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A Case Study of A Medieval Legend, Still Popular Today

The document summarizes the medieval legend of King Arthur, including his origins as a British chieftain who defeated Saxon invaders. It describes key elements of the legend that developed over centuries of retellings, such as Arthur pulling the sword Excalibur from the stone to prove his right to rule, forming the Knights of the Round Table, and his eventual death at the hands of his son Mordred. The legend of King Arthur remains popular today through its retellings and adaptations across literature, film, television and other media.

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5K views19 pages

A Case Study of A Medieval Legend, Still Popular Today

The document summarizes the medieval legend of King Arthur, including his origins as a British chieftain who defeated Saxon invaders. It describes key elements of the legend that developed over centuries of retellings, such as Arthur pulling the sword Excalibur from the stone to prove his right to rule, forming the Knights of the Round Table, and his eventual death at the hands of his son Mordred. The legend of King Arthur remains popular today through its retellings and adaptations across literature, film, television and other media.

Uploaded by

missisabelonline
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A Case Study of a Medieval Legend,

Still Popular Today


 Arthur may have been a
British Chieftain in 500
A.D. who defeated the
Saxon invaders
 His story has been told &
retold over the centuries
(Geoffrey of Monmouth
“Historia Regum
Britanniae”
 A tale of chivalry and
allegiance that had mass
appeal to the lower levels
of Medieval society
 King of Britain early
500s AD – kept
orderly rule
 Had a magical advisor
named Merlin
 Uther had a male son
to pass his rule onto –
the son’s name was
Arthur
 Uther was killed in
battle
 Arthur was raised by
Merlin; but Uther
insisted Arthur grew
up in hiding
 Uther’s death brought
chaos & violence in
the kingdom
 Arthur was born at
Tintagel. When he
attempted to be king, the
people rejected him
 Arthur needed to prove
his rightful place as king
 He did it by pulling the
magical sword –
Excalibur – from the
stone. Hundreds had
failed.
 Arthur’s ruled in Camelot
 Arthur wins trust of people,
becomes king & brings peace
to the land (ideal society)
 He was married twice , first
to Morgan, then to
Guinevere – a young,
beautiful woman
 She embodies perfection
until she falls in love with
Sir Lancelot (adulterous
relationship)
 He selected Knights to
defend his kingdom –
Knights of the Round
Table.
 Their leader was a
Frenchman – Sir Lancelot
 All the Knights were
equal & chivalrous
 Both Lancelot and the idea
of The Holy Grail are
Chrétien de Troyes’
additions.
Courtly Love: Lancelot
 Chrétien introduces the idea of courtly love
through an adulterous relationship
 Courtly love was secret and among members of
nobility
 Not practised between husband and wife (concept of
cuckold)
 The image of Arthur changes into that of a
bland and “do-nothing” king
 Steps to be followed
 The Holy Grail was a
long lost treasure –
the cup Jesus used at
The Last Supper
 An image of the Grail
appeared to Arthur, &
he sent his Knights on
a quest to retrieve it –
The Crusades.
 Perceval becomes an
important figure
looking for it.
 Arthur’s Knights become
restless because – they
hadn’t fought a war in
years
 The Knights started
fighting each other
 Arthur’s first wife Morgan
hated her husband & raised
their son Mordred to hate
his father
 Arthur discovers his son’s
identity, & makes him a
lord over some land
 Arthur leaves
Camelot to fight a
battle against a rival
chieftain
 Mordred is left in
charge of kingdom,
but quickly condemns
Arthur
 Mordred declares
himself King
 Arthur returns to
challenge his son
 Mordred
mortally
wounds Arthur
 Arthur kills his
rogue son with a
lance
 Arthur knows
his end is near –
orders a young
knight -
Bedivere to
throw Excalibur
into the Lake
 Bedivere hides
Excalibur in a bush &
lies to Arthur
 Arthur knew because
Excalibur is a magical
sword
 Bedivere throws the
Sword into the lake,
where a lady’s hand
reaches out, catches it,
& pulls it underwater.
 Arthur lays on a
barge, & asks that
his body be
floated out on a
barge, to sea.
 He was believed
to land on
Avalon, a
mystical island
and home of the
Lady of the Lake
• Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages
• Less popular in the centuries that followed
• Major resurgence in the 19th century
• In the 21st century, the legend lives on, not only in literature
but also in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and
other media.

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