King Arthur Background Notes

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archetypes

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universal recurring patterns of characters, plots, and symbols

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universal archetypes

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describe experiences every human encounters; hold same meaning for everyone

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recurring archetypes

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timeless and unchanged

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symbolic archetypes

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describe basic human experiences in form of symbols

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inherited archetypes

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come from experience of humankind, not individual

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unconscious archetypes

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evoke deep response, more basic than words

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worldwide archetype

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not influenced by geography; not shared through contacts of cultures

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mythic archetypes

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appear in and connect myths of all cultures

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The Hero (character archetypes)

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hero incognito- searches for true identity, raised by foster parents; initiate- undergoes rite of passage; scapegoat- suffers to atone for everyone's sins; outcast- excluded for a crime

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The Hero's Allies (character archetypes)

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The Mentor; Protectors; Companions; Animal Friends; benevolent force of nature

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The Hero's Adversaries (character archetypes)

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force of evil- humanized or not; nightmares- within the hero; monsters, creatures, and phantasms; malevolent force of nature

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The Feminine (character archetypes)

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damsel in distress; lover- love affair ends in tragedy; enchantress- brings on destruction of hero; earth mother- provides life, warmth, and protection

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The Journey (plot archetypes)

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hero searches for truth and learns about himself

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Along the Journey (plot archetypes)

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quest- search to restore goodness; initiation- young hero moves toward maturity; task- hero's Herculean efforts save others; good vs. evil; magic weapon; death and rebirth- purification, redemption, and growth

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Legend

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story basedon truth handed down over genertaions by word of mouth

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Epic Hero

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larger than life character who performs supernatural feats and is important in his country or race's culture

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Real-Life Arthur

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Arturius Dux Bellorum "Lord of Battles" in 5th century; celtic war chief won battle against Saxon invaders (who later came back and defeated him but legend ignores that); attributed god-like proportions to him; history and myth combined to make him the Alexander the Great of British people

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Medieval Period

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Middle Ages; 476 C.E. (fall of rome) to 1453 C.E. (invention of printing press); 2 dominant forces: Holy Catholic Church, feudalism (economic and social system based on loyalty to liege)

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Knights

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person of aristocratic birth who had been formally recieved into the order of knighthood; privileged to risk life in tournaments (began in 19th century, flourished in France) that would train him in skill, endurance, and bravery; pledged to be hero, gentleman, and saint

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Knights pledged themselves to...

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speak truth, defend Church, protect poor, make peace, pursue infidels, treat prisoners as guests, have mutual courtesy to all knights

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Chivalry

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practice of knighthood by nobility; characterized by swearing allegiance to God to defend cristianity, pledging loyalty to liege and allegiance to lady, vowing to protect weak and helpless

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Courtly Love

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arose because marriages were arranged for economic benefit; strict code of behavior; lover idealizes/ idolizes lady who remains aloof

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Nennius

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monk- 9th century; wrote in latin; mixed history with legend; arthur- hero with amazing courage; wrote about twelve famous battles

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Geoffrey of Monmouth

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writer- 12th century; wrote in latin; mixed history with Greek background; Arthur changed from rough Celt to 15 year old boy king; introduced Merlin as tutor, magician; marriage to Guinevere and betrayal by Morderd

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Wace

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French writer- 13th centrue; retold Monmouth legend; added Round Table (all chairs alike, service equal, none before or after his fellow)

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Malory

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knight (d.1470); wrote Morte d'Arthur (prose narrative, a collection of stories called tales) in English; Arthur= uncomplicated paragon; emphasis on battles, knights, and deeds an dplot; reflects medieval values; vague settings; example of medieval romance

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Tennyson

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wrote "Idylls of the King" (idyll poem with peaceful, rural setting); Medieval romance; poem in blank verse; looked to universal aspirations of arthur's attempts to find peace for mankind; emphasis on romance, love affairs, character, morality, and virtue; vivid description of romantic settings; arthur= revered king, more supernatural than man; reflects Victorian values; presented hope for fuure generations

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White

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arthur= king who uses self-examination and introspections to solve problems, idealist but pragmatic, analyzes himself and acknowledged failures, philosophical; emphasis on individual problem solving and Arthur's education; reflects 20th century values; modern tragedy- man battling evils of his time and not wholly succeeding

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knave

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man of low social position; insulting name

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knight errant

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knight who is wicked and pays loyalty to no one

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exonerated

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free from blame or punishment

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idylls

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simple, natural scene or situation; descriptive, pastoral poem

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crusade

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expeditiond in 11-13th centuries by Cristians to recover Holy Land

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accolade

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award or honor in recognition of merit

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paramour

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mistress or lover

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quintain

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object used for practice in tilting

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squire

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young man of noble family who attented to a knight until he was old enough to become one

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emblazoned

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to adorn with heralds of bright colors

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necromancer

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magician or sorceror; someone who can communicate with the dead