Literature 3: King Arthur & Merlin (Masterlanguage)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Literature 3: 
King Arthur & Merlin

King Arthur

Have you ever seen an Arthurian adaptation? If yes, which one?

1. Take a guess: True or False "Arthur was most likely a Roman military leader from the 5th & 6th century."

1. True
2. False

2. Take a guess: Who is Lady Morgana in the stories about Arthur?

1. Arthur's mother
2. Arthur's full sister
3. Arthur's half-sister
4. Arthur's niece

3. Take a guess: What is not a role of Merlin in the Arthurian legend?

1. Scribe
2. Adviser
3. Prophet
4. Magician

4. Take a guess: The story of Arthur first appears in the 9th century, but when was Merlin added to the story?

1. 10th century
2. 11th century
3. 12th century
4. 13th century

5. Take a guess: True or False "Mordred is the one who eventually kills Arthur."

1. True
2. False

King Arthur

- Arthur Pendragon
- Most likely: A Roman military leader 5th & 6th century
- Fought against the Saxons
- Popular character medieval romances

Arthur (continued)

- History of the Britons in 9th century

- Set the basis of Arthur as the legendary warrior

- 12th century, Geoffrey of Monmouth adds Merlin

- Other stories added Camelot, Round Table, & Guinevere

Arthur's Influence

- Troubadours, jugglers, minstrels, storytellers spread the story
- Image of Arthur & his knights:
         - influenced clothes & fashion in Medieval era
         - guidelines for knights and how they should behave
         - jousting tournaments (on horses with lances)

- Arthur associated with the Middle English period (1100-1500)
   and not Old English period (450-1100) from which he came

Merlin

- 12th century: first appears as a prophet
- Later: becomes Arthur's adviser & magician
- First given the name Emrys
- Later: Merlin (from his Welsh name: Myrddin)
- Merlin's father an angel who visited a nun?
   or is Merlin's father an evil spirit?

Merlin & Arthur 

- Prophecy: red dragon (Britons) fights a 
   white dragon (Saxons), and the red one wins
- Merlin becomes Arthur's tutor when he's 
   a child
- Arranges the sword-in-the-stone that
   makes Arthur king

Morgana & Mordred

Morgana:                                                     Mordred:
- powerful enchantress                        - son of Arthur & Morgause
- daughter of Arthur's mother             (Morgana's sister)
- Arthur's half-sister                               - evil & wicked     
- apprentice of Merlin                            - Arthur kills all babies born
- wants to take over the throne            in May after a prophecy
                                                                         - Mordred lives & kills Arthur 

Symbolism in King arthur

Excalibur and the sword in the stone

Holy grail

Round table

The round table

Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness of the world, for by the Round Table is the world signified by right, for all the world, Christian and heathen, repair unto the Round Table; and when they are chosen to be of the fellowship of the Round Table they think them more blessed and more in worship than if they had gotten half the world. (Book 14, chapter 2)

The round table

Represents knighthood and honour 

As each member is carefully chosen by Arthur

Circularity is meant to represent that there is a lack of hierarchy and emphasises brotherhood

Excalibur

And when matins and the first mass was done, there was seen in the churchyard, against the high altar, a great stone four square, like unto a marble stone; and in midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point, and letters there were written in gold about the sword that said thus:— Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England. (Book 1, chapter 5)

Excalibur 

Sword that Arthur pulls from the stone

Highest status symbol of glory and honor, since it is meant for the rightful king of England

Symbol for fate, since arthur was always supposed to pull the sword from the stone, identifying him as Uther's heir

The holy grail

When Bors had told him of the adventures of the Sangreal, such as had befallen him and his three fellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale, Galahad, and himself, there Launcelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he had seen. (Book 17, chapter 23)

The holy grail

Silver vessel

Rumoured to have held the food eaten by Jesus at passover dinner before his death. 

In Le morte D'Arthur, holds the power for unlimited food and drink

However only works when the person has good intentions

Reading activities

Answer the questions provided in the hand out

Some you will be able to answer yourself and by using the text

With others you will need to put on your detective hat and search for the answer online.

6. Arthur Pendragon was most likely...?

1. A Welsh military leader from the 5th & 6th century
2. A Roman military leader from the 5th & 6th century
3. A Roman military leader from the 8th & 9th century
4. A Welsh military leader from the 8th & 9th century

7. True or False: "The Legend of Arthur is most often associated with the Old English period instead of the Middle."

1. True
2. False

8. Which of the following did the story of Arthur and his knights not influence?

1. Clothes & fashion in the Medieval era
2. Guidelines for knights and how their behaviour
3. Medieval laws and governments
4. Jousting tournaments

9. In Merlin's prophecy which of the two dragons wins?

1. The Red one (representing the Saxons)
2. The Red one (representing the Britons)
3. The White one (representing the Saxons)
4. The White one (representing the Britons)

10. Mordred was the son between?

1. Merlin & Morgana
2. Merlin & Morgause
3. Arthur & Morgana
4. Arthur & Morgause

11. What does the Round Table not represent?

1. Knighthood
2. Roundness
3. World
4. Hierarchical structure

12. What is Excalibur?

1. A theme
2. A sword
3. A stone
4. Glory

13. What does the Holy Grail represent?

1. Unlimited food supply
2. Silver vessel
3. Cup
4. Judgement on whether or not a person is good

Check the reader:

Literature 3: King Arthur & Merlin
- Read the background information
- Answer the questions (using the internet)
- Check your answers (see Its Learning)
- Work on the 2nd Bonus Assignment