What the Plot?
Uther, Igraine, how?
Merlin's magic
Knights were expected to be courteous, courageous, self-sacrificing, kind, to defend their lord's land, serve God, and so on, under this code of ethics.
Chivalry
As his name suggests, Chrétien de Troyes is a French author who inserted his totally-not-an-OC character into Arthurian legends mythos. Who is this character?
Sir Lancelot du Lake
Arthur's birth, controlled by Merlin, best fists this starting point of the Hero's Journey.
Unusual Birth
Double Jeopardy
The sword in the stone
Arthur's right to rule Britain.
1. Merlin made it that way.
2. He is the true king of Britain.
This knight is Arthur's best knight. A whole squadron of knights couldn't even dream of taking him down- even when he was without his armor!
Sir Lancelot
Double Jeopardy
The main reason that Guinevere and Lancelot's love affair was not seen as #problematic for a good chunk of Arthurian legends is because of what concept?
Courtly Love
Sir Kay asking Arthur to retrieve a sword from him, unexpectedly sends Arthur down his destined path; it is this moment within the Hero's Journey.
The call to action/ adventure
Life, hope, nature
So, why did Arthur even attempt to pull the sword from the stone?
He needed a blade for his brother to use in a joust.
Double Jeopardy
This knight is one of Arthur's bravest. When an challenge is presented to Arthur on Christmas Day, he doesn't hesitate to step forward, taking the axe and removing the head of his mythical opponent.
Sir Gawain
From what areas, cultures, or regions of the world did the idea of courtly love originate from?
Islamic and Arabic
Arthur proving over and over and over again that he is the only one who can pull the sword from the stone best fits this part of the Hero's Journey.
Trials and challenges
Peace, no violence
Who did the nobles truly blame for the death of their children on May Day?
Merlin.
Blaming Arthur would've equaled a slow and painful process of being accused of treason.
This knight is the purest of all of Arthur's knights. He is so good that he is the only one worthy enough to find and interact with the Holy Grail- the same cup that is rumored to be the one Jesus drank out of at the last supper.
Sir Galahad
Arthurian Legends have been written in a variety of ways through in periods of times called "Cycles". The first was that of the spoken word, followed closely by Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Cycle, which in turn was followed by de Troyes' Courtly Love. The final cycle, the Vulgate Cycle/ Le Morte d'Arthur, introduced what major elements to Arthurian cannon?
1. Christianic Elements such as the Holy Grail
2. Having an affair is not good (specifically Lancelot and Guinevere)
Crossing the threshold
Gawain's challenge happening on New Year's Day
New beginnings, starting fresh, a second chance
The sword Excalibur comes with two things: the actual blade and a scabbard to hold it. Which is more powerful?
The scabbard- it makes it impossible to kill the person who is holding it.
This knight can sympathize with Lancelot- after all, he too is in love with two different women.
Sir Tristan
This person is recognized as being one of the first author's of Arthurian Legends. Having written the Historia regum Britanniae (or The History of the Kings of Britain for those of us who don't speak Latin), he made mention of an unknown King named Arthur who may or may not have actually been real.
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Double Jeopardy
The blade Excalibur can fit into two different parts of the Hero's Journey. Name one of them.
1. The magical weapon/ talisman
2. The gift (Arthur had to earn favor with the Lady of the Lake to receive it)
"Then Arthur as a lion, ran unto King Cradelment of North Wales, and smote him through the left side, that the horse and the king fell down..." (Mallory, 1469).
Explain the symbolism here.
Lion = courageous