Sir Gawain and Le Morte d' Arthur Test
describe the victorian age revival.
- 19th century: industrial revolution transforms England and the world forever - time of doubt and uncertainty - questions about position of man in society and about the nature of man's soul - times of changes Arthurian legends brink back moral stability proved against the reign of Queen Victoria - Victorian arthurian legends provide nostalgic commentary on a long lost spirit of the world
Describe Arthur as a legendary figure.
- Arthur as we know today is a figure made up of several legends, by different authors, during different time periods - after Norman conquest of England, stories of Welsh and Celtic Britons had a comeback
what are the ideals of chivalry?
- Code of Chivalry: moral code or system which goes above and beyond rules of combat-introduces conduct of chivalry - medieval knight represents ideals of bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women - code of chivalry incorporated concept of courtly love
what was the french influence on Arthur?
- Henry II of England marries Eleanor de Aquitaine - mixing characteristics of English and French courts together - Troubadours of the court helped to transform Arthur legends from a political fable to a tale of chivalrous romance - a more political hero (makes a more well rounded character; war hero + political and religious figure)
What is Camelot?
- a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur - Lancelot-Grail cycle: described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world - stories locate it somewhere in Great Britain and sometimes associated with real cities, though precise location is not revealed - most regarded as fictional
What was the Celtic influence on Arthur?
- after Norman (foreign) Conquest, people needed a native hero to boost morale, teach past and former glory, and Arthur served as a main protagonist leading troops against invaders
who is Morgan le Fay?
- becomes an apprentice of Merlin and a vindictive adversary of Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, with a special hatred for Queen Guinevere. - wanton and sexually aggressive, with many lovers, including Merlin, and an unrequited love for Lancelot - the youngest of Duke of Cornwall Gorlois and Migraine's daughters; sent tot a convent when Arthur's father Uther Pendragon, aided by Merlin, kills Gorlois and rapes and marries her mother - unhappy with marriage to King Urien, she takes a string of lovers until he si caught by young Guinevere, to whom Morgan serves as a lady-in-waiting, with Guitar, and Guinevere intervenes to break their relationship to prevent the loss of honor - pregnant Morgan gives birth to Guiomar's son, who is said to grow up to become a great knight but is unnamed. - plots vengeance on Guinevere and King Arthur
Who is Mordred?
- best konen as Arthur's illegitimate son by his half-sister Morgues, though in many modern adaptations Morgues is merged with the character of Morgan le Fay - his brothers/half-brothers are Gawain, Agrarian, Gaheris, and Gareth - become a knight of the Round Table along with his brothers - aids Agravian in exposing Guinevere and Lancelot's affair - when Arthur and Gawain are off fighting Lancelot, claims Arthur's throne as his own and tries to marry Guinevere - mortally wounds Arthur in battle that ensues
Who is Guinevere?
- daughter of King Leodegrance, who served Uther Pendragon and was entrusted with the Round Table after Pendragon's death - carries on an affair with Sir Lancelot - when Modred usurps Arthur'a throne and demands she becomes his queen, she resists him; in others, she accedes, and bears him two sons - in most stories, Guinevere lives out the rest of her days in a convent
what is the Holy Grail?
- described as a vessel, dish, or stone with miraculous powers providing happiness, eternal youth, or food infinite abundance - In Chretein de Troyes's story, perceived as a great precious stone that fell from the sky - Robert de Boron's story, the Grail was Jesus's vessel from the Last Supper, which Joseph of Arimathea used to catch Christ's blood at the Crucifixion - interwoven with the Legend of the Holy Chalice, the Last Supper cup
What was the stance of the medieval time period on is honor worth dying for?
- during this time, this is a question any good knight would have no problem answering - the code of chivalry made it plain that his duty was to defend, with his life if necessary, his church, his king, and his country
What is the Round Table?
- has no head, implying that everyone who sits there has equal status - the table was first described in 1155 by Wace, who relied on previous descriptions of Arthur's fabulous retinue - in Robert de Boron's Merlin, the wizard merging creates the Round Table in imitation of the table of the Last Supper and of Joseph of Arimathea's Holy Grail table - has twelve seats and one empty place to mark the betrayal of Judas - Lancelot-Grail Cycles and Post-Vulgate Cycle: Galahad takes empty seat and his arrival marks the start of the Grail quest as well as the end of the Arthurian era
What does the Gawain Poet's work reveal?
- he was widely read in French and Latin - he also reveals to have knowledge of law and theology - he is familiar with many details of medieval aristocratic life but seems to prefer a love of the countryside and rural life (through his descriptions and metaphors)
what are the romantic characteristics?
- idealized, larger than life characters - a hero who faces a challenge or test - exotic settings and supernatural or magical elements - hidden or mistaken identity
Who is Galahad?
- illegitimate son of Sir Lancelot and Elaine of Carbonic - King Pelles forces that lancelot will give his daughter a child and that this little boy is destined to become the greatest knight in the world, the knight chosen by God to achieve the Holy Grail - King Pelles also knows that Lancelot will only lie with Guinevere, and seeks help from enchantress who gives him a magic ring that will make Elaine take on the appearance of Queen Guinevere - reunited with father Sir Lancelot and knights him - first knight able to sit at the Siege Perilou, an unused chair at the Round Table that has been kept vacant for the sole person who will accomplish the quest of the Holy Grail - asked to take the vessel to the holy city of Sarras - makes the request that he may die at the time of his choosing - there has been no knight capable since of obtaining the Holy Grail
Who is Merlin?
- legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in Arthurian legend - Geoffrey combined existing stories of Myrddin Wyllt, a North Brythonic prophet and madman with no connection to king Arthur, with tales of the Romano-British war leader Ambrosias Aurelianus to form the composite figure he called Merlin - born of a mortal woman, sired by an incubus, the non-human from whom he inherits his supernatural powers and abilities, such as shapeshifting and predicting the future - sometimes portrayed as Arthur's advisor, sometimes as an evil wizard
What is Excalibur?
- legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain - in Robert de Boron's Merlin, Arthur obtained the British throne by pulling a sword from a stone, an act performed only by "the true king" meaning the divinely appointed king or true heir of Uther Pendragon - In Post-Vulgate Cycle, Excalibur was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake sometime after he began to reign - Excalibur: "cut steel"
identify characteristics of medieval romances.
- long narrative in prose or poetry - idealizes concept of chivalry - idealizes knight-hero and knight's noble deeds - one very important characteristics - ideal love of knight for his lady - settings are imaginary and vague - mysterious and supernatural elements - concept of disguised identity - mystical number 3 is repeated (represents Holy Trinity)
explain: mystery and supernatural elements abound
- medieval romance derives mystery and suspense from supernatural element for characters. witches, wizards, and dragons were popular. - medieval romance incorporates concealed or disguised identities of some characters (adds suspense and mystery)
identify characteristics of a hero-knight.
- mysterious origin-birth shrouded in mystery - rela parents are unknown - reared away from his real family nucleus - his true identity is unknown - claims his rights after meeting extraordinary challenge or quest - his triumph benefits his nation or group
describe the context of Le Morte d'Arthur.
- one of the first books printed in England (1486) - time of political and civil unrest, intrigue, and betrayal - juxtaposed to the writings of a knightly golden age-they carry a political message -long lost ideals of an age of chivalry to betrayal of ideals - Tudor King: Henry VII - By then British authors were already writing English versions of Arthurian legends based on King Arthur, Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table - 1509: new Arthurian age begins - Henry VIII rises to power and believes him to be the emperor of a new British Empire
Tristan and Iseult
- predates and most likely influences the arthurian romance of Lancelot and Guinevere - Tristan goes to ireland to bring back the fair Iseult for his uncle King Mark to marry. along the way, they ingest a love potion which causes the pair to fall madly in love - although Iseult marries Mark, she and Tristan are forced by the potion to seek one another as lovers - the love potion that controls them frees Tristan Iseult from responsibility - Punishment: Tristan by hanging and Iseult by burning at the stake, later lodging her in a leper colony . Tristan escapes on his way to the gallows. he makes a miraculous leap from a chapel and rescues Iseult. - they make peace with Mark after Tristan's agreement to return Iseult to Mark and leave the country
Who is Sir Lancelot?
- son of the King Ban of Benwick (or Benoic) and Elaine. while Lancelot is an infant, his father is driven from his kingdom in Britain by his enemy - Lancelot is carried off by the Lady of the Lake, who raises the child in her magical kingdom (earns surname meaning "of the lake") - Elaine of Carbonic falls in love with him. She tricks him into believing that she is Queen Guinevere and he sleeps with her, and the ensuing pregnancy results in the birth of Galahad. - Guinevere criticizes Lancelot of this behavior and banishes him. He goes mad and wanders the wilderness for two years until he arrives at Corbin, where he is recognized by Elaine. Lancelot is shown the Holy Grail through the veil, which cures his madness - takes part of the Grail Quest with Percival and Galahad though he is only allowed a glimpse of the Grail itself because he is an adulterer and distracted by earthly honors that have come with his knightly prowess
Who is the Fisher King?
- the Fisher King, or the Wounded King, is the last in a long line charged with keeping the Holy Grail - he is always wounded in the legs or groin and incapable of moving on his own - becomes impotent and unable to perform his task himself, and he also becomes unable to father or support a next regeneration to carry on after his death - his impotent affected the fertility of the land and reducing it to a barren wasteland - all he is able to do is fish in the river near his castle, Carbonic, and wait for someone who might be able to heal him - Knights travel from many lands to heal the Fisher King, but only the chosen can accomplish the feat. this is Percival in earlier stories; in later versions, he is joined by Galahad and Bors.
what was the green knight's attitude as he presents his challenge to the knights?
- the GK mocks and ridicules Arthur's knights by calling them out for being cowards - acts as though he is superior and has an upper hand to the knights
Who is Percival?
- the original hero for the holy grail quest before being replaced with Galahad - after father's death, Percival's mother takes him to the forests where she raises him ignorant to the ways of men until the age of 15. group of knights pass by and he wants to become one, leaving his home behind. - in one story, he meets the crippled Fisher King and sees a grail, but fails to answer question that wouldve healed injured king; vows to find the Grail castle again and fulfill his quest - was one of only two knights (the other was Sir Bors) who accompanied Galahad to the Grail castle and completed the quest with him
Who is the Lady of the Lake?
- titular name of the ruler of Avalon in the Arthurian legend - gives King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, raising Lancelot after the death of his father - has multiple names in different stories - Lancelot-Grail Cycle backstory: she refuses to give Merlin her love until he has taught her all his secrets, after which she uses her power to trap him either in the trunk of a tree or beneath a stone, depending on the story and author. Merlin knew this was bound to happen but had no ability to counteract Viviane. therefore, he does nothing for his situation and teachers her all his secrets, but is later entombed in a tree, stone, or cave
Who was King Arthur?
- victorious 5th century warrior who eld the Britons into battle against Saxon invaders, also that he fought against the romans. impossible to confirm. - someone under the name was a leader of the Britons
what are the eight characteristics of medieval romances?
1) idealizes chivalry (code of chivalry - heroes/knights abided by this code) 2) idealizes the noble hero/knight and his daring deeds 3) women are idealized and held in high regard by hero-knight 4) imaginative, vast fairytale like setting 5) mystery and supernatural elements abound 6) repetition of the magical numbers 3 and 7 7) tale involves a quest for love and/or adventure by hero-knight 8) simple, predictable, inevitable plot
how long does Gawain have to find the Green Knight?
12 months and a day
how does the GK justify each of the attempts?
1st: SG kept his word 2nd: kissed wife but didn't strike use was owed as a good man should 3rd: strikes because he lied to the GK about the sash but respects him for valuing his life
describe what occurs in each attempt done by the GK to decapitate SG?
1st: swings and stops because SG flinches, GK calls him out for being a coward 2nd: swings and stops because SG is fearless and doesn't flinch, SG calls the GK a coward for constantly stopping 3rd: SG is barely cut and gets up ready to fight, not decapitated, says that the GK had one strike and now he must fight if he wishes to strike again
According to Nennius, how many battles did Arthur fight in? Why is this unlikely?
According to Nennius, Arthur fought 12 battles (most likely no human could have fought 12 battles and survived)
who was the greatest medieval writer of Arthurian legends? Why?
Chretein de Troyes; transforms legend from courtly romance to a spiritual quest
The Gawain poet is well versed in...
English, French, and Latin
What is the deal Sir Gawain and the lord make?
Gawain and the lord must exchange what they have done daily
what was de Troyes literary motif? What did the image of the grail symbolize?
Holy Grail; symbol of human quest for the unattainable, desirable
Sir Gawain's dying letter to Lancelot says...
I don't blame you for this, please help Arthur fight Modred
who dies at the end of Le Morte d' Arthur?
King Arthur
who initially accepts the challenge of the green knight?
King Arthur
who was the first known author to write about Arthur? When?
Nennius around 830
Who is left after the last battle between Arthur and Modred?
Sir Bedevier
in Le Morte d' Arthur, who convinces Arthur to fight?
Sir Gawain
who challenges a different knight every day in Le Morte d' Arthur?
Sir Gawain
Who users the throne in Le Morte d' Arthur?
Sir Modred
Explain the quote: "That any man who clashed With him would not stand long."
The GK didn't seem friendly, as anyone who fought him wouldn't survive
What is the Green Knight's challenge?
The Green Knight's original challenge was for someone to step forward and strike him with his own axe under the condition that he meet him again one year later to receive a blow in return. Arthur steps up to the challenge, but in order to protect him, Sir Gawain steps up and meets the challenge instead.
author of Le Morte d'Arthur
Thomas Malory
what is the challenge of the Green Knight?
a blow for a blow
what else does the early manuscript include?
a dozen rough illustrations of the four poems (it is possible to verify who created the images for this manuscript)
what is a medieval romance?
a dramatic verse or prose narrative that usually involves adventurous heroes, idealized love, exotic places, and supernatural events
what weapon does the Green Knight have when he enters King Arthur's castle?
a gisarm
what is Avalon?
a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend famous for its beautiful apples - place where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged and later where Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds after the Battle of Camlann - it produces all things of itself - nine sisters rule by a pleasing set of laws - people live there a hundred years or more
who does Gawain meet when he arrives at the castle?
a lord and his lady
what is a medical romance?
a tale of high adventure. a religious crusade, a conquest for the knight's lord/king, and/or the rescue of a captive lady (or any combination).
how long did SG have to wait to be decapitated by the GK?
a year and 1 day
explain: women are idealized and held in high regard by hero-knight
an important element of the medical romance is the knight's love for his lady, or high regard and respect for women in general.
when was the only surviving early manuscript produced buy an anonymous copyist?
around the year 1400
who is the author of sir gawain and the green knight?
author is unknown, though he is acknowledged as one of the greatest English medieval poets in history for his rich imagination and skill with language
what did Geoffrey of Monmouth claim that the account of Arthur in his book was based on?
based on a long-lost Celtic document he was allowed to examine which mixed of myth with historical facts blurring reality, and a fantastic tale of hero of British Isles and his wondrous deed
why does the GK let SG live?
because he wanted to survive, not bc he was greedy, lustful, or unfaithful
why does Lancelot refuse to fight Arthur and reuse to kill Sir Gawain?
because it would be dishonorable
what would the ceremony of the knighthood include?
both secular and religious chivalric responsibilities
Explain the quote: "Threads of gold interwoven with the glorious green, Now a thread of hair, now another thread of gold; The tail of the horse and the forelock were tricked at the same way."
displays the GK's wealth; so wealthy that his horse has threads of gold braided into its tail
when does the green knight first appear?
during the winter time
although real knights were far from perfect, the ideal knight such as Sir Gawain dutifully obeyed a code of chivalry and represented a combination of Christian and military ideals including:
faith, modesty, courtesy, bravery, and honor
what occurs in the span of three days with Sir Gawain and the woman?
first day: kiss second day: kiss third day: she offers him a valuable gold ring but refuses kindly; then she offers a him a green sash that will protect him from injury
where was the first account of Arthur's life found in? Who wrote it?
found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britannie (The History of the Kings of Britain)
what is sir gawain's relation to King arthur?
gawain is arthur's nephew
when did medieval romances first appear?
grande during the 12th century and quickly spreads to England
how does SG feel afterward?
he feels terrible bc he realizes that he didn't uphold the code of knighthood and didn't act honorably, even after he is forgiven by the GK
how does the GK react to SG swinging the ax?
he is expressionless; he does not show any fear
According to Sir Gawain, why should he take King Arthur's place?
he is worth less and is weaker than Arthur
how does the GK leave Arthur's court?
he picks up his decapitated head and rides off on his horse
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, why does Gawain accept the green sash?
he wants to save his life
hoes does arthur initially react to the green knight?
he welcomes him in
explain: idealizes chivalry (code of chivalry - heroes/knights abided by this code)
honor, repeat, loyalty, courtesy, gentlemanly behavior, courage, self-less acts
Explain the quote: "And over his breast hung a beard as big as a bush."
implies that the GK is uncivilized, since hardly anyone at the time had a beard
what does the game-like motif suggest about medieval romances as a genre?
it suggests that these ideas of sarcastic attitude in the face of danger is to replicated in future generations and films
how does SG leave the experience?
leaves more humble and will enforce the code of chivalry more than before
what does Arthur mistake the knight for wanting?
mistakes the knight for wanting a duel
does SG act honorably when he decides to take the sash?
no because he chose to lie to the lord of the castle, cheats his promises (loses honor)
who does the Green Knight behead?
no one
what three religious themes does the only surviving early manuscript contain?
pearl, purity, and patience
the ideal would have been all of the following except: - rich - honorable - modest - brave
rich
what details in sir gawain's request and response show chivalry?
sir gawain states that the knights do not move unless they are instructed by the king to move
In Le Morte d' Arthur, for how long does Gawain challenge the knights?
six months
what are some of the best known medieval romances? what were they about/
some of the best known medieval romances celebrate the legendary King Arthur and his knights, who often risk their lives for the love of a noble lady or to uphold the code of behavior known as chilvary
what medieval element is seen in both Sir Gawain and Le Morte?
supernatural
what does the poet's descriptions and language suggest what?
that he wrote the poem during the second half of the 14th century, making him a contemporary of Chaucer
what is the plot twist>
the GK is the lord of the castle
who attempts to seduce SG several times when he arrives at the lord's castle?
the GK's wife in disguise
what is the name of the green knight?
the Knight of the Green Chapel
explain: medieval romance idealizes the hero-knight and his noble deeds.
the hero-knight is well respected and looked up to. there are usually high expectations of him and he may have already performed some chivalrous and brave, daring tasks.
explain: repetition of the mystical number 3, and the number 7.
there is often a motif or pattern of the use of one or both of these numbers. events or character soften happen revolving around these numbers.
what is the most important virtue in the age of chilvary?
trawthe: "truth," "devotion," and "fidelity" - it means to not just keeping one's word but also remaining faithful to the views taken at the ceremony of knighthood
What does the author's dialect suggest?
unlike Chaucer, he was not a Londoner, but likely lived somewhere in the northwestern part of England
what was arthur's attitude towards the GK when the GK first arrives at Arthur's court?
welcomes him kindly
Who is Gawain?
when his brothers Agrarian and Modred plot to destroy Lancelot and Guinevere by exposing their love affair, Gawain tries to stop them. when Guinevere is sentenced to burn at the stake and Arthur deploys his best knights to guard the execution, Gawain nobly refuses to take part in the deed even though his brothers will eb there. but when lancelot returns to rescue Guinevere, a battle between Lancelot's and Arthur's knights ensues and Gawain's brother, except for Modred, are killed. this turns his friendship with Lancelot into hatred, and his desire for vengeance causes him to draw Arthur into a war with lancelot in France. Gawain is mortally wounded in battle against Mordred's armies after he usurps the throne, and writes to Lancelot apologizing for his actions and asking for him to come to Britain to help defeat Modred.
what season does this story occur in?
winter
