DOCSLIB.ORG

King Arthur and the Round Table (Core Classics®)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
King Arthur and the Round Table (Core Classics®) Fiction Excerpts: King Arthur and the Round Table (Core Classics®) Fiction Excerpt 1: The Sword in the Stone (Part One) In the days of old, Britain was ruled by King Uther Pendragon. The dragon was his emblem, and he was a mighty warrior and a great ruler. He was not only the greatest man in battle, but he was wise, too, for he followed the counsel of Merlin, a great magician and seer. Merlin could cast magic spells and change shapes to look like an animal or another person. He was called a seer because he could see the future—for everyone, that is, except himself. Uther Pendragon had a son named Arthur. One day, when Arthur was still young, Merlin had a terrifying vision. He foresaw that Uther Pendragon would soon die from a plague that was sweeping the land. And he saw that, because Arthur was only a baby, many of the other noblemen would try to take his place as king. Some might even try to harm him, and war would break out. So Merlin secretly gave Arthur into the care of a noble knight, Sir Ector, who did not know he was protecting the king’s son and heir. Sir Ector raised Arthur along with his own son, Kay. Just as Merlin had predicted, Uther Pendragon died, and the British lords began to feud with each other over who should be king. For years, Britain was torn with warfare and strife. When Merlin felt that the time had come, he went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and said that if the archbishop would call the lords of the land to London at Christmas, a miracle would reveal who was the rightful king of Britain. The archbishop did as Merlin asked. On Christmas Day, all the lords attended church. When they came out, they found in the churchyard a square marble stone. In the middle of it was an anvil, and into the anvil was thrust a sword. The stone gripped the naked sword by the point, and on the blade was written in gold letters: “Whosoever pulls out this sword from this stone and anvil is the true-born King of Britain.” Each lord tried to pull the sword out, but all failed. News of the sword in the stone spread, with an invitation to all the knights of the land to come try to pull out the sword. A jousting tournament was announced for New Year’s Day. The knights would first compete on the jousting field; then they would attempt to remove the sword. All the great lords attended a church service on New Year’s Day. Among them were Sir Ector and his son, Sir Kay, who had only recently been made a knight. TEACHER RESOURCES 215 Arthur, only fifteen years old and completely unaware of his kingly birth, acted as Kay’s assistant, or squire. After the church service, all rode in a merry company to the jousting field. When Sir Kay realized he had left his sword behind, he asked Arthur to ride back and get it for him. Arthur rode as fast as he could to their lodging but found the door locked. Arthur had seen the sword in the stone but did not know of the legends surrounding it. He said to himself, “I will ride to the churchyard and take that sword in the stone, for my brother shall not be without a sword this day.” 216 MEDIEVAL EUROPE.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Queen Guinevere
    Ingvarsdóttir 1 Hugvísindasvið Queen Guinevere: A queen through time B.A. Thesis Marie Helga Ingvarsdóttir June 2011 Ingvarsdóttir 2 Háskóli Íslands Hugvísindasvið Enskudeild Queen Guinevere: A queen through time B.A. Thesis Marie Helga Ingvarsdóttir Kt.: 060389-3309 Supervisor: Ingibjörg Ágústsdóttir June 2011 Ingvarsdóttir 3 Abstract This essay is an attempt to recollect and analyze the character of Queen Guinevere in Arthurian literature and movies through time. The sources involved here are Welsh and other Celtic tradition, Latin texts, French romances and other works from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Malory’s and Tennyson’s representation of the Queen, and finally Guinevere in the twentieth century in Bradley’s and Miles’s novels as well as in movies. The main sources in the first three chapters are of European origins; however, there is a focus on French and British works. There is a lack of study of German sources, which could bring different insights into the character of Guinevere. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the evolution of Queen Guinevere and to point out that through the works of Malory and Tennyson, she has been misrepresented and there is more to her than her adulterous relation with Lancelot. This essay is exclusively focused on Queen Guinevere and her analysis involves other characters like Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Enide, and more. First the Queen is only represented as Arthur’s unfaithful wife, and her abduction is narrated. We have here the basis of her character. Chrétien de Troyes develops this basic character into a woman of important values about love and chivalry.
    [Show full text]
  • How Geoffrey of Monmouth Influenced the Story of King Arthur
    Western Oregon University Digital Commons@WOU Student Theses, Papers and Projects (History) Department of History 6-10-2019 The Creation of a King: How Geoffrey of Monmouth Influenced the Story of King Arthur Marcos Morales II [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/his Part of the Cultural History Commons, Medieval History Commons, and the Medieval Studies Commons Recommended Citation Morales II, Marcos, "The Creation of a King: How Geoffrey of Monmouth Influenced the Story of King Arthur" (2019). Student Theses, Papers and Projects (History). 276. https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/his/276 This Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of History at Digital Commons@WOU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Theses, Papers and Projects (History) by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@WOU. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. The Creation of a King: How Geoffrey of Monmouth Influenced the Story of King Arthur. By: Marcos Morales II Senior Seminar: HST 499 Professor David Doellinger Western Oregon University June 05, 2019 Readers Professor Elizabeth Swedo Professor Bau Hwa Hsieh Copyright © Marcos Morales II Arthur, with a single division in which he had posted six thousand, six hundred, and sixty-six men, charged at the squadron where he knew Mordred was. They hacked a way through with their swords and Arthur continued to advance, inflicting terrible slaughter as he went. It was at this point that the accursed traitor was killed and many thousands of his men with him.1 With the inclusion of this feat between King Arthur and his enemies, Geoffrey of Monmouth shows Arthur as a mighty warrior, one who stops at nothing to defeat his foes.
    [Show full text]
  • King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Movie Review)
    Digital Collections @ Dordt Faculty Work Comprehensive List 5-31-2017 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Movie Review) Donald Roth [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_work Part of the American Film Studies Commons Recommended Citation Roth, D. (2017). King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Movie Review). Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_work/725 This Blog Post is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Collections @ Dordt. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Work Comprehensive List by an authorized administrator of Digital Collections @ Dordt. For more information, please contact [email protected]. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Movie Review) Abstract "First, I really liked this movie, and, second, I think it says something really interesting about the nature of evil." Posting about the movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation. http://inallthings.org/king-arthur-legend-of-the-sword/ Keywords In All Things, movie review, King Arthur, Legend of the Sword Disciplines American Film Studies Comments In All Things is a publication of the Andreas Center for Reformed Scholarship and Service at Dordt College. This blog post is available at Digital Collections @ Dordt: https://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_work/725 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword inallthings.org/king-arthur-legend-of-the-sword/ May 31, 2017 Donald Roth With the movie looking to be one of the biggest financial flops in recent cinema history, and with iAt’s resident snarky film critic, Josh Matthews, out of town, you might wonder why I would be volunteering to write a review of this movie (aside from a borderline-pathological need to write that makes this my 50th piece for iAt).
    [Show full text]
  • An Arthurian Drama
    EXCALIBUR: AN ARTHURIAN DRAMA RALPH ADAMS CRAM EXCALIBUR: AN ARTHURIAN DRAMA Table of Contents EXCALIBUR: AN ARTHURIAN DRAMA...........................................................................................................1 RALPH ADAMS CRAM..............................................................................................................................1 Advertisement:...............................................................................................................................................1 Prologue.........................................................................................................................................................2 Act I................................................................................................................................................................6 ACT II..........................................................................................................................................................44 i EXCALIBUR: AN ARTHURIAN DRAMA RALPH ADAMS CRAM This page copyright © 2002 Blackmask Online. http://www.blackmask.com • Advertisement: • Prologue • Act I • ACT II Advertisement: Excalibur is the introductory drama of a contemplated trilogy founded on the Arthurian legends as the perfect embodiment of the spirit and impulse of that great Christian epoch we call Mediævalism. The attempt is again madehowever inadequately to do for the epic of our own race, and in a form adapted to dramatic presentation, a small measure of that which
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction: the Legend of King Arthur
    Department of History University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire “HIC FACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM, REXQUE FUTURUS” THE ANALYSIS OF ORIGINAL MEDIEVAL SOURCES IN THE SEARCH FOR THE HISTORICAL KING ARTHUR Final Paper History 489: Research Seminar Professor Thomas Miller Cooperating Professor: Professor Matthew Waters By Erin Pevan November 21, 2006 1 Copyright for this work is owned by the author. This digital version is published by McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with the consent of the author. 2 Department of History University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Abstract of: “HIC FACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM, REXQUE FUTURUS” THE ANALYSIS OF ORIGINAL MEDIEVAL SOURCES IN THE SEARCH FOR THE HISTORICAL KING ARTHUR Final Paper History 489: Research Seminar Professor Thomas Miller Cooperating Professor: Matthew Waters By Erin Pevan November 21, 2006 The stories of Arthurian literary tradition have provided our modern age with gripping tales of chivalry, adventure, and betrayal. King Arthur remains a hero of legend in the annals of the British Isles. However, one question remains: did King Arthur actually exist? Early medieval historical sources provide clues that have identified various figures that may have been the template for King Arthur. Such candidates such as the second century Roman general Lucius Artorius Castus, the fifth century Breton leader Riothamus, and the sixth century British leader Ambrosius Aurelianus hold high esteem as possible candidates for the historical King Arthur. Through the analysis of original sources and authors such as the Easter Annals, Nennius, Bede, Gildas, and the Annales Cambriae, parallels can be established which connect these historical figures to aspects of the Arthur of literary tradition.
    [Show full text]
  • Writing and Literary Study Spring 2010 the Chivalrous Sir Gawain If
    Ahmed 1 Sarin Taslima Ahmed College Writing II: Writing and Literary Study Spring 2010 The Chivalrous Sir Gawain If a man does not open the door for a woman, she may think chivalry is dead or forget that it ever existed at all. Today's woman is not a damsel in distress, but rather stands on equal ground with her masculine counterpart. She has no need to acknowledge that there was ever a time when men lived and died for the sake of honor. However, around 1066 a.d. to 1485 a.d., that was exactly what European knights, and those around the world, did (Achlin). Of these brave soldiers, the most famous were the Knights of the Round Table, subjects of Camelot and King Arthur. Perhaps the most acclaimed knights are dubbed Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain. Lancelot is still known as the greatest of all knights, the perfect knight, but based on Gawain's actions in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Pearl Poet and those of Lancelot in The Once and Future King by T.H. White, I've come to the conclusion that Gawain is a greater model of chivalry than Lancelot. Following the code of chivalry, Gawain is faithful to God, his King, and he is respectful to women. Lancelot is very talented, but he does not feel the need to follow the laws of knighthood, and ends up disregarding King Arthur, Queen Guinevere and even God because of it. "Two virtues above all else were held to mark the good knight and bring him honor.
    [Show full text]
  • The Arthurian Legend Now and Then a Comparative Thesis on Malory's Le Morte D'arthur and BBC's Merlin Bachelor Thesis Engl
    The Arthurian Legend Now and Then A Comparative Thesis on Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur and BBC’s Merlin Bachelor Thesis English Language and Culture, Utrecht University Student: Saskia van Beek Student Number: 3953440 Supervisor: Dr. Marcelle Cole Second Reader: Dr. Roselinde Supheert Date of Completion: February 2016 Total Word Count: 6000 Index page Introduction 1 Adaptation Theories 4 Adaptation of Male Characters 7 Adaptation of Female Characters 13 Conclusion 21 Bibliography 23 van Beek 1 Introduction In Britain’s literary history there is one figure who looms largest: Arthur. Many different stories have been written about the quests of the legendary king of Britain and his Knights of the Round Table, and as a result many modern adaptations have been made from varying perspectives. The Cambridge Companion to the Arthurian Legend traces the evolution of the story and begins by asking the question “whether or not there ever was an Arthur, and if so, who, what, where and when.” (Archibald and Putter, 1). The victory over the Anglo-Saxons at Mount Badon in the fifth century was attributed to Arthur by Geoffrey of Monmouth (Monmouth), but according to the sixth century monk Gildas, this victory belonged to Ambrosius Aurelianus, a fifth century Romano-British soldier, and the figure of Arthur was merely inspired by this warrior (Giles). Despite this, more events have been attributed to Arthur and he remains popular to write about to date, and because of that there is scope for analytic and comparative research on all these stories (Archibald and Putter). The legend of Arthur, king of the Britains, flourished with Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain (Monmouth).
    [Show full text]
  • Morgaine Speaks
    MORGAINE SPEAKS ... I think that my first real memory is of my mother's wedding to Uther Pendragon. I remember my father only a little. When I was unhappy as a little girl, I seemed to remember him, a heavyset man with a dark beard and dark hair I remember playing with a chain he wore about his neck. I remember that as a little maiden when I was unhappy, when I was chidden by my mother or my teachers, or when Uther-rarely-noticed me to disapprove of me, I used to comfort myself by thinking that if my own father were alive, he would have been fond of me and taken me on his knee and brought me pretty things. Now that I am older and know what manner of man he was, I think it more likely he would have put me into a nunnery as soon as I had a brother, and never thought more about me. Not that Uther was ever unkind to me; it was simply that he had no particular interest in a girl child. My mother was always at the center of his heart, and he at hers, and so I resented that-that I had lost my mother to this great fair-hair boorish man. When Uther was away in battle-and there was battle a good deal of the time when I was a maiden-my mother Igraine cherished me and petted me, and taught me to spin with her own hands and to weave in colors. But when Uther's men were sighted, then I went back into my rooms and was forgotten until he went away again.
    [Show full text]
  • A Welsh Classical Dictionary
    A WELSH CLASSICAL DICTIONARY DACHUN, saint of Bodmin. See s.n. Credan. He has been wrongly identified with an Irish saint Dagan in LBS II.281, 285. G.H.Doble seems to have been misled in the same way (The Saints of Cornwall, IV. 156). DAGAN or DANOG, abbot of Llancarfan. He appears as Danoc in one of the ‘Llancarfan Charters’ appended to the Life of St.Cadog (§62 in VSB p.130). Here he is a clerical witness with Sulien (presumably abbot) and king Morgan [ab Athrwys]. He appears as abbot of Llancarfan in five charters in the Book of Llandaf, where he is called Danoc abbas Carbani Uallis (BLD 179c), and Dagan(us) abbas Carbani Uallis (BLD 158, 175, 186b, 195). In these five charters he is contemporary with bishop Berthwyn and Ithel ap Morgan, king of Glywysing. He succeeded Sulien as abbot and was succeeded by Paul. See Trans.Cym., 1948 pp.291-2, (but ignore the dates), and compare Wendy Davies, LlCh p.55 where Danog and Dagan are distinguished. Wendy Davies dates the BLD charters c.A.D.722 to 740 (ibid., pp.102 - 114). DALLDAF ail CUNIN COF. (Legendary). He is included in the tale of ‘Culhwch and Olwen’ as one of the warriors of Arthur's Court: Dalldaf eil Kimin Cof (WM 460, RM 106). In a triad (TYP no.73) he is called Dalldaf eil Cunyn Cof, one of the ‘Three Peers’ of Arthur's Court. In another triad (TYP no.41) we are told that Fferlas (Grey Fetlock), the horse of Dalldaf eil Cunin Cof, was one of the ‘Three Lovers' Horses’ (or perhaps ‘Beloved Horses’).
    [Show full text]
  • I Am Excalibur by Danny Hatch I Am Excalibur, the Only Truly Innocent
    I Am Excalibur by Danny Hatch I am Excalibur, the only truly innocent character in this whole charade. This is due to me having no human drives, desires, addictions, or vices. My real history began when Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, thrust me out of the water to Merlin and Uther Pendragon. Nothing really happened after that until Uther thrust me into the stone, where I resided for seventeen long years. Once Arthur pulled me out, I remained strong, staying by his side until I was broken, in a rare moment of Arthur displaying a rash attitude. I have never broken. In all of my years as a sword, from the beginning of time to that very moment, with Lancelot’s body lying in the river, I have never felt myself break. In all of his confusion, Arthur dropped me into the lake absentmindedly. At this point, I had lost all hope, and was sinking quickly. Suddenly, though, two slimy hands grabbed me, and with a stream of flash and light, I was mended. I have stayed with Arthur through the chivalry, the success, the hate, and the pain, Even if I could not lend him my strength and my blade, I gave him important encouragement while he was dying. Except for now. Now, I lay at the bottom of the lake, discarded, forgotten, gone. I have nothing to comfort me but thoughts of rebirth for both Arthur and myself. He will be back. I know it. And so will I. Invincible by Danny Hatch Winter turns to spring And all the church bells ring.
    [Show full text]
  • LEGENDS of the ROUND TABLE by JEFF POSSON
    LEGENDS OF THE ROUND TABLE by JEFF POSSON 2 LEGENDS OF THE ROUND TABLE SETTING The forests of England in the Middle Ages. A Lake with magic in its waters. CHARACTERS Merlin – A wizard Morgan Le Fay – An enchantress who likes to make fun of Merlin King Arthur- A king, Morgan Le Fey’s brother Sir Bedivere- A knight The Black Knight- A knight, a bit of a bully Sir Gawain- A knight The Green Knight- A knight, has a magical talent Sir Galahad- A knight The Lady of the Lake- A mystical goddess of the water Villager- Running from a dragon Scene 1 MERLIN Oh a legend is sung! Of when England was young And Knights were brave and.... (MORGAN runs on because she is tired of MERLIN’S singing.) MORGAN STOP! MERLIN What? MORGAN !Stop singing! I’m trying to cast a spell and it is INCREDIBLY distracting. MERLIN! Oh come now Morgan, it is not that distracting. MORGAN! It is, it really is. You may be the most famous wizard in history, Merlin, but your pitch is all over the place. MERLIN! 3 Fine, I’ll stop.... wait, what spell are you casting, Morgan Le Fey? Are you up to mischief again? MORGAN Oh yes, without a doubt. Mischief is what I do. MERLIN Well, you should stop it. ! MORGAN Pardon me? Do youth think I need your permission to do anything? MERLIN Well... no but...! MORGAN! No buts Merlin. This is my island you’re currently sitting on. Avalon, the isle of Apples. My island, my rules, I can do what I want.
    [Show full text]
  • Arthurian Legend
    Nugent: English 11 Fall What do you know about King Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table? Do you know about any Knights? If so, who? If you know anything about King Arthur, why did you learn about King Arthur? If you don’t know anything, what can you guess King Arthur, Camelot, or Knights. A LEGEND is a story told about extraordinary deeds that has been told and retold for generations among a group of people. Legends are thought to have a historical basis, but may also contain elements of magic and myth. MYTH: a story that a particular culture believes to be true, using the supernatural to interpret natural events & to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. An ARCHETYPE is a reoccurring character type, setting, or action that is recognizable across literature and cultures that elicits a certain feeling or reaction from the reader. GOOD EVIL • The Hero • Doppelganger • The Mother The Sage • The Monster • The Scapegoat or sacrificial • The Trickster lamb • Outlaw/destroyer • The Star-crossed lovers • The Rebel • The Orphan • The Tyrant • The Fool • The Hag/Witch/Shaman • The Sadist A ROMANCE is an imaginative story concerned with noble heroes, chivalric codes of honor, passionate love, daring deeds, & supernatural events. Writers of romances tend to idealize their heroes as well as the eras in which the heroes live. Romances typically include these MOTIFS: adventure, quests, wicked adversaries, & magic. Motif: an idea, object, place, or statement that appears frequently throughout a piece of writing, which helps contribute to the work’s overall theme 1.
    [Show full text]