King Arthur Medieval English Literature - Introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3,4

3v Term 1: King Arthur 

Middle English

Historical Context

Why did William feel he was the rightful heir to the English throne?

1. He was promised the throne by the late king.
2. God was on his side.
3. King Harold had promised him the throne.
4. He was related to the late king while the usurper wasn't.

Why did William, Duke of Normandy, win the battle?

1. He had more archers than his opponent.
2. His axe-wielding warriors gave him an edge.
3. His opponent was injured in battle.
4. King Harold was killed.

Language

Je ne parle pas français

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In what ways did the Old English language change now that there was a French King?

What French loan-words do you know in the English language?

Literature

English vs. French storytelling.

Germanic Literature

Themes: War, Death, Glory

Alliteration

Monsters and Heroes

French Literature

Themes: Courtly Love & Chivalry

End Rhyme

Knight's and Kings

What is courtly love?

1. A love between a king and a queen.
2. A love at court.
3. A platonic kind of love.
4. Love from a distance.

What is your top 3 of the code of chivalry?

What are the main points of the previous video?

The medieval romance: 

a) Is about the adventures of knights and the institution of chivalry. Romances are concerned with the exploits of kings, queens, and knights – not with common, ordinary people.

b) Does not take place in realistic settings, but in idealized worlds – in imaginary castles, gardens and forests.

c) Contains mysterious, magical and supernatural elements.

d) The hero/heroine is braver, nobler and more honourable than an ordinary human being. Often the hero or heroine has the use of magic or other extraordinary powers.

e) Hero/Heroine will put on a lowly disguise to conceal his/her true identity.

f) Hero/Heroine is often motivated by romantic love.

g) Pits the forces of good against the forces of evil.

King Arthur

The best-known romances are those about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. These stories are of course also full of chivalry and courtly love but also contain a lot of magic, and many of these romances are about a ”quest”, a long and difficult search for something or somebody. The best known quest is the quest for the “Holy Grail”, the sacred cup believed to have been used at Christ’s Last Supper. 

Origins

Arthur was the first born son of King Uther Pendragon and heir to the throne. However those years were very troubled times and Merlin, a wise magician, advised that the baby Arthur should be raised in a secret place and that no one should know his true identity. 

Merlin feared that when King Uther died there would be great conflict over who should be the next king. Merlin used his magic to set a sword, Excalibur, in a stone. Written on the sword, in letters of gold, were these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born king of all England." Of course every nobleman who had a right for the throne took their turn at trying to draw the sword, but none could succeed. Arthur, being brought to the stone by Merlin, was able to do what no man had been able to: he withdrew Excalibur and he proved himself to be the one and only true King of England. 

Dilemma exercise!

1. You will be provided with a dilemma

2. You will discuss said dilemma with a classmate or group

3. You will write down your answer on the next slide

WHY?: These dilemmas can lead to rich discussions, allowing you to explore the complex moral and ethical questions posed in the Arthurian legends. They also encourage you to think critically about the decisions characters made and how those decisions impacted the overall narrative.

Dilemma 1

King Arthur discovers the affair between Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot. Should he publicly condemn and punish them, potentially causing unrest and scandal in the kingdom, or should he quietly deal with the situation to preserve the unity and reputation of his court?

Dilemma 1 answer

Dilemma 2

 Sir Lancelot, the most loyal knight to King Arthur, is in love with Queen Guinevere. Does he remain loyal to his king and suppress his feelings, or does he pursue his love for Guinevere, betraying Arthur?

Dilemma 2 answer

Dilemma 3

Merlin foresees a future event that could be disastrous for the kingdom. Should he reveal everything he knows and risk the potential for panic and chaos, or keep it to himself to maintain peace and order, hoping to manage the crisis in his own way?

Dilemma 3 answer

Dilemma 4

Sir Gawain seeks revenge against Lancelot for killing his brothers in a battle, but pursuing this vengeance could lead to further bloodshed and strife among the Knights of the Round Table. Should Gawain seek revenge, upholding his family honor, or forgive Lancelot for the sake of peace at the Round Table?

Dilemma 4 answer

Dilemma 5

Mordred knows he is destined to be Arthur's downfall. Should he embrace this destiny and seek power for himself, or try to resist this path and remain loyal to Arthur?

Dilemma 5 answer

Dilemma 6

Galahad is given the opportunity to pursue the Holy Grail, a quest that will take him away from Camelot and its needs. Does he embark on this spiritual quest, potentially abandoning his duties as a knight, or stay to serve his king and kingdom?

Dilemma 6 answer

Dilemma 7

As King Arthur lies dying, he must decide what to do with Excalibur. Should he allow it to be hidden away for future generations, possibly leading to power struggles over its possession, or have it cast back into the lake, keeping it from being misused but also removing its power from the realm?

Dilemma 7 answer

Dilemma 8

Queen Guinevere must choose between her duty as a queen to King Arthur and her love for Sir Lancelot. Does she fulfill her obligations to her husband and kingdom, or follow her heart?

Dilemma 8 answer

Inspiration

The legend of King Arthur inspired many other writers and poets at the time, with lots of them using parts of the legend or adding their own stories to them. 

Among which was Geoffrey Chaucer, author of the Canterbury Tales.