest
  until he is needed once more.