Morte d’ Arthur

1. Morte d’ Arthur • After Arthur has traveled to France to talk to Lancelot about Lancelot’s affair with Guinevere. • English prose version of Arthur’s life • Realistic detail and natural dialogue • Mordred • a supernatural element of medieval romances

2. Morte d’ Arthur 6. Christian influence 7. He is sitting in a chair over black water. A wheel turns him upside down. He falls into the water. Beasts and creatures tear at his limbs. 8. Because there is no “head of the table” – This means all members are equal and have equal status

3. Morte d’ Arthur 9. These are the females Gawain fought for when he was alive. 10. wrongdoing 11. He knows that King Arthur and his men are overmatched.

4. Morte d’ Arthur 12. (1) God has sent Gawain to warn Arthur. (2) Arthur should delay fighting for a month. (3) Lancelot will slay Mordred in battle if the fighting is delayed.

5. Morte d’ Arthur 13. (1) Christianity is part of medieval romances. (2) Prophetic dreams add a supernatural element. 14. 100,000

6. Morte d’ Arthur 15. (1) alliteration (2) poetic phrasing (3) high number of causalities (4) Arthur & Mordred are still living at the end

7. Morte d’ Arthur 16. It appeared the truce had been broken, when in reality an adder (a snake) bit a knight. The knight drew his sword to kill the snake. This was viewed as a sign of aggression and the battle began.

8. Morte d’ Arthur 17. Arthur desires to see Mordred dead. He may also wish to die himself bcause so many of his knights are dead. 18. After Mordred was speared, he pushed himself further onto the spear until he could reach Arthur. Mordred then struck Arthur on the head with his sword. This pierced Arthur’s helmet.

9. Morte d’ Arthur 19. Both fought nobly 20. It is considered quite realistic, but despicable, that the knights are being criminally stripped of their riches as they lay dying. Also, there are knights being killed as they lay dying in order to be robbed.

10. Morte d’ Arthur 21. Because you expect your own to help you when you are dying . . . Those who were stealing were considered the “people” the knights fought for . . . 22. Even though he is seriously wounded, he is willing to help others, even if it costs him his own life

11. Morte d’ Arthur 23. He asks Sir Bedivere to throw the sword into the water. 24. Arthur mysteriously asks Sir Bedivere to do this . . . This hints that there might be some “mysterious” event that will take place. 25. Greed

12. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight *Gawain succeeded 2x and failed 1x. Gawain succeeded in returning the first two items he received to his host, the Green Knight. Gawain failed to return the third item he received. Morte d’ Arthur *Sir Bedivere failed 2x and succeeded 1x. Sir Bedivere failed to throw Excalibur into the water on the first two tries. Sir Bedivere succeeded in throwing the sword into the lake on the third try. Morte d’ ArthurThere are 3 trials: The following is for #26

13. Morte d’ Arthur 27. He has not been loyal, honest, and honorable. Greed is the opposite ideal of generosity. 28. It adds an element of mystery, tragedy, and fantasy. It is a supernatural element. 29. A barge – a small ship or boat 30. Death

14. Morte d’ Arthur 31. He cried out and asked what would happen to him. He is expressing his loyalty for his king. He is also expressing Christian piety (faithfulness) when he stands by and prays.

15. Morte d’ Arthur 32. It sounds more like a folk tale or legend because it is unlikely that a warrior (brave knight) would swoon and weep as Sir Bedivere did for his king. Such devotion to a king, however, is legendary. 33. Buried 34. Loyalty . . . Piety (humbleness and religious devotion

16. Morte d’ Arthur 35. Religious devotion 36. It is called an “eyewitness device.” It is a common literary technique because it gives an appearance of credibility to a farfetched tale.