Responding to Literature Questions - Period 5 Le Morte d’Arthur Responding to Literature Questions - Period 5

Recall 1. The first dream King Arthur had was of some sort of hell where he was underneath hideous deep blackwater. Where the beasts, worms, and serpent were trapped. As he was on a wheel and it spun and he fell upon them and cried for help. The the second dream was of his nephew, SIr Gawain, appearing in front of him with a number of fair ladies. He was sent from God to warn King Arthur about the Battle with Sir Mordred. King Arthur was told not to begin war with Sir Mordred for he will be killed in battle. 2. A knight was bit by snake and unheated his sword to kill it because it bit him and he waved his sword in the air and that triggered battle. 3. One soldier took out his sword to kill a snake, but both sides told their soldier that if you see a sword drawn to engage them. Then trumpets blew and the two sides charged each other. The battle lasted all day and more and more soldiers died. A hundred thousand people died. Arthur only had two men left alive and then Arthur charged to kill Sir Mordred and killed him but got himself gravely injured. 4. He asks Sir Bedivere to throw his sword, Excalibur, under the water but he hid it under a tree. The King questioned him and told him to go back and follow orders. 5. The last time Bedivere sees Arthur is when he gets carried away in the barge with the queens.

INTERPRET 6)The overturned chair might symbolize his reign as a king; his reign will turn around or come to an end. The serpents could represent his pride. His pride kills him when he refuses to back down from the battle with Sir Mordred. 7)Their mistrust is that they both dislike each other and told both of their troops that if one person shall draw their sword attack and kill all opponents. Sir Mordred is King Arthur’s illegitimate son. 8)The one word that I would use to describe the king is reluctant because when the two armies charged he mounted his horse and said, “Alas, this unhappy day.” This suggest that he does not want to fight but will anyways because he is a good king. 9)Bedivere’s hesitance is throwing Arthur’s sword Excalibur away in the river displays his frugality (stinginess or greed) and his fear that something might happen to it. His hesitance furthers the plot as it causes King Arthur to draw closer and closer to death. 10)The epitaph on King Arthur’s tomb add to the legend surrounding him because they do not know if he died on that day of battle and since he has not been deemed dead people believe he is still king. YOLO

Evaluate and Connect 11. King Arthur’s illegitimate son is Sir Mordred, his enemy. There is hatred between the two. 12. The moods of the selection are dark, gruesome and suspenseful. Details such as the King Arthur’s nightmare and Malory describing how the knights died, added to the moods of darkness, gruesomeness and suspense. 13. Since King Arthur and Sir Mordred have distrust and hatred in their relationship, Arthur is motivated to fight. It is an unwise decision as Arthur’s vision comes to life and then he dies. 14. Malory’s use of dialogue helps the characters develop because it describes their weaknesses and hatred for each other. It helps move the story along because after we hear their hatred we then see them fight and kill one another. 15. This selection motivates me to read more of King Arthur because it speaks about a king who fought his son.

LITERARY ELEMENTS 1. Some examples that contribute to the picture of King Arthur as a legendary hero are: (1) “King Arthur rode steadily throughout the army of SIr Mordred many times and did full nobly, as a noble king should; never at any time did he weaken.” (2) “Then King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield with a thrust of his spear on through the body more than a fathom.” A legendary hero should be strong and brave. 2. The British people valued bravery. An example of bravery is all the soldiers who gave their lives in the battle for King Arthur. 3. In our opinion, the legend of Arthur has endured because there are so many versions of the story, and it is debatable on whether or not King Arthur was real, so it keeps the suspense going, & the story alive.

A Flawed Hero No, because King Arthur having flaws makes the story more interesting because it creates a sense of deception and ignorance. He is ignorant because he didn't pay attention to Sir Gawain when he warned Arthur about going to battle with Sir Mordred. Due to King Arthur ignoring Sir Gawains warning, he died in battle.