Arthurian Legend: The Romance Hero Ms. Eckman Eng 12
King Arthur: Fact or Fiction? Lady of the Lake White and Red Dragon The sword in the stone The Round Table Did Arthur truly exist? Geoffrey of Monmouth (1136) *Good for Morale *Public looking for a HERO *National Pride
King Arthur s Family Tree The genealogy of King Arthur and his family has changed from one generation to another, during the medieval period. The main difference between one source from another, is that of number of sister and half-sisters, or the number of nephews Arthur had. The spelling of names had also changed, depending on languages or regions. Source: http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/housearthur.html
There are many variations: Family Tree of King Arthur (Geoffrey of Monmouth sversion)
Family Tree of King Arthur (Chretien de Troyes' version) The family tree of King Arthur shown here, comes from Chretien de Troyes' five Arthurian romances. Chretien was the first to introduce Lancelot and Perceval into the legend. He was also responsible for beginning the Grail legend. Here, Morgan le Fay is Arthur's full sister. He had another unnamed sister in Conte du Graal ("Story of the Grail" or "Perceval ). But if we followed the First Grail Continuation, then her name was either Norcadet or Morgawse. Also, Chretien had listed three brothers to Gawain, but no Mordred.
Family Tree of King Arthur (Vulgate / Post-Vulgate version) (This is) almost identical to the next family tree, which used Sir Thomas Malory's work, Le Morte d'arthur, 1469. The difference is mainly in the spelling of Arthur's nephews and the number of his sisters. Notice that here, Morgeuse and Morgan are Arthur s half sisters.
Family Tree of King Arthur (Sir Thomas Malory's version) This is one of the more popular versions.it is based on the work by Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'arthur (1469)
Romance Narrative a narrative set in a world of pure wish fulfillment, where the ordinary laws of nature are suspended and where idealized and superhuman heroes fight and almost always conquer the forces of evil. (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 158) The adventures of a knight/hero on a quest (good-vsevil), overcoming danger to save a noble lady or for love So- what does this really mean?
Characteristics: 1. There is a hero 2. Goes on a quest or journey 3. In search of something valuable 4. Done in the name of love, honor, duty. (chivalry)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unknown author Setting: -The woods around the Green Chapel -1 year and 1 day after the challenge -New Year s Day The Conflict: -The challenge made by the Green Knight & accepted by Sir Gawain -The Lord and Lady of the manor/castle -gaining the green sash The Climax: -The swinging of the axe.. The Resolution: -Earned his life The Moral: -Everyone is flawed and can strive to redeem themselves
Sooooo. What made this a Romance Narrative? Hero? Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Quest or Journey? Search for the Green Chapel and the 3 nights in the castle Search for something valuable? No..maybe, he got the green sash Done in the name of Chivalry? YES!!!!
The Romance Hero. 1. Born under mysterious circumstances 2. Grows up in obscurity 3. Undergoes childhood initiation (usually involving a magical weapon 4. Fights evil-promotes good 5. Aided by magical weapons & wise mentors 6. Mysterious events surround his departure from earth (death?)
Romance Hero Defined: a larger-than-life figure who usually has mysterious origins and in the course of his life performs extraordinary deeds with the aid of magic forces. (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 170)
Le Morte D Arthur Written by Sir Thomas Mallory Written appx. 1460 Combined many Arthur legends/tales to become the main source of the modern tales (i.e. the sword in the stone)
Le Morte D Arthur Opens with Arthur dreaming Visited by ghost of Sir Gawain His enemy is his illegitimate son, Mordred Warned to make peace or a treaty with Mordred Day of treaty, a knight is frightened by a snake that starts the battle At the end of the battle, only 4 survive: 1. Mordred 2. Bedivere 3. Lucan (dies soon after battle is over) 4. Arthur Arthur & Mordred fight- Mordred is killed & Arthur is mortally wounded Arthur asks Bedivere to throw his sword into the lake- Bedivere fails 2x s before he finally succeeds A hand reaches out of the lake and grabs the sword (shakes it 3 x s) Arthur is taken to Avilon by a group of wailing/crying women (Morgan le Fay, Queen of North Wales, Queen of Wastelands, Ninive) Bedivere meets the hermit (Bishop of Canterbury) Guenevere becomes a nun
Was Arthur a true Romance Hero? Born under mysterious circumstances? Yes- Uther Pendragon poses as Igraine s husband in order to bed her Grows up in obscurity? Yes- raised by Merlin and a surrogate family Undergoes childhood initiation (usually involving a magical weapon)? Yes- the sword in the stone Fights evil-promotes good? Yes Aided by magical weapons & wise mentors? Yes- Merlin and Excalibur Mysterious events surround his departure from earth (death?)? Yes- goes to Avalon, did he die & where was he buried.
Were Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Romance Heroes?
The Romance Hero. 1. Born under mysterious circumstances 2. Grows up in obscurity 3. Undergoes childhood initiation (usually involving a magical weapon 4. Fights evil-promotes good 5. Aided by magical weapons & wise mentors 6. Mysterious events surround his departure from earth (death?)
Were these stories Romance 1. Is there a hero? Narratives? 2. Is there a quest or journey? 3. Are they in search of something valuable? 4. Is it done in the name of love, honor, duty. (chivalry)?