Post on 12-Jan-2016
SIR THOMAS MALORYMatt Driffill
English 12Mrs. Wozniak
Thesis Thomas Malory was an extremely
influential and significant author in English literary history because of his work on Le Morte d’Artur which is still the premier Legend of King Arthur story used in the world today.
Why Significant?
Wrote the most famous version of the “Legend of King Arthur” stories
Le Morte d’Artur collected and organized all the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table
Malory’s version also included many other tales and adventures that previous editions did not have
Le Morte d’Artur was written while Malory was in prison
Significance Continued
Malory’s Le Morte d’Artur (sometimes known as The Morte Darthur) was the last important piece of English literature before the introduction of printing into the country
Published approximately fourteen years after Malory’s death
Original Manuscript never found….All printed editions were edited by William Caxton
Last great piece of the Medieval Era
Where it falls…Thomas Malory’s legendary Le Morte d’Artur falls with Beowulf in the Medieval English Literature EraIt is said to be one of the last great pieces before the RenaissanceOver 600 years old and still very relevant to today’s society
Biography
Believed to have been born in 1416 in an area where Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northhamptonshire meet
Father John Malory (esquire that owned land in all three counties)
John Malory was a sheriff of Warwickshire twice
Married to Phillippa Chetwynd Three daughters and one son (Thomas)
….Biography
Of Malory’s early years “almost nothing is known”
Records show that at 23 Malory was “a respectable county landowner with a growing interest in politics”
He had dealt with land dealings, and became a parliamentary elector
Was knighted in 1441
Biography….still
Becoming a knight showed wealth and social ambition, both of which were traits showed by Malory in this time
Married Elizabeth Walsh of Wanlip Together they had one child; a boy
named Robert He committed many crimes and even
spent time in prison
Rap Sheet
1443- Charged with wounding and imprisoning Thomas Smith and stealing his goods
Jan 4, 1450- Malory and 26 other armed men ambushed the Duke of Buckingham
May 23, 1450- Malory rapes Joan Smith at Coventry
May 31, 1450- Extorts money from two citizens of the Monks Kirby area
More Crime Time
Aug 6, 1450- Rapes Joan Smith again and steals 40 pounds of goods from her husband
Aug 31, 1450- Extorts money from a third Monks Kirby citizen
Mar 5, 1451- Steals cattle in Warwickshire Apr 21, 1451- Malory is finally arrested
and imprisoned Two nights after arrest he escapes from
prison
The Notorious S.T. Malory!
Upon escaping from Coleshill prison he raided the Combes Abbey; breaking down doors, harassing monks, and stealing a great deal of money
He was then imprisoned in London where he would spend the rest of his life awaiting a trial that would never come
It was while imprisoned where Malory began to write Le Morte d’Artur
Is believed to have died either in 1469 or 1470
Literary Work(s)
Thomas Malory’s only known publication is his Le Morte d’Artur
Le Morte d’Artur
Malory’s only published piece Published by William Caxton in 1485 Featured previous King Arthur stories
with several new ones Intriguing conclusion in which author
addresses the readers directly….“I pray you all, gentlemen and gentlewomen that readeth this book of Arthur and his knights, from the beginning to the ending, pray for me while I am alive, that God send me good deliverance, and when I am dead, I pray you all pray for my soul. For this book was ended the ninth year of the reign of King Edward the Fourth, by Sir Thomas Maleore, knight, as Jesu help him for His great might, as he is the servant of Jesu both day and night.”
Author’s Style
Malory was not a writer so his style is very plain and direct in Le Morte d’Artur
His speech was accurate to when he wrote it, but it is far outdated English now
The original title of Le Morte d’Artur remained in Latin
The story is third person point of view, and Malory’s biggest strength as a writer in my opinion is plot development
Web Sources
http://www.malory.net/bio_%20frame.htm http://
www.luminarium.org/medlit/malory.htm http://
www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0831410.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09573c.htm
The Legend of King Arthur
Because of Malory’s epic collection there have been many movies made…..This being the latest Theatrical Trailer— The Legend of King Arthur