Legends and Heroes’ Impact on Culture: Literary

CriticismMs. Ward

English II

Essential Questions

How have the heroes of literature affected culture?

How can we use the research process, evaluate the information gathered, and organize this information to communicate effectively?

NOTE: Through the study of legends, you will be able to demonstrate critical thinking about the historical and cultural implications on the author’s style evident in the composition of two major portfolio pieces:- Character analysis- Formal Research Paper

Key Literary Terms (1/4)

Literary Criticism – written evaluation of a work of literature through the study of the author’s style, vocabulary, and historical and cultural implications of the text

Legend - An unverified story handed down from earlier times,

especially on popularly believed to be historical- A body or collection of such stories- A romanticized or popularized myth of modern times- One that inspires or achieve legendary fame

Answers.com

Key Literary Terms (2/4)

Middle Ages/Medieval Period - Begins with the conquest of 1066 and ends in the

fifteenth century

- Some of the highlights include feudalism, chivalry, knighthood, and the Black Death

King Arthur- A Celtic King or chieftain who lived in southwestern

England during the 6th century and who led his warriors against invading armies of Saxons

- His exploits were famous and over time, his story was retold over and over again and morphed into “legend” as storytellers wowed audiences with tales of Arthur

Key Literary Terms (3/4)

Romance - A literary genre that was popular during the

Medieval period known as romance or chivalric romance

- A style of heroic prose that focuses on fantastic stories and adventures of chivalrous, heroic knight errants with super-human abilities and who go off on quests

Quest- A journey towards a goal

- Serves as a plot device and (frequently) as a symbol

- In the tales of King Arthur, knights search for The Holy Graal or Grail (a pearl rimmed cauldron linked with Christianity)- WikiPedia

Key Literary Terms (4/4)

Setting- Includes the time, location, and everything in which

a story takes place

- Initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story

Character - an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction that we analyze by his/her speech, thoughts, others’ thoughts of him/her, and his or her actions

Terms

Figurative Language - language that uses figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, hyperbole, and idioms occur to create imagery and meaning in a text

Imagery - language that creates pictures through an appeal to the five senses

Universal Theme - a message about life that can be understood in most cultures (Quizlet.com)

Author’s Style - the elements of style and language and how they work to impact meaning of a text. Focus on literary elements, figurative language, and theme through a historical perspective (literary criticism)

Elements of Legends

Characters - will focus on a few characters

Characteristics – will involve superhuman abilities, mythic like qualities, heroes

Setting - one of cultural relevance like England The time is considered past realistic time.

Elements of Legends

Plot - Most likely includes plenty or action, suspense, and basic

conflict

- May offer explanations about the beginnings of the world or natural phenomenon

- May also focus on difficult tasks or obstacles to be overcome

- Deals with relationships between humans: the way people accept or fulfill their destiny, and human’s struggle with god and evil forces both within themselves and outside themselves

Theme - explains natural phenomena, origins of life, human behavior, social phenomena, religious customs, human strengths, weaknesses or lessons for life

Tone mood style - reflects culture's customs, values, and beliefs

Meet the Middle Ages (1/4)An un-unified Europe

Heavy influence of the Church (temptation and sin)

Called Dark Ages

Meet the Middle Ages(2/4)Chivalry

- Knightly class of feudal Europe, and especially the gallantry and honor expected of medieval knights

- The ideal of courteous knightly conduct developed in the 12th – 13th century

- It arose out of feudal obligation and stressed loyalty and obeisance by a knight to his God, his lord, and his lady, thus melding Christian and military virtues

- Chivalry was greatly strengthened by the Crusades, a military endeavor on behalf of Christianity, which led to the founding of the earliest orders of chivalry

Meet the Middle Ages(3/4)Chivalry (Cont.)

- The chivalric virtues included loyalty and honor, valor, piety, courtesy, and chastity. Questions of love and honor were combined in the ethos of courtly love

- The knight's lady was meant to be unobtainable, ensuring chastity; the feminine ideal thus became melded with the Virgin Mary

- In the 14th – 15th century, chivalry came to be associated increasingly with aristocratic display and public ceremony, particularly in jousting tournaments, rather than with service in the field

Answers.com

Meet the Middle Ages (4/4) Religion

- The most unifying aspect of medieval literature

- Nearly all works contain religion in some aspect

- The mystery play, which was born in during the medieval period, deals completely with religion, often to the exclusion of the other elements

Legend of King Arthur

Arthur: King of Camelot- At the event of his birth,

young Arthur was taken by Merlin, as payment for Merlin's sorcery

- He was to be raised by another knight, Sir Ector

Excalibur: Arthur’s Sword- a mystical power in its own

right - a vital part in King Arthur's

reign- aided Arthur until his death

Knights of the Round TableSeekers of virtue

Defenders of the weak

Striving for excellence

Acting with strength

Courtesy and respect

Merlin

Magician, Prophet, Advisor

Crucial to the reign of Arthur

Instrumental in Arthur’s birth

Prophesized Guinevere’s betrayal

Prophesized Arthur’s death by Sir Mordred

Lancelot du Lac

Greatest and most trusted of Arthur’s knights

First Knight of the Round Table

Fostered by the Lady of the Lake

Father of Sir Galahad

Had an affair with Lady Guinevere (Arthur’s wife)

Prophecized Guinevere’s betrayal

Prophecized Arthur’s death by Sir Mordred

Greatest and most

Important Knights

Sir GalahadSir Lancelot du LacSir GawainSir PercivaleSir BedivereSir Bors de GanisSir KaySir Ector de Maris Sir Mordred

Camelot

Arthur’s kingdom

Place of peace and prosperity

Held the Knights of the Round Table

Point of downfall for Arthur as well