King Arthur: The Movie “The untold story that inspired the legend” starring … QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor Clive Owen - Arthur Stephen Dillane - Merlin are needed to see this picture. Ioan Gruffudd - Lancelot Stellan Skarsgård - Cerdic Mads Mikkelsen - Tristan Til Schweiger -Cynric Joel Edgerton - Gawain Sean Gilder - Jols Hugh Dancy - Galahad Pat Kinevane - Horton Ray Winstone - Bors Ivano Marescotti -Bishop Germanus Ray Stevenson - Dagonet Ken Stott - Marius Keira Knightley - Guinevere the story unfolds … Arthur, also known as Artorius Castus (Clive Owen), is portrayed as a Roman cavalry officer and commander, the son of a Roman father and a Celtic mother, who leads a military force of Sarmatian cavalry in Britain at the close of the Roman occupation in 467 A.D. He and his men guard Hadrian's Wall against the "Woads," a Celtic people who resist Roman rule, led by their mysterious leader Merlin.
As the film starts, Arthur and his remaining men Lancelot (whose voiceover is heard at the beginning and end), Bors, Tristan, Gawain, Galahad and Dagonet–are expecting discharge from the service of the Empire after faithfully serving for 15 years (Lancelot's entry into service as a youth in 452 A.D. is depicted at the very beginning of the film). However, they are dispatched on a final and possibly suicidal mission to rescue an important Roman family, which includes the Pope's godson, from impending capture by the invading Saxons. The knights are charged with this rescue because Rome is retiring from Britain, now considered an indefensible outpost.
In the course of this mission, Arthur encounters and rescues a Woadish princess, Guinevere (Keira Knightley), from the imprisonment and torture by the Roman citizen he is charged with rescuing. Guinevere reveals that she is the daughter of Merlin, and Arthur himself is revealed to be half Celt (on his mother's side). His famous sword, Excalibur, is also shown to be his father's, which he drew from the tombstone on Pendragon's burial mound as a boy (inspiring the legend of the Sword in the Stone) in an effort to rescue his mother who died during an attack… your assignment … As you watch the film, complete the chart on the back of this handout. In the space provided, list two examples of each chivalric code. Be sure to include as many specifics as possible, including character names and places.
character list … Clive Owen - Arthur Ray Stevenson - Dagonet Pat Kinevane - Horton Ioan Gruffudd - Lancelot Keira Knightley - Guinevere Ivano Marescotti -Bishop Mads Mikkelsen - Tristan Stephen Dillane - Merlin Germanus Joel Edgerton - Gawain Stellan Skarsgård - Cerdic Ken Stott - Marius Hugh Dancy - Galahad Til Schweiger -Cynric Ray Winstone - Bors Sean Gilder - Jols
Code Example 1 Example 2
Prowess: Strength should be used in the service of justice—not for personal aggrandizement.
Justice: Seek always the path of 'right', unencumbered by bias or personal interest. Seek to do right, no matter what the cost.
Loyalty: Maintain unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by.
Defense: Seek always to defend your nation, your family, and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty.
Humility: Do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own.
Courage: Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of others.
Faith: A knight must have faith in his beliefs, for faith roots him and gives hope against the despair.