ARTHURIAN LEGENDSNOTES

THAT MEANS GET OUT SOME PAPER!

Romances

narratives that tell of strange, supernatural events in exotic settings

Medieval Romances

Adventure stories with: knights, kings, damsels in distress

Legends

Anonymous traditional stories about the past that may have been inspired by real events and people

King Arthur Legends

Heroic figures Memorable deeds Quests, searches for something

important Contests, tests Patterns, such as events repeated 3

times (reference to the Holy Trinity)

Medieval Writers added to original legends:

Vivid descriptions plot twists accounts of reactions and motives of

characters Figurative language

The Knights’ Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood

To fear God and maintain His Church

To serve the liege lord in valor and faith

To protect the weak and defenseless

To give aid to widows and orphans

To refrain from the giving insult

To live by honor and for glory

To despise financial reward To fight for the welfare of

all

To obey those placed in authority

To guard the honor of fellow knights

To disdain unfairness, meanness and deceit

To keep faith At all times to speak the

truth To persevere to the end in

any enterprise begun To respect and defend the

honor and chastity of women

Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

Never to turn the back upon a foe