King Arthur: Man or Myth?
Introduction
King Arthur, a man of chivalry, honour, strength, equality, and valour. A man of magic, exciting quests into the impossible, and one of the most recognisable romances ever known in literature. This is all fact, he was a mighty king, a powerful king, a just king… but was he? Was he even a king? In this research project outcome, this legendary story of King Arthur will be challenged. The impact of this hero on Europe and the world will be questioned, along with the variations of the Arthurian story by authors such as Geoffrey of Monmouth, Nennius, Thomas Malory, and Gildas. The various theories regarding Arthur and his existence will be illustrated, and will then close with my own opinion on the matter …show more content…
The famed ‘Round Table’ has been adapted for use in parliaments around the world, as well as the United Nations, as it has been seen, throughout history, as the ultimate symbol of equality among people of power. This was so much the case that, in 1509, when King Henry VIII gained the throne, he had commissioned the Winchester Round Table of Edward III to be repainted with a King Arthur resembling his likeness. This had sparked an obsession with King Arthur. He wished to become the Holy Roman Emperor, (as to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon) and the repainting of the table was designed to show, both Rome and England, that he was ‘obviously’ a direct descendant of the King Arthur of legend. In 1834, a fire had burnt down the Houses of Parliament in London. Upon their rebuilding, Queen Victoria’s robing room was adorned with images and themes from Thomas Malory’s The Death of King Arthur, written in 1486. This again illustrates the impact and influence that Arthur and his heroic deeds have on early modern …show more content…
Original ideas, even in the time of Nennius, Gildas, and Geoffrey, are almost impossible, and every idea, every action, every thought is inspired by an event, situation, experience, person, or even a story they may have heard. Personally, it is my belief that Arthur, or some Arthur-like character did exist at some point in history, as there is always some fraction of truth behind every legend. Humans are rarely, if ever, artistic enough to create a complete original, so the idea that an Arthur of some description existed, is not so
Introduction
King Arthur, a man of chivalry, honour, strength, equality, and valour. A man of magic, exciting quests into the impossible, and one of the most recognisable romances ever known in literature. This is all fact, he was a mighty king, a powerful king, a just king… but was he? Was he even a king? In this research project outcome, this legendary story of King Arthur will be challenged. The impact of this hero on Europe and the world will be questioned, along with the variations of the Arthurian story by authors such as Geoffrey of Monmouth, Nennius, Thomas Malory, and Gildas. The various theories regarding Arthur and his existence will be illustrated, and will then close with my own opinion on the matter …show more content…
The famed ‘Round Table’ has been adapted for use in parliaments around the world, as well as the United Nations, as it has been seen, throughout history, as the ultimate symbol of equality among people of power. This was so much the case that, in 1509, when King Henry VIII gained the throne, he had commissioned the Winchester Round Table of Edward III to be repainted with a King Arthur resembling his likeness. This had sparked an obsession with King Arthur. He wished to become the Holy Roman Emperor, (as to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon) and the repainting of the table was designed to show, both Rome and England, that he was ‘obviously’ a direct descendant of the King Arthur of legend. In 1834, a fire had burnt down the Houses of Parliament in London. Upon their rebuilding, Queen Victoria’s robing room was adorned with images and themes from Thomas Malory’s The Death of King Arthur, written in 1486. This again illustrates the impact and influence that Arthur and his heroic deeds have on early modern …show more content…
Original ideas, even in the time of Nennius, Gildas, and Geoffrey, are almost impossible, and every idea, every action, every thought is inspired by an event, situation, experience, person, or even a story they may have heard. Personally, it is my belief that Arthur, or some Arthur-like character did exist at some point in history, as there is always some fraction of truth behind every legend. Humans are rarely, if ever, artistic enough to create a complete original, so the idea that an Arthur of some description existed, is not so