Legends and Heroes What is your definition of a legend? What examples can you give of a legend? What is your definition of a hero? Is a hero a real person or a fictional person? What are the traits and qualities of a hero (think hero, not tragic hero).
Arthurian Legend
Legend (literary definition) Story based in history Set in a particular time and place Focused on people who might have existed Contain exaggerated, magical, or supernatural elements
Arthurian Legend Some suggest King Arthur would have lived around the 5th-6th centuries Stories were verbally transmitted 1st datable reference to King Arthur is in the 9th century
Arthurian Authors Sir Thomas Malory “Le Morte d’Arthur” - 1470s MANY authors wrote about Arthur Sir Thomas Malory “Le Morte d’Arthur” - 1470s Alfred Lord Tennyson “Idylls of the King” - 1842
Chivalry Code of manner, honor, and courtly love Duties to countrymen, God, and women
Duties to Countrymen & Fellow Christians Virtues such as mercy, courage, valor, fairness Protection of the weak and the poor Servant-hood of the knight to his lord Willing to give one’s life for another’s
Duties to God Being faithful to God Being faithful to the church Protecting the innocent Being the champion of good against evil Obeying God above the feudal lord
Duties to Women Courtly love: the idea that the knight is to serve a lady, and after her all other ladies General gentleness and graciousness to all women