Arthurian 1

8/10/2019 Arthurian 1

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The Legend of King

Arthur(in 20 minutes or less)


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What is a Legend?a traditional historical tale or collection of relatedtales popularly regarded as true, but usually containa mixture of fact and fictionnot to be confused with a myth (A traditional,typically ancient story dealing with supernatural

beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a

fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as byexplaining aspects of the natural world or delineatingthe psychology, customs, or ideals of society)


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Arthurs childhood Arthur is the son of King UtherPendragon, but is orphaned at ayoung age, unaware of his royalheritage

Upon King Uthers death,Merlin places the swordExcalibur (a magical swordgiven to Merlin by the Lady ofthe Lake) in a stone containing aspell that only the rightful king

could remove it from the stoneIn need of a sword for hisadoptive brother, Arthur pullsExcalibur from the stone,

proving himself the rightful kingof England


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The New Kings First Challenge When Arthur assumes power, England is tornapart by war, is fractioned into city-states, andis on the brink of invasion by the SaxonsTo unite the country and defeat the Saxons,

Arthur creates the Knights of the Round table.This is a revolutionary idea for the time inwhich each city state is represented by aknight. No one knight, including King Arthurhimself, has more power than another. Arthurcreates a democratic society.

Because of this alliance, Arthur and hisknights defeat the powerful Saxons in a seriesof 12 battles. It is said that the key to Arthurssuccess is the sword Excalibur which healways takes into battle. Excalibur is said tomake its barer invincible.


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Guinevere After the battles with the Saxons,England finally experiences peace.During this time, Arthur decides to

marry the lovely young Guinevere.She does not see him before they aremarried. Arthur sends his mosttrusted knight Lancelot to fetch her.He marries her and they are happy

for some time.Guinevere, upon seeing Lancelot,

believes he is her husband to be andfalls in love with him.


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Mysteries and Evil PlotsArthur unknowingly had ahalf sister, Morgan de Fey.She believed that she wasrightful ruler. In anattempts to usurp thethrone, she slept with himand conceived a son.Morgan was said to be a

witch and a powerfulwoman. Her son, Mordred,threatened Arthursmarriage and his throne.


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Mysteries and Evil Plotsas any good legend there areseveral mysterious stories that

parallel the legend of KingArthur. King Arthurs Camelot

is one that is surrounded bycountless stories of chivalry,fairies, magic and monsters.Some of the most famous ofthese stories are the following:

Sir Gawain and the Green

KnightTristan and IsoldeThe White StagThe Lady of the Lake
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A Country Religiously DividedArthur was a member of the OldReligion, known as Celtic (asevident by keeping a Royal wizard,Merlin)However, a new religion,

Christianity was beginning.Guinevere, Arthurs wife was amember of this religion.Arthur and Guinevere were havingtrouble conceiving. Guinevere

believed this was because God was punishing Arthur for believing in

pagan gods and encouraging his people to do so as well.To try to remedy the problem of anheir and heal the country, which hadonce again grown restless, Arthurestablished the crusades.


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Crusades and the Holy GrailBecause the Celtic religion is based upon tangible items andnature, Arthur would needartifacts to convince his country to

convert to Christianity.With the help of Merlin, Arthurdecided to send his knights on aquest for religious artifacts, morecommonly know as the crusades.

The body of Joseph of ArimatheaThe spear of DestinyThe Holy GrailKing Solomons Temple Brazintine Crown of ThornsHoly Rod


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The Holy Grail and The TemplarsThe Holy Grail is the onlyartifact not recovered whichexplains its continued popularityOnce the Holy Land wasdiscovered, Arthur encouragedEnglish to visit it and created theKnights Templar** who werewarriors sent to protect the roadto the Holy Land. Thesewarriors begin much of the

problems that still exist in the

middle east today.*** Please note: This is one version of the story.

Many scholars argue that this is not historicallyaccurate.


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Trouble At HomeDuring the search for the Holy GrailArthurs life begins to fall apart. Someversions of the story have Arthur gone 10-20 years on his quest.During this time, Merlin is seduced by ayoung woman who steals his powers andimprisons him. Arthur is left without anadvisor.In Arthurs absence Mordred has beenraised to hate Arthur and upon his return,Arthur unknowingly knights his own son

and invites him to the round table.Guinevere has begun to realize her true lovefor Lancelot, not Arthur, during both theirabsences.


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The Most Famous Affair in Literary HistoryMordred sees the possibility to overthrow hisfather in Lancelot.Mordred discovers Guinevere and Lancelotsaffair (the two people that Arthur loves most)

and convinces the rest of the Round Table tocapture Lancelot in the act.Lancelot escapes but Guinevere is capturedand is to be burned at the stake for hertreachery against the king. She is rescued atthe last minute by Lancelot and the twoescape and are never heard from again.Arthur does not follow them due to the

problems of his kingdom. They are onceagain on the brink of war and Mordred hasturned much of the Round Table against him.


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The Fall of CamelotMetaphorically, the country alreadyhad fallen with the betrayal ofArthurs only love and his bestfriendThere are many versions of the

story. All of which end withArthurs death in battle. Some ofthe versions include the following

battles:SaxonsRomansGoths

FrenchIrishLancelotMorgan de feyMordred

All of the stories end with Arthursglorious death in battle, all that anylegendary king or hero can ask for


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True HistoryMost scholars believe that a Kingnamed Arthur did defeat the Saxonsin the 5 th or 6 th century. This isoutlined in one of the oldest accounts

of English History Geoffrey ofMonmouth's fanciful and imaginative12th-century Historia Regum

Britanniae There are ruins of a castle in Cornwall

that many believe to belong to Arthur Not much else is known, accounts ofArthur seem to be mysteriouslymissing from all Anglo-Saxonchronicles and other such history

books.

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Arthurian 1