How to Write a Medieval Romance Play ESL 7

Decisions, decisions, decisions Decision Number 1 – Decide on a setting War In the castle Wandering for no real reason Going on a quest Setting is often imaginary and vague Make up a setting—where is it really. It could be under the sea.

Decision 2 – Who is the main character Look up the names of all the knights in King Arthur’s court and select one to be the main character Characteristics of the Hero-Knight 1. Birth of a great hero is shrouded in mystery 2. He is reared away from his true home in ignorance of his real parents. 3. For a time his true identity is unknown 4. After meeting an extraordinary challenge, he claims his right 5. His triumph benefits his nation or group. Arthur himself is a Hero Knight and the events surrounding his rise to power as King is a Medieval Romance. "The Tale of Sir Gareth" is an excellent example of the Medieval Romance because it contains all elements. (Some romances do not contain all elements). http://www.arthurian-legend.com/more-about/more-about- arthur-3.php

Decision 3 – Who is the villain The knight must always defend either his, the king’s or a fair maiden’s honor. He could also be defending a castle or searching for some religious symbol. The villain is the one testing the knight although he may just want the knight to prove himself or he truly might want to destroy the knight and/or the Round Table. Who is the villain and what is his/her purpose? Don’t forget the dragons!

Remember the Quest Structure Knight is challenged to defend his (someone’s) honor Goes on a journey to defend that honor Journey might include a search for a religious item He encounters dangers and conflicts. He must overcome them and return with the object or fail.

Include all the elements on INSPIRATION Flashcards of characteristics Characterized by: 1. Medieval romance usually idealizes chivalry 2. Medieval romance Idealizes the hero-knight and his noble deeds 3. An important element of the medieval romance is the knight's love for his lady. 4. The settings of medieval romance tend to be imaginary and vague. 5. Medieval romance derives mystery and suspense from supernatural elements. 6. Medieval romance uses concealed or disguised identity. 7. Repetition of the mystical number "3." (Repetitions of the number or multiples of 3)

Remember to include acts of chivalry To fear God and maintain His Church To serve the liege lord in valour and faith To protect the weak and defenceless To give succour to widows and orphans To refrain from the wanton giving of offence To live by honour and for glory To despise pecuniary reward To fight for the welfare of all To obey those placed in authority To guard the honour of fellow knights To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit To keep faith At all times to speak the truth To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun To respect the honour of women Never to refuse a challenge from an equal Never to turn the back upon a foe

Characteristics of Code of Chivalry Faith Charity Justice Sagacity Prudence Temperance Resolution Truth Liberality Diligence Hope Valour

Magical elements Birth of hero is magical His tutor (mentor) may be magical. The way he discovers he is a hero may involve magic He may have amulets that have magical powers His death may be magical in nature The mystical use of the number 3

You may have in addition to the quest Stressing of social rank Aimless (errant) adventures Spontaneous fighting Love is a focus Lighthearted tone

Introduction to the play – Act 1 - introduce the setting and what was magical about it Have a narrator read the beginning of the story Long, long ago when dragons lived deep in the caves and no man but the bravest dare enter there… Long ago near the Tyrooon River with trees covered in moss and mist lived a very special bird whose feathers were magical. It was believed that whoever found a feather and placed it in his hair would be able to fly.

Introduction – introduce the boy to become a knight and how his birth is unknown or magical. This can be the hero or the villain One day the fiercest female dragon of all, Miraka, made a nest in preparation of laying an egg. However, a vision of her own mother-dragon appeared in a dream and told Miraka to leave the egg for it was tainted and would not be a dragon at all, but a human with dragon powers. It would challenge Miraka the very day it was born. (villain born) (Have the villain be born alone and nurtured by ugly witches who taught it evil ways and the goal to kill the fairest lady of the land.

Hero-born One evening when the sun was peeping its last peep at the world, young Queen Galla , heavy with child and heir of the Kingdom of Wellingham, was fleeing her castle on horseback from the barbarians of the North. As she looked backward hoping to see she had escaped the hoard, her head struck a branch and she tumbled from the horse, causing her to be unconscious from the wound. When she fell, her head landed on a magical feather which nestled in her hair and carried the limb princess into the sky. (Her body can be protected by the birds and animals of the forest until the baby is born at which time the mother dies. The animals raise the baby and is has all the characteristics of the animals of the forest. It always keeps that feather that saved it from death at the hands of the barbarians of the North)

Act 2 – Have the child grow up Somehow the hero-child is tested and proves his true identity (The knights from another village who are fighting the Barbarians from the North may be passing through the forest and discover him. He is spared because he can fly, which none of them can do. Once peace is made, he is recognized by an old knight from his castle who sees a ring the Queen of Wellingham was given the King, his father). Go back to the conditions of the kingdom he left. He comes in and does something to save his people quite by accident He has to leave his childhood environment but with the teachings of his childhood, he conquers the barbarians He can fly He learns how to fight like a bear He can interpret the dying words of an animal who tells how to win a battle If he fights a dragon, he needs to know the dragon’s one weakness.

Act 3 – He goes on his own quest Recognized by the King of Bellington, Tarjavid, is knighted for helping save the King is his war against the Barbarians. Now he must regain his own title and find the magical feather and the hair entwined on it that will prove to his people, he through Divine Right is the rightful ruler of Wellington and son of Queen Galla. The Elders of the town demand he go on this quest.

Act 4 He either goes on a quest to get something to bring back to save his village or he with the help of the Bellingham soldiers, returns to his own village with an army to defeat the barbarians. Either way, he also rescues a fair maiden trapped in the cave with the dragon. She is really the evil spawn of the dragon as a means to destroy Galla’s son, if he ever ruled. This is revealed to him in a dream from his mother and how to make the fair lady a true fair lady, he must place his mother’s ring on her hand. Magically the dragon spawn turns into a true lady worthy of his love and position.

Act 5 - Conclusion Big party at Bellingham as he returns home with his beautiful lady, who retains enough of her dragon powers to help control the Barbarians and keep them away forever. But what will their children be?