Winning of Knighthood notes (lecture, reading) Flashcards
Who is King?
Uther Pendragon
What country is Uther over?
Britain
Who is Uther’s wife, and who does she come with?
Igraine = wife. Widow of Gerlois, brings daughters Margaise (m. Urien) and Morgana le Fay (m. Lot)
What does Merlin prophesy?
a. Uther will die of fever
b. Child endangered bc men will come to take kingdom.
c. He asks to bring Arthur to safety
How does Uther Pendragon respond to Merlin’s prophecy?
He responds with calmness and evenness of mind, saying that God will help him depart in cheerfulness. He gives permission
What happens after Uther dies?
Many kings rise to get the kingdom. Evil knights start to pay tolls on travelers, sometimes capturing them as prisoner for ransom, or killing them
As a result of the turmoil in the country, what happened?
Archbishop of Canterbury asks Merlin to get a king.
What does Merlin say in reply to the Archbishop’s request for a king?
Merlin said that soon, they would have a king greater that Uther Pendragon who was of the direct line. IN order to test the validity, he will work magic.
What “magic” did Merlinwork?
He placed a heave 4 squared block of marble in front of the cathedral door. On top of it was an anvil (iron block) with a golden, embroidered, gemmed, sword. Whoever takes it out and puts it back in is going to be the next king.
What does Merlin command the Archbishop to do?
Call all of the nobles, kings, and chief people for Christmastide.
WHat does Merlin suggest the king might be?
One who might be unnamed/ seemingly unworthy would be worthy
Who is Sir Ector?
a. Trustworthy knight - known for trustworthiness and loyalty
b. Has 7 castles in Wales
c. Has two sons: Kay and Arthur
What does Ector and his two sons do once arrival in Londan?
They go to the fields, set up a green silken tent, and put up the banner of a griffin (gryphon). ON the fields are 12 other kings and 7 dukes.
What’s the first activity
The knights fight on a field. 20,000 nobles around them (like a wall).
What does Sir Kay do when he hears the challenge?
He asks his father for permission to fight for his house’s glory. Ector consents.
Where is the Archbishop on the field?
center of the nobles on his throne with a purple canopy, a figure of st. George, and crosses that have St. George on it.
Describe the competition
- Herald blows the first time for the men to prepare, on the 3rd blow, both sides attack each other
- Break - injured are brought o safety, everyone grabs their swords. On the 2nd horn call, they fight again.
How was kay in battle?
He was the best- Sir Balamorgineas challenges him to the fight. He hits him like never before, but then his sword breaks. Three friends come to his rescue, and he runs back to the barriers, drinks spiced wine, and tells Arthur to get a sword from the Pavilion.
What does Arthur do?
Nobody is in the pavilion, so he grabs the sword from the anvil and brings it to the stunned, white-faced, Sir Kay.
What does Sir Kay decide to do?
He wants to gain advantage of Arthur’s innocence and tells ARthur to give him the sword wrapped in the cloak and call Ector to the pavilion.
Describe what happens in the Pavilion
Kay tells Ector that he has the sword, and the surprised Ector says that he must be able to pull out the sword also. He says that the one who does will be able to be king. Ector hopes that he will be able to plunge the sword back in since his little brother was able to.
Describe the scene of the cathedral
no matter what, Kay cannot pierce the iron, and so Arthur volunteers, saying that he pulled it out in the first place. Smoothly, he plunges it in and pulls it out and in again.
b. Ector tells the story. Arthur mourns that he has lost his father. He promises Kay Seneschal when he is king. He seals this with a kiss
c. Merlin and Ulfius appear
Christmas comes. Nobody can draw it. What do the kings suggest?
They tell Archbishop that Merlin desires to shame them - Archbishop should choose a king
What does the Archbishop say in response to the 6 kings?
He wants to wait patiently for Merlin
Merlin comes with the 3 men and say what?
He recounts the story and says that ulfius and Ector can agree with him. Arthur proves the sword thing three times.
Many men do not like Arthur as a king… why?
He is beardless
He does not have a known identity
Only three can prove his birthright
When did Arthur live?
6th century
When was the 1st written word about Arthur?
9th century
What is the history of Britain?
a. Britain - home of celtic speaking tribes
b. Romans invade 55BC
c. Romans rule for 350 years.
d. Britons escape and go to Brittany, France - they tell many stories of Arthur
e. Battle of Hastings (William the Conquerer) in 1066 - Britons make the North army - French stories brought back to England.
A man was said to have led the British at Badon Hill. Who was he and what date?
185 A.D. Lucius Artorius Castus, known as a king
Who is Gildas the wise?
Monk in 540 AD who said that one leader was at Badon hill (leader is unnamed), and this led to a generation of peace
Who is Nennius?
829 AD, meant ions that Arthur led the Britons, including at Badon. They fought on horseback (from Romans) and he had a dog in war
What is the Annales Cambriae
annals of welsh that say that Arthur died in 537
Who is Geoffrey of Monmouth?
1100 AD, influenced by Celtic stories
What book and when did Geoffrey write?
History of the Kings of Britons in 1136
What does he say in his bok?
a. Britons were established by Aeneas
b. Early forms of Merlin
c. Isle of Avalon (place buried)
d. Arthur had to revenge against Rome, leaving Mordred behind (son of Arthur/morgana), who destroyed the place
Who is Wace?
1100-1174, Norman, translates Geoffrey’s book to French verse.
What did Wace write?
Roman de Brut 1155, he gets the idea of the roundtable and Merlin as a wizard.
What important thing did Wace write about?
A quote from Arthur saying that force is not enough.
Layamon
He wrote “brute” in 1190 (English alliterative poem about the Holy Grail - Joseph of Aramathea supposedly had the grail)
Who is Chretien de Troyes
14th century, alliterative verse about Arthur/holy grail
De boron?
takes the Joseph/grail story further
Who is Malory
1495, tells prose version of Arthurian legends
Who are the four knights in Arthur’s court?
Margaise and Lot’s children - Gaheri, Gareth, Gawain, and Agravain
Who were Lancelot’s parents
King Pont and Elayne
Who does Lancelot marry?
Elaine of Astalot. They have Galahad as a child.
Monk who refers to one unnamed’s victories, including Badon (leading to generation of peace)
Gildas the Wise
Mentions that Arthur led the Britains, including Badon, horseback, dog
Nennius
annals of the welsh, says Arthur died in 537
Annales Cambriae
Wrote history of Kings of Britons
Geoffrey of Monmouth
translates Geoffrey’s book to French verse, roundtable, Roman de Brut, quote from Arthur
Wace
Wrote “Brute” in 1190 (holy grail and Joseph)
Layamon
14th centruy, wrote alliterative verse about Arthur/holy grail
Chretien de Troyes
takes Joseph/grail story further
De boron
1495, prose verse of Arthurian legends
Malory
What does Merlin warn Arthur?
Guenevere will bring much sorrow
Who is Guenevere’s dad?
King Leodegrance
What does Guenevere’s dad give?
Round table and 100 knights
How many spots left? What does Arthur ask Merlin to do?
50, find 50 knights.
How many knights does Merlin find?
28
WHo are the two that Arthur makes a knight
Gawain
Tor
Describe the scene of Tor
Aries(cowherd) comes to ask if Tor, his one son/13 sons, can become a knight. Tor is brave and fair, so Arthur says yes. Merlin says he will be a good knight.
Who is Tor’s father?
Pellinore
What does Merlin do with Pellinore?
He lets Pellinore sit next to the three special seats with no names
Describe the three seats
Every other seat had names. But the two seats were for those worthy of worship. The Perilous Seat was only for one worthy. Any unworthy would die.
What is Gawain’s reaction?
He tells his brother Gaheris that they will revenge against Pellinore, who killed their father.
Where is the wedding held?
St. Stephen’s Church in Camelot
What four were sent for adventures?
Gawain, Gaheris, Tor, Pellinore
Describe Pellinore’s adventure
He rescues Nimue
He also sees 2 knights who want to kill him. One wants to poison him
What is MErlin’s connection to the damsel?
He loves Nimue even though he knows he will be buried alive. He travels with her and warns Arthur to not trust his most trusted woman and keep his sword and scabbard.
Who does Merlin meet?
He meets Elaine, Lancelot’s mother, who mourns that Claudas is fighting her husband Ban. Merlin prophesies that Lancelot, within 20 years, will revenge Claudas.
What does the damsel do?
She’s afraid of Merlin and when seeing a rock, Merlin goes inside to see marvels. Makes him not come out, leaves.
Where does Arthur go and why?
Arthur receives news that the King of Denmark and 5 other kings want to war with him. He goes to the forest beside Humber.
What happens in the war?
only 200 of his men including 8 knights of the roundtable get killed. They kill the 5 kings and 30,000 who try to escape
Which two are “contestants” of who will be in the roundtable?
Tor or Bademagus. Tor is chosen
What was Bademagus’ reaction?
he’ll never come back unless he’s part of the roundtable. On his way out he finds a holy herb (only righteous could find it) and saw Merlin.
What does Arthur chase?
He and his men chase a hart until they see a ship. 12 damsels welcome them to stay there
In the morning, where is everyone?
Uriens - camelot with Morgan
Arthur - prison with men
Explain who Damas is?
Damas needed to fight his brother Ontzlake, and wants Arthur to take his place
What happened to Occolon?
He wakes up by a well where a dwarf from Morgan tells him he must fight for Ontazlake with Arthur’s Excalibur.
What’s a word to describe Arthur’s fighting?
persistent, he even strikes Accolon with the pommel when his sword breaks.
Who comes to Arthur’s rescue?
Lady of the Lake helps Arthur get the excalibur and throw the scabbard away
Describe Arthur/Accolon scene
Arthur stabs him, Accolon says he’s a great knight and tells his name. Then, he tells the whole story. They stop fighting, reveal Arthur’s identity
What does Arthur do?
Arthur tells Damas to give everything to his brother and everything back to the harmed knights. He honors ontzlake.
What happens to Accolon
dies in 3 days, body sent to Morgan with the message that Arthur has his sword and scabbard
When Morgan wants to kill…..
her husband, Uwaine stops her
What does Morgan do?
Go to the country to kill Arthur. She grabs his scabbard but not the excalibur or else he’ll wake up. Then, she flees. When they catch up to her, she changes everyone to stone. When they leave, she changes back but rescues Manassen from drowning (he is Accolon’s cousin.”
What happens with Manassen?
sent to Arthur to say he’s alive because of her love for Accolon
What does Morgan send?
A rich mantel that burns the damsel to coals
Who does Arthur suspect
Not uriens because she wants to kill him, but Uwaine. Both Uwaine and Gawain leave.
Who does Uwain and Gawain meet?
2 knights and 12 maidens who are killed by Marhous, one who supposedly hates women.
What does Marhous do?
First, he asks them for a joust. Then, he kisses them, brings them to his castle for them to heal for 7 days, and then goes to the forest of Alroy, where they see the 3 damsels.
Describe the damsels?
they say they will take each to a different highway, adventure for a year, and then meet back.
a. Fairest, oldest, garland of gold, 60 years - Uwaine
b. 30 years, hair in circlet of gold - Marhaus
c. 15 years, flowers on head - Gawain
Describe Gawain’s adventure?
He sees a knight mourning and 10 torturing and does nothing. The lady leaves when Gawain fights 3 of the men.
What is the mourning man’s story?
His name is Sir Pelleas.He loves Ettard, who hates him, and he wanted people to fight him so that he could be taken as prisoner to Ettard.
What does Gawain promise?
To win the lady back, but he ends up falling in love with Ettard.
Who comes to the rescue again?
The Lady of the Lake makes Ettard love Pelleas because he doesn’t want him to die, but now he hates Ettard. Ettard dies of sorrow, and the Lady of the Lake loves him.
Describe Marhaus’ journey
He is with the 30 year old
a. fights the Duke and his 6 sons in revenge against Gawain slaying 7 of the duke’s sons
b. slays giants and delivers ladies/knights from the giant’s dungeon
Uwaine’s journey
He avenges the Lady of the Rock against those who robbed her and stays half a year healing up.
Arthur builds a church called what?
Abbey of Good Adventure
