Le Morte d’Arthur Malory Malory Arthur Arthur Guinevere Guinevere Lancelot Lancelot Mordred Mordred Valkyrie Valkyrie Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Grail Legend Grail Legend Hero characteristics Hero characteristics Symbols/allusions Symbols/allusions Why Arthur meets Mordred at Salisbury Plain Why Arthur meets Mordred at Salisbury Plain

Arthur

Arthur Historical Historical Tribal chieftain? Tribal chieftain? Based on Lucius Artorius Castus (AD 184),stationed in Britain, who led his troops into Gaul to quell a rebellion? Based on Lucius Artorius Castus (AD 184),stationed in Britain, who led his troops into Gaul to quell a rebellion? : Riothamus leads British contingent of British migrants into Brittany; thought by some to be original “Arthur” figure : Riothamus leads British contingent of British migrants into Brittany; thought by some to be original “Arthur” figure

496: Britons under command of “war leader” Arthur, defeat Saxons at Seige of Mount Badon 496: Britons under command of “war leader” Arthur, defeat Saxons at Seige of Mount Badon 501: Arthur mentioned in Welsh poem commemmorating Battle of Llongborth 501: Arthur mentioned in Welsh poem commemmorating Battle of Llongborth 537 or 542: Battle of Camlann. Death there of Arthur, acc’d to Geoffrey of Monmouth, AD or 542: Battle of Camlann. Death there of Arthur, acc’d to Geoffrey of Monmouth, AD : Welsh bard writes “Y Gododdin” alluding to Arthur’s prowess as a warrior 600: Welsh bard writes “Y Gododdin” alluding to Arthur’s prowess as a warrior 1019: Writers of saints’ lives include mentions of Arthur and his exploits 1019: Writers of saints’ lives include mentions of Arthur and his exploits

Guinevere in the Golden Days by Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale ( ), "Guinevere in the Golden Days" from: Idylls of the King. London: Hodder and Stoughton, This picture illustrates the lines from Tennyson's "Guinevere" idyll: As in the golden days. As in the golden days.

Guinevere Born in Cameliard Born in Cameliard Married Arthur Married Arthur Love affair with Lancelot Love affair with Lancelot Joined a cloister Joined a cloister Legends speak of “Gwenhwyfar” as Legends speak of “Gwenhwyfar” as “more faithless” than all the faithless wives in England “more faithless” than all the faithless wives in England Yoko Ono Yoko Ono

Lancelot

Lancelot Comes late in the legend Comes late in the legend Best of Arthur’s knights Best of Arthur’s knights Paragon of Chivalry Paragon of Chivalry Won’t kill defeated knights; never wore ladies’ favors during tournaments Won’t kill defeated knights; never wore ladies’ favors during tournaments Wears a magical ring, given to him by Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, which protects him Wears a magical ring, given to him by Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, which protects him

Lancelot The Queen’s champion The Queen’s champion Betrays Arthur with Guinevere Betrays Arthur with Guinevere Caught by Mordred Caught by Mordred Adulterers charged with treason; must be punished Adulterers charged with treason; must be punished Lancelot escapes to France Lancelot escapes to France Returns to rescue the condemned Guinevere Returns to rescue the condemned Guinevere

MORDRED

Mordred (Modred, Medrawd, or Medraut) has become the quintessential traitorous villain in the Arthurian tradition. Mordred (Modred, Medrawd, or Medraut) has become the quintessential traitorous villain in the Arthurian tradition. Arthur's bastard son by his half-sister Morgause, the wife of King Lot. This incestuous begetting, alternately an innocent mistake on the part of both parties, or a perverted seduction on Morgause's part, can in part explain why Mordred's character and sense of loyalty is so twisted Arthur's bastard son by his half-sister Morgause, the wife of King Lot. This incestuous begetting, alternately an innocent mistake on the part of both parties, or a perverted seduction on Morgause's part, can in part explain why Mordred's character and sense of loyalty is so twisted

Why Arthur meets Mordred at Salisbury Plain When rescuing Guinevere, Lance kills Gawain’s brother, a guard When rescuing Guinevere, Lance kills Gawain’s brother, a guard Gawain demands vengeance, forcing Arthur to attack Lance’s French castle Gawain demands vengeance, forcing Arthur to attack Lance’s French castle While Arthur is away, Mordred leads a rebellion in England, claiming the throne, trying to seize Guinevere While Arthur is away, Mordred leads a rebellion in England, claiming the throne, trying to seize Guinevere

Salisbury Plain, cont’d Arthur returns from France to defend his crown Arthur returns from France to defend his crown Arthur and Gawain battle Mordred at Dover Arthur and Gawain battle Mordred at Dover Gawain is fatally wounded, but manages to message Lance to come and help Arthur regain his court Gawain is fatally wounded, but manages to message Lance to come and help Arthur regain his court Arthur regroups his men and moves to face Mordred, his son Arthur regroups his men and moves to face Mordred, his son

DE CASIBUS WHEEL Wheel of Fortune!!!!!!!!!!! Wheel of Fortune!!!!!!!!!!! Start at bottom, revolve as Fates decide Start at bottom, revolve as Fates decide 3 Fates: spin the thread, lead it out, cut it off 3 Fates: spin the thread, lead it out, cut it off

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