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Arthur: Once and Future Legend Introduction
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Paths for Study Chronological Generic Thematic
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Chronology Legend History Pseudo-History Timeline
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Legends Modena Cathedral in Italy Mabinogion – Merlin – Arthur
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Mabinogion Once thought to date to 10 th C with stories dating much earlier. – Culhwch and Olwen often accepted as the oldest story to feature Arthur. – It shows him as already ruling all of Britain and having a group of knights ready to go on quests Now established as written around 1100 AD with details added later
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History/Pseudo-History Gildas Nennius Welsh Annals Geoffrey of Monmouth Wace Layamon
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Gildas De Excidio Britanniae 548 AD Confirms the battle of Mt. Badon Does not mention Arthur perhaps for political reasons Describes a dux bellorum named Aurelius Ambrosius who is English
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Nennius Historia Brittonum 830 Welsh text commissioned by King 12 th C tradition names writer as Nennius First clearly dated text to mention Arthur by name Description of his “twelve battles” Despite authorial hints, the Historia has no known sources
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Welsh Annals In Latin, Annales Cambriae 950 AD First attempt to place Arthur in a specific time period Describes Arthur at the battles of Badon and Camlann
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Geoffrey of Monmouth Twelfth Century Writer Most Influential on later Arthurian writers Three Books – Prophecies of Merlin – The History of the Kings of Britain – Vita Merlini
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Wace French Translated and expanded Geoffrey Roman de Brut Much less bellicose than Geoffrey First mentions the Round Table Influenced by Capellanus’ Art of Courtly Love
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Layamon Translates Wace into English and expands The Brut Returns to celebration of war Uses Anglo-Saxon alliterative form
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Genres Chronicles Legends Romances
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CHRONICLES Definition: presents the story of Arthur as history Written with a political and/or religious agenda Includes works by Gildas, Nennius, (Bede), Annales Cambriae, (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle), by Geoffrey, Wace, and Layamon
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Legends and Lays “Lanval” by Marie de France points to Arthurian influences in Breton songs. The Mabinogion connects Irish and Welsh mythology to the story of Arthur.
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Romances Definition: – Adventure chosen vs. survival demanded – Tests values of chivalry and service to ladies – Leads to personal perfection – Elements of marvelous or supernatural – Hero’s inner consciousness is explored
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History of Romance Begins with Chrétien de Troyes in France – Lancelot – Grail Legend – Other romances Robert de Boron associates Grail with cup of the last supper Vulgate Cycle vastly expands especially Grail Spreads to the Continent outside France
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Themes Journey of the Hero Chain of Being seen in the Three Estates – Spiritual/Contemplative vs. Secular/Active Life Nature of Love (esp. Courtly Love) Fisher King Other
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Odds and Ends Reflecting my Biases Knighthood as created around 1240 to refer to mounted military forces. References to earlier military are anachronistic even in the legend as a whole. “Feudalism” was invented in 1839 by historians disdainful of the social structures in the Middle Ages.
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