1. Le Morte D’Arthur Sir Thomas Malory

2. Who was Malory? Thomas Malory of Hatton in Yorkshire Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel, Warwickshire –Born about 1415; died in 1470 –1450: crime spree (murder, theft, extortion, rape) –1460: released from prison; active in civil war –1467: back in prison for being on the losing side –Wrote Le Morte D’Arthur in prison, and it was published by William Caxton in 1485

3. 15 th Century England Wars of the Roses (1399-1485) –Lancastrians vs. Yorkists –Decades of civil war Changes in battle technology –Longbow –Man in armor on horse no longer defensible –Kings would no longer lead followers into battle after Richard’s defeat

4. Who was King Arthur? Celtic origins: –Arthwyr as general term for a prince –Name may also derive from the Celtic word “art,” meaning bear (Arturus the Bear) –Others argue that he was Octha, son of Hengest, who moved south and united much of the area –Earliest stories represent him as a god-like creature interacting with other deities in Welsh mythology –Welsh claims also based on his birth at Tintagel and burial at Glastonbury Alternately, High King of Britain with his origins in Brittany (Geoffrey of Monmouth)

5. Why would Malory choose King Arthur? Arthur brought order out of chaos Warfare as form of sport vs. warfare as technology aimed at widespread devastation Men heroically die in single combat, but are not slaughtered as they lie in the mud Imaginary past in which nobles had absolute power over contented peasants Hero/King who will return to bring peace

6. Le Morte D’Arthur: Cultural Conflicts The stability of the society as a whole –Government by contract between ruler and community of nobles and commons –Rule of law within class system The motivations of individuals –Personal goals –Courtly love –The will to power