| Revision as of 17:20, 6 November 2002 view sourceFrecklefoot (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers45,336 editsm formatted movie title← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:47, 6 November 2002 view source Llywrch (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators81,217 edits structured article, rewrote, added contentNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''King Arthur''' is an important figure in the ] of ]. He is the central character in Arthurian legends (known as the ]), |
'''King Arthur''' is an important figure in the ] of ]. He is the central character in Arthurian legends (known as the ]), although there is disagreement about whether Arthur, or a model for him, ever lived. | ||
| ==The Arthur of History== | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| One school of thought believes Arthur to have lived some time in the ], to have been of ] origin, and to have fought against the ]s. His power base was probably in either ] or the west of ], but controversy over the possible location of his court continues to rage. | |||
| In this work Arthur is referred to as a 'warrior' rather than as a King. There are other mentions of him in various other works of the time, but one of the first writers to pay serious attention to him was ], another Welsh cleric who produced a manuscript called the '']'' in AD ]. This work was the ] equivalent of a 'best seller' and spurred other writers to expand and rewrite the legends of Arthur. In the legends, which authors expanded rapidly beginning in the ], Arthur gathered the ]s of the ] (], ], ], and others). At his court, ], could also be found the magician ]. The romance between Arthur's champion, Lancelot, and the Queen, ], is at the centre of the fall of Camelot. | |||
| Another school of thought believes that Arthur is at best an ] diety, or a fictive person like ]. Subscribers to this school of thought argue that another Roman Briton of this period led the forces battling the Saxons at the battle of ], for example ]. | |||
| The Arthurian mythos permeated to the continent, as far afield as ] in ], where the ] merchants set up an Arthurian hall in his honour. | |||
| ==Earliest Traditions of Arthur== | |||
| Arthur is also closely connected with ]. The French medieval writer, ], produced versions of the legend during the mid-12th century. | |||
| ⚫ | Arthur first appears in Welsh literature. In the earliest surviving Welsh poem, the ], the poet ] (c. 575-600) writes of one of his subjects that 'he fed black ]s on the ramparts, although he was not Arthur' -- but this poem as it currently exists is full of interpolations, and it not possible to decide if this passage is an interpolation from a later period. | ||
| Another early reference to Arthur is in the '']'', attributed to the Welsh monk ], who is said to have written this compilation of early Welsh history around the year AD ]. In this work Arthur is referred to as a 'warrior' rather than as a King. | |||
| Arthur also appears in the Welsh tale ''Culhwch and Olwen'', a narrative that is usually associated with the ]. | |||
| ⚫ | King Arthur is sometimes depicted as the leader of the ] in not only the British Isles, but in ], France and Germany. | ||
| ==The Arthurian Romance== | |||
| In AD ], ], produced a manuscript called the '']''. This work was the ] equivalent of a 'best seller' and helped draw the attention of other writers to these stories, who then expanded and rewrote these legends of Arthur. | |||
| The French medieval writer, ], recounted tales from the mythos during the mid-12th century, as did ] in her narrative poems called 'lais'. These stories appear to be independant of what Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote. | |||
| In these versions, which gained popularity beginning in the ], Arthur gathered the ]s of the ] (], ], ], and others). At his court, ], could also be found the magician ]. These knights engaged in fabulous quests as for example the ]. other stories from the Celtic world came to be associated with Arthur, such as the tale of ]. The romance between Arthur's champion, Lancelot, and the Queen, ], is at the centre of the fall of Camelot. | |||
| Arthur had in his possession the wondrous ] ] given to him by ]. In some accounts, Arthur obtained the sword by pulling it from a stone or from an anvil atop a stone. In these accounts, this act could not be performed except by "the true king," meaning the divinely appointed king or true heir of the throne via Uther Pendragon. | Arthur had in his possession the wondrous ] ] given to him by ]. In some accounts, Arthur obtained the sword by pulling it from a stone or from an anvil atop a stone. In these accounts, this act could not be performed except by "the true king," meaning the divinely appointed king or true heir of the throne via Uther Pendragon. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 29: | ||
| His son ], also a Knight of the Round Table, was the result of an ] union between Arthur and his sister, ], a sorceress. According to some accounts, Arthur is eventually killed in a conflict with Mordred. In most accounts, however, Arthur is not killed but is instead critically wounded; he is taken away to ] (often identified with ] in ]) to have his wounds healed. Legend had it that he would return in the hour of Britain's greatest need. | His son ], also a Knight of the Round Table, was the result of an ] union between Arthur and his sister, ], a sorceress. According to some accounts, Arthur is eventually killed in a conflict with Mordred. In most accounts, however, Arthur is not killed but is instead critically wounded; he is taken away to ] (often identified with ] in ]) to have his wounds healed. Legend had it that he would return in the hour of Britain's greatest need. | ||
| The Arthurian mythos permeated to the continent. An image of Arthur and his Knights attacking a castle was carved into an archivolt over the north doorway of ] Cathedral in ] sometime between 1099 and 1120. A mosaic pavement in the cathedral of ], near ] also in Italy was made in 1165 with the puzzling depcition of 'Arturus Rex' bearing a sceptre and riding a goat. ] merchants set up an Arthurian hall in his honour in ], ]. | |||
| ⚫ | King Arthur |
||
| Retellings of the Arthurian cycle include the works of ], ], ''],'' and ] '']''. | |||
| ==Arthur in Modern Literature, Film, and Television== | |||
| There are an inordinate number of books written about King Arthur and the court of ]. | There are an inordinate number of books written about King Arthur and the court of ]. | ||
| * ]'s ''The Idylls of the King'' | |||
| * '']'' | |||
| * ]: '']'' | |||
| * ]: '']'' | * ]: '']'' | ||
| * ]: ''The Once and Future King'' cycle, the first volume of which is '']'', well-known for the ] adaptation. | * ]: ''The Once and Future King'' cycle, the first volume of which is '']'', well-known for the ] adaptation. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 44: | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| A number of films have been made as well, including the irreverent '']''. Others include '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. The Disney animated feature '']'' portrays the early life of Arthur and his ascension to the throne and draws extensively from T.H. White's novels. The 1970's British television series, ''Arthur of the Britons'', sought to create a more "realistic" portrait of the period and to explain the origins of some of the myths about the Celtic leader. | A number of films have been made as well, including the irreverent '']''. Others include '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. The Disney animated feature '']'' portrays the early life of Arthur and his ascension to the throne and draws extensively from T.H. White's novels. The 1970's British television series, ''Arthur of the Britons'', sought to create a more "realistic" portrait of the period and to explain the origins of some of the myths about the Celtic leader. | ||
Revision as of 22:47, 6 November 2002
King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Britain. He is the central character in Arthurian legends (known as the Matter of Britain), although there is disagreement about whether Arthur, or a model for him, ever lived.
The Arthur of History
One school of thought believes Arthur to have lived some time in the 6th century, to have been of Romano-British origin, and to have fought against the Saxons. His power base was probably in either Wales or the west of England, but controversy over the possible location of his court continues to rage.
Another school of thought believes that Arthur is at best an euhemerized diety, or a fictive person like Beowulf. Subscribers to this school of thought argue that another Roman Briton of this period led the forces battling the Saxons at the battle of Mons Badonicus, for example Ambrosius Aurelianus.
Earliest Traditions of Arthur
Arthur first appears in Welsh literature. In the earliest surviving Welsh poem, the Gododdin, the poet Aneirin (c. 575-600) writes of one of his subjects that 'he fed black ravens on the ramparts, although he was not Arthur' -- but this poem as it currently exists is full of interpolations, and it not possible to decide if this passage is an interpolation from a later period.
Another early reference to Arthur is in the Historia Brittonum, attributed to the Welsh monk Nennius, who is said to have written this compilation of early Welsh history around the year AD 830. In this work Arthur is referred to as a 'warrior' rather than as a King.
Arthur also appears in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, a narrative that is usually associated with the Mabinogion.
King Arthur is sometimes depicted as the leader of the Wild Hunt in not only the British Isles, but in Brittany, France and Germany.
The Arthurian Romance
In AD 1133, Geoffrey of Monmouth, produced a manuscript called the Historia Regum Britaniae. This work was the medieval equivalent of a 'best seller' and helped draw the attention of other writers to these stories, who then expanded and rewrote these legends of Arthur.
The French medieval writer, Chretien de Troyes, recounted tales from the mythos during the mid-12th century, as did Marie de France in her narrative poems called 'lais'. These stories appear to be independant of what Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote.
In these versions, which gained popularity beginning in the 12th century, Arthur gathered the Knights of the Round Table (Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, and others). At his court, Camelot, could also be found the magician Merlin. These knights engaged in fabulous quests as for example the Holy Grail. other stories from the Celtic world came to be associated with Arthur, such as the tale of Tristan and Isolde. The romance between Arthur's champion, Lancelot, and the Queen, Guinevere, is at the centre of the fall of Camelot.
Arthur had in his possession the wondrous sword Excalibur given to him by The Lady of the Lake. In some accounts, Arthur obtained the sword by pulling it from a stone or from an anvil atop a stone. In these accounts, this act could not be performed except by "the true king," meaning the divinely appointed king or true heir of the throne via Uther Pendragon.
His son Mordred, also a Knight of the Round Table, was the result of an incestuous union between Arthur and his sister, Morgan La Fay, a sorceress. According to some accounts, Arthur is eventually killed in a conflict with Mordred. In most accounts, however, Arthur is not killed but is instead critically wounded; he is taken away to Avalon (often identified with Glastonbury in Somerset, England) to have his wounds healed. Legend had it that he would return in the hour of Britain's greatest need.
The Arthurian mythos permeated to the continent. An image of Arthur and his Knights attacking a castle was carved into an archivolt over the north doorway of Modena Cathedral in Italy sometime between 1099 and 1120. A mosaic pavement in the cathedral of Otranto, near Bari also in Italy was made in 1165 with the puzzling depcition of 'Arturus Rex' bearing a sceptre and riding a goat. 15th century merchants set up an Arthurian hall in his honour in Gdansk, Poland.
Retellings of the Arthurian cycle include the works of Gottfried von Strassburg, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur.
Arthur in Modern Literature, Film, and Television
There are an inordinate number of books written about King Arthur and the court of Camelot.
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson's The Idylls of the King
- Marion Zimmer Bradley: The Mists of Avalon
- T.H. White: The Once and Future King cycle, the first volume of which is The Sword in the Stone, well-known for the Disney adaptation.
- The several books by Norma Lorre Goodrich are very popular and according to Arthurian scholars not to be taken at all seriously. Goodrich is supposedly a fair scholar of literature but a very poor one of history. Reader take caution.
- The Merlin books of Mary Stewart: The Crystal Cave sets up the background for the Arthurian legend, but has only a baby Arthur. The Hollow Hills encompasses most of Arthur's lifespan, including his childhood with Merlin as his tutor.
- Helen Hollick
- Persia Woolley
A number of films have been made as well, including the irreverent Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Others include Camelot, Excalibur, Lancelot du Lac and First Knight. The Disney animated feature The Sword in the Stone portrays the early life of Arthur and his ascension to the throne and draws extensively from T.H. White's novels. The 1970's British television series, Arthur of the Britons, sought to create a more "realistic" portrait of the period and to explain the origins of some of the myths about the Celtic leader.
The Arthurian myth makes an appearance in many stories:
- Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence
- Babylon 5 explicitly mentions Arthur in one episode, but the entire television series contains references