1. Medieval Romance Literature
The Tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table

2. (William the Conqueror)
Norman Conquest
King William
(William the Conqueror)
of Norway
King Herold
The Anglo-Saxon
Battle of Hastings – 1066
French
Anglo-Saxon
Latin

3. Norman Influences Medieval Romance castles with lords & ladies
chivalry: code of knightly behavior
themes of good vs. evil
Social Factors
growth of london from town to city
plague
feudal system

4. Norman Influences political change Magna carta 1215
King has to follow rules of the land
Parliament is established
Protects rights of ordinary people
England becomes more civilized

5. The Black Death
Started on Eastern European shores during the spring of 1348
Most deadly epidemic in history
Lasted 3 years
Wiped out 25-50% of population of Europe
Bubonic plague - Caused by rat infestation
Came from fleas of infested rats
Started with buboes or tumors on neck, armpits, or groin – size of egg to apple
Signaled about 1 week left to live
Families divided, panic among the people, lack of law enforcement

6. War Of Roses (1455 – 1487)
King Henry VI was a weak monarch (mental illness)
A series of civil wars fought in England
Henry surrounded himself with feuding nobles and corrupt court (nobles organized private armies)
War between two families
Begins the DARK AGES – 150 years
House of Lancaster
House of York

7. The Middle Ages The time between 5th and 15th centuries
Begins with the fall of the Roman Empire
Towards the end of 14th Century the Black Death breaks out in Europe
German inventor Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. This will signal the start of the Renaissance.

8. Norman Castles Location Natural barriers were important
Steep hills or large bodies of water that provided good views
Between the Norman Invasion and William the Conqueror’s Death
86 Stone Castles were built
Over 1000 wooden castles were built

9. Norman Castles Motte & Bailey Castles Motte Made of wood
Surrounded by a fence
Built on a Hill (Lookout)
Bailey
Located below and was connected to the motte by a bridge
Housed soldiers, families, and animals

10. Norman Castles Stone Keep Castles Replaced Motte & Bailey
Surrounded by thick stone walls
Had lookout turrets and a drawbridge
In the center was the keep or living quarters

11. Legend A legend is a story told about extraordinary deeds
Legends are often told and retold for generations among a group of people.

12. Legend
Legends are often about a particular person and celebrates heroic quality of that person
Legends are thought to have a historical basis, but may also contain elements of magic and myth
Myths: stories that a particular culture believes to be true, using the supernatural to interpret natural events & to explain the nature of the universe and humanity

13. What Is A Romance?
Wandering storytellers would retell adventurous tales of knights and noble heroes.
These became known as romances, which, over time, moved from the oral tradition into written versions.
Writers of romances tend to idealize their heroes as well as the eras in which the heroes live.

14. What Is A Romance?
A romance is an imaginative story concerned with these motifs…
noble heroes and idealized beauty
chivalric codes of honor including Good vs. Evil
wicked adversaries such as dragons
passionate courtly love
daring deeds and adventures
supernatural events such as magic

15. Romances Cont’d…
Motif: an idea, object, place, or statement that appears frequently throughout a piece of writing, which helps contribute to the work’s overall theme

16. ARCHETYPE: King Arthur
ARCHETYPE: Model or prototype
The wise king
The old wizard
The knight on a quest
The magic weapon
The evil witch
ARCHETYPE: King Arthur
Noble & wise king
Strong in battle
Pure in spirit
Fair in judgement

17. Medieval Literature Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales
A Gest of Robyn Hode

18. Syr Thomas Maleore, Knyght
Represented Warwickshire in Parliament in 1445
During the War of Roses
Supported the Lancasters
Was charged with numerous crimes
Extortion
Attempted murder
Cattle Rustling
Brawling
Plundering the Abbey of Combe

19. Syr Thomas Maleore, Knyght
King Edward IV refused to pardon his crimes
He was in prison when he wrote the heroic adventures of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table
He died in prison in 1471

20. Le Morte d’Arthur A masterpiece of medieval romantic literature
21- book collection of King Arthur legends
Written by Syr. Thomas Malory
Published in 1485
Collection of French, Anglo-Saxon, and Latin tales which Malory translated and compiled into one collection
First prose masterpiece in English
Published by William Caxton after Malory’s death and gave it the name Le Morte d’Arthur (The death of Arthur)

21. WAS Arthur Real?
It is generally assumed that there was a real King Arthur although the information is obscure.
He was probably a Celtic chieftain who fought off the Angle and Saxon invaders during the 5th and 6th centuries.

22. Was Arthur Real?
His histories are based largely on Celtic legends, which were oral traditions.
The first mention of Arthur came in 800 AD in the “Historia Brittanium” by a Welsh Monk named Nennius.
Nennius says that Arthur was not a king but a soldier or a military leader.
The Celtic stories celebrated Arthur and his just rule and his championship of the oppressed.

23. Was Arthur Real?
The legendary King Arthur’s stories take place between 1066 (the Norman invasion) and 1400.
The legendary king was greatly influenced by the Norman way of life.
In fact much of the legends of Arthur were written by French writers, not English writers until Sir Thomas Mallory 300 years later.
The French writers could have heard the stories from English crusaders.

24. The Landscape…
Camelot – The name of Arthur’s kingdom, Arthur was striving for a utopian society, but no one is perfect.
Tintagel Castle – The place where Arthur was conceived.
Avalon – Where Excalibur was forged and where King Arthur was taken to be treated for his wounds after his last fatal battle.

25. Modern versions…

26. Chivalry Is Not Dead!
Chivalry is a code of behavior that medieval knights followed. It is usually associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love.

27. Code Of Chivalry
The chivalric code stressed, among other things, loyalty to the king, courage, personal honor, and defending those who could not defend themselves.
The Code:
Honor Courage Generosity
Modesty Honesty Faith in God
Loyalty Civility Compassion

28. Feudal System King/Queen KNIGHTS SERFS Barons/Lords Dukes/Dutchess
Grants land to
Provides money and knights
Barons/Lords
Dukes/Dutchess
Provide protection and military service
Grants land to
KNIGHTS
Provide food and services when demanded
Grants land to
SERFS

29. Knightly Hierarchy King: male ruler of the country
Queen: female ruler of the country or wife of a king
Duke: a nobleman of highest rank
Duchess: a noblewoman of highest rank
Knight: a member of a medieval warrior class
Archbishop: a bishop of the highest rank
Men and women of high social stature were addressed as Sir and Lady.