The Once and Future King

1
King Arthur

• The Once and Future King

2
True Story?
Arthur (top centre) in an illustration to the
Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, late 14th century (http//en.wikipedia.or
g/wiki/King_arthur)

• There are two primary schools of thought
• Some ancient texts name a King Arthur and
  describe specific battles, which leads many to
  believe that he existed
• Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons)
• Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals)
• These texts, like many ancient histories, are
  colored by the beliefs of people who lived at the
  time they were written
• Many scholars believe that legendsincluding
  Arthurare mixed in with real, historical facts.
• What is certain is that much of the commonly
  known story is invented.

3
Historical facts

• King of Britain (disputed area) in the late
  5th-early 6th Century (c.450-550)
• Warrior king who led many battles, possibly
  defending Britain from Saxon invaders
• Many historical figures of this period used
  titles instead of names
• This makes it difficult to follow their lives
  through historical documents and contemporary
  stories.
• There are many versions of the name Arthur, and
  no one knows what his original name was
• He was sometimes known as the Bear.
• May have been based on any of a number of
  historical leaders, or may have been based on
  folklore only.
• Historical texts conflict, and scholars cannot
  agree!

Image from Winchester Castle http//www.timelessmy
ths.com/arthurian/arthur.html
4
Legends

• Three primary authors added details to the story
• Geoffrey of Monmouth
• c. 1100 c. 1155 Welsh writer
• Wrote the History of the Kings of Britain
• Pseudo-historical text
• Chrétien de Troyes
• 12th Century French writer
• Began genre of Arthurian romance
• Added Lancelot/Guinevere affair and the Holy
  Grail
• Sir Thomas Malory
• C.1405-1471 English writer
• Very mysterious character
• French influence/spoke French educated
• Knight???

http//www.ramsdale.org/legend.htm
5
Story Overview

• Arthurs father was Uther Pendragon
• He was conceived magically, with the help of
  Merlin the magician
• Mother, Ygrain, was married to someone else, but
  Uther came to her in disguise
• Raised by foster father, Sir Ector
• Had a foster brother, Kay/Cai
• Brought to Ector by Merlin
• Pulled sword from stone, or received it from Lady
  of the Lake
• Quested for the Holy Grail
• Lost wife, Guinevere, to Sir Lancelot

http//home.messiah.edu/tp1180/page202.html
6
Chivalry

• Comes from French
• Cheval Horse Chevalier Rider/Knight
• Concept of heroism changed drastically during
  medieval times
• From 12th century, it meant a moral, religious
  and social code of knightly conduct
• Many variations of this
• Usually came down to three areas
• Duties to countrymen and fellow Christians
• Courage, mercy, protection of poor, etc.
• Duties to God
• Help good win out over evil
• Duties to women
• (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry)

http//www.confederatecolonel.com/2011/07/not-all-
women-appreciate-chivalry/
7
Chivalric Romance

• A narrative set in a world of pure wish
  fulfillment, where the ordinary laws of nature
  are suspended, and where idealized and superhuman
  heroes conquer the forces of evil (158)
• Very popular in higher social circles during the
  medieval period
• Often includes a knight errant on a heroic quest
  to prove himself
• Damsels in distress, dragons, knights, etc.
• Tied to French culture, but often taking place in
  Britain
• 1066!!!

http//tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Chivalr
icRomance