“The Day of Destiny”
from Le Morte d’Arthur
By
Sir Thomas Malory
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
Arthur’s Dream
•
“He was appareled in gold cloth and
seated in a chair which stood on a pivoted
scaffold. Below him, many fathoms deep,
was a dark well, and in the water swam
serpents, dragons, and wild beasts.
Suddenly the scaffold tilted and Arthur
was flung into the water, where all the
creatures struggled toward him and began
tearing him limb from limb.” (216)
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
Arthur’s Dream
•
Beasts of the water
– Serpents
• symbol of evil and deception
– Sir Modred
• Foreshadowing the death of King
Arthur?
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
Arthur’s Dream
•
Vision of Sir Gawain
–
–
Begs King Arthur not to battle Sir
Modred tomorrow.
Wait for Lancelot to come back and he
will defeat Sir Modred
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
Characteristics of King Arthur
•
Hero
–
–
–
Honorable
Brave
“Super-natural”
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
The Snake
•
•
Bites the knight
The knight pulls out his sword to kill
the serpent
As soon as the sword is drawn, both
sides see it as an act of war.
Because of the serpent, many people
die
Allusion?
•
•
•
–
The serpent in the Garden of Eden
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
The Honorable Knights
•
The knights give their lives for King
Arthur
Sir Lucas the Butler
•
–
•
Dies trying to comfort and protect King
Arthur
Sir Bedivere the Bold
–
Lives with the monk to honor King
Arthur
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny
The End of King Arthur?
•
Tomb stone inscription:
–
•
“Here lies Arthur, the once and future
king.”
Legend
–
Some believe Arthur did not die and the
he will return Britain to glory.
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny