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Examining the Epigraphs Books 1, 2, and 3

Your Task One at a time What job does an epigraph do? Discuss the focus of each epigraph. How is T.H. White trying to focus our reading?

Big Ideas: Book 1 Education Leadership

Discuss the focus of this epigraph. How is T. H Discuss the focus of this epigraph. How is T.H. White trying to focus our reading? Book 1: “She is not any common earth Water or wood or air, But Merlin’s Isle of Gramarye Where you and I will fare.”

Big Ideas: Book 2 Violence Innocence

Book II Epigraph from A. E Book II Epigraph from A. E. Housman’s “High the Vanes of Shrewsbury Gleam” Book 2: “When shall I be dead and rid Of all the wrong my father did? How long, how long, till spade and hearse Put to sleep my mother’s curse?”

Book III Epigraph “Nay,” said Launcelot “. . . for once shamed may never be recovered.”

Le Morte d’Arthur And so long they fought that tidings came to King Arthur, and anon he graithed him and came to the battle, and saw his knights how they had vanquished the battle, he embraced them knight by knight in his arms, and said, Ye be worthy to wield all your honour and worship; there was never a king save myself that had so noble knights. Sir, said Cador, there was none of us failed other, but of the prowess and manhood of Sir Launcelot were more than wonder to tell, and also of his cousins which did that day many noble feats of war. And also Sir Cador told who of his knights were slain, as Sir Berel, and other Sir Moris and Sir Maurel, two good knights. Then the king wept, and dried his eyes with a kerchief, and said, Your courage had near-hand destroyed you, for though ye had returned again, ye had lost no worship; for I call it folly, knights to abide when they be overmatched. Nay, said Launcelot and the other, for once shamed may never be recovered.

Discuss the focus of this epigraph. How is T. H Discuss the focus of this epigraph. How is T.H. White trying to focus our reading? Questions: What does this quotation mean outside of the context of this book? (Don’t worry about OFK for a second. What does this mean? Do you agree with Lancelot’s statement?) What could we predict about Lancelot based on this quotation (both about his actions and his persona)? How could this idea relate to more characters than just Lancelot? How could it be related to either of our big ideas?

Big Ideas: Book 3 Loyalty Forgiveness

Lancelot Opening Discussion of Book III Honors English 10

Starting Questions What is Arthur’s goal/purpose in this novel as a whole (OFK)? What is he hoping to achieve as king? Where is he getting it right? Where is he still making mistakes?

Book III Big Ideas Forgiveness Loyalty

How we’re going to handle Book III Passage Discussions (Groups of 3-4) Break down a passage you found to be important, interesting, relevant. Walk through the scene almost like you were writing a paragraph. Provide context Pull out specific quotations and talk about the White’s word choice and why those passages are significant Talk relevance for the novel Link to big ideas (Forgiveness & Loyalty) 10 minutes each group.

Let’s Start with Lancelot … and read chapter 1.

Questions for Close-Reading …and Beyond What’s wrong with Lancelot? If Arthur is learning how to lead throughout books I, II and III, what lessons should he take away from this book in particular? What’s the purpose of book III? How does it play a role in the arc of Arthur’s story? What types of new problems does it introduce?