MS30109 Dawon Seong
Le Morte d’Arthur
The Acts of King Arthur and His
Noble Knights
Romance is an adventure tale that features extravagant
characters, exotic places, heroic events, passionate love, and
supernatural forces.
1. Romance Hero / Idealized noble characters
2. Quest: journey
3. Exotic Setting
4. Supernatural Elements
5. Hidden or Mistaken Identities
From Le Morte D’Arthur
The Crowning of Arthur
King Uther Pendragon
Lady Igraine
Merlin The Prophet
Duke of Tintagil
From Le Morte D’Arthur
The Crowning of Arthur
Arthur the Baby
King Uther Pendragon
Merlin The Prophet
1. Romance Hero / Idealized noble characters
2. Quest: journey
3. Exotic Setting
4. Supernatural Elements
5. Hidden or Mistaken Identities
Supernatural Elements
Merlin The Prophet
Sir Ulfius had not ridden far when he
was accosted by a hideous beggar. “For
“Your child is destined for
whom are you searching?” asked the
glory, and I want him brought
beggar; but Sir Ulfius ignored him.
to me
for his
I shall
“Very
well,”
saidbaptism.
the beggar,
“I will tell
then
him into the
care of and
you:
yougive
are searching
for Merlin,
canforbeI am he.
youfoster
need parents
look no who
further,
trusted
revealand
histell
identity
Now
go to not
KingtoUther
him that
before
properhistime.”
I will
maketheIgraine
if he will reward
me as I ask; and even that will be more
to his benefit than to mine.”
Supernatural Elements
They were confronted by a marble
block into which had been thrust a
beautiful sword. The block was four
feet square, and the sword passed
through a steel anvil which had been
struck in the stone, and which
projected a foot from it. The anvil had
been inscribed with letters of gold:
WHOSO PULLETH OUTE THIS
SWERD OF THIS STONE AND
ANVYLD IS RIGHTWYS KYNGE
BORNE OF ALL BRYTAYGNE
Idealized noble characters
“ Well spoken,” said he king; “it was I
who impersonated the duke, so the child is
mine.” He then told Igraine the story of
how Merlin had arranged it, and Igraine
was overjoyed to discover that the father
of her child was now her husband.
Lady Igraine
Hidden or Mistaken Identities
“ I shall then give him into the care
of foster parents who can be trusted
not to reveal his identity before the
proper time.”
Arthur the Baby
“ My lord,” Sir Ector replied, “there is
only one man living who can draw the
sword from the stone, and he is the
true-born King of Britain.” Sir Ector
then told Arthur the story of his birth
and upbringing.
Chivalry
The nobles, knowing in their hearts
that the commoners were right, all
knelt before Arthur and begged
forgiveness for having delayed his
succession for so long. Arthur
forgave them and then, offering his
sword at the high altar, was dubbed
first knight of the realm. The
coronation took place a few days
later, when Arthur swore to rule
justly, and the nobles swore him their
allegiance.
From Le Morte D’Arthur
Sir Launcelot du Lake
Knights of the Round Table
1. Romance Hero / Idealized noble characters
2. Quest: journey
3. Exotic Setting
4. Supernatural Elements
5. Hidden or Mistaken Identities
Quest: journey
One day, Sir Launcelot,
feeling weary of his life at
the court, and of only
playing at arms, decided to
set forth in search of
adventure.
Exotic Setting
“Sir, I can tell you: less than a mile from
here stands a well-moated castle. On the
left of the entrance you will find a ford
where you can water your horse, and
across from the ford a large tree from
which hang the shields of many famous
knights. Below the shields hangs a caldron,
of copper and adventure-such, indeed, that
if you survive it, you will prove yourself
the foremost knight in these parts for many
years.”
Exaggerated Behavior
Now the two knights hurled themselves at
each other like two wild bulls; swords
and shields clashed together, and often
their swords drove into the flesh. Then
sometimes one, sometimes the other,
would stagger and fall, only to recover
immediately and resume the contest. At
last, however, Sir Tarquine grew faint
and unwittingly lowered his shield. Sir
Launcelot was swift to follow up his
advantage and, dragging the other down
to his knees, unlaced his helmet and
beheaded him.
Chivalry
Of all his knights one was supreme,
both in prowess at arms and in nobility
of
bearing,
Sirand
Launcelot,
“ God
blessand
you,this
mywas
lady;
when
who
wascomes,
also theI favorite
Queen
the time
promise of
I shall
not
Gwynevere,
fail you.” to whom he had sworn
oaths of fidelity.
“ A hard choice! Understand that I
choose none of you, lewd sorceresses
that you are; rather will I die in this
cell. But were I free, I would take
pleasure in proving it against any who
would champion you that Queen
Gwynevere is the finest lady of this
land.”
“Sir Launcelot du Lake. Today I have
fought to vindicate the honor of the knights
of the Round Table, and I know that among
Sir Tarquine’s prisoners are two of my
brethren, Sir Lyonel and Sir Ector, also your
own brothe, Sir Gawain. According to the
shields there are also Sir Brandiles, Sir
Galyhuddis, Sir Kay, Sir Alydukis, Sir
Marhaus, and many others. Please release
the prisoners and ask them to help
themselves to the caste treasure. Give them
all my greetings and say I will see them at
the next Pentecost. And please request Sir
Ector and Sir Lyonel to go straight to the
court and await me there.”
More plain, contemporary language
Vivid sensory images
Rich figurative languages
From
The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble
Knights
King Arthur
Guinevere
Sir Launcelot
Before his friend could reach the center of the hall, Sir
Launcelot wriggled to his feet and approached the dais. “My
lord king,” he said, “forgive me if I ask leave to go. An old
wound has broken open.”
Arthur smiled down on him. “I have the same old wound,” he
said, “We’ll go together. Perhaps you will come to the tower
room when we have attended to our wounds.” And he signed
the trumpets to end the gathering, and the bodyguards to clear
the hall.
King Arthur
Sir Launcelot
Detailed Descriptions
Arthur on his dais sat very still and did not
fiddle with his bread, and beside him sat lovely
Guinevere, still as a painted statue of herself.
Only her inward eyes confessed her vagrant
thoughts.
Guinevere
The
Their
queen
bodies
waslocked
lovelytogether
in the firelight,
as though
allalean,
trap
down-flowing
had sprung. Their
linesmouths
of greenmet,
samite.
and each
devoured the other. Each frantic heartbeat at
walls
ribs trying
the aother
untilshock
Shetheput
her of
fingers
on hisget
armtoand
searing
held his
breaths
Lancelot,
rantheir
through
body,burst
and out
his and
mouth
opened in
dizzied, found
the door
andthat
blundered
the
amazement
at a hollow
ache
presseddown
upward
stairs.his
And
wasshortened
weeping his
bitterly.
against
ribsheand
breath.