Monty Python and the Holy Grail
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT
Much of the humor in Monty Python and the Holy Grail derives
from the pure absurdity of its characters and situations. King
Arthur roams the British countryside on an imaginary horse‚ evil
enemies can only be appeased with offerings of shrubbery‚ and
the knights of the Round Table battle a bloodthirsty killer
bunny‚ to cite just a few examples. The movie contains a great
deal of such explicit comedy‚ but much of its humor works on a
more subtle level‚ plot and dialogue shrewdly satirizing the
unjustness of such Arthurian conventions as autocracy‚ severe
social class distinctions‚ and vainglorious codes of chivalry.
There are many examples of parody throughout Monty Python
and the Holy Grail. In fact, the whole movie itself is a parody. In
" Holy Grail " the group unleashes its comic satire upon their
homeland of Britain and its greatest legend, King Arthur and his
Knights of the Round Table. The narrative is centered around Arthur's divinely ordained quest for the
Holy Grail, and the exploits of his most trusted knights in its pursuit. Contained amidst the off the wall
comedy and timeless absurdity, are very real satirical insights into the medieval way of life for every
social distinction and the two most powerful forces of the age, the Church and monarchy. From
peasants wallowing in the mud to the mighty company of Arthur's knights, the people of England are
represented wholly. Scattered about the film, however, are numerous anachronisms that detract from
the film's satire for the student of history. While unnoticed by the casual viewer, these mistakes are
blatant in an academic approach. Let us see how you do.
TASK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Watch the film without any of these notes (preferably with your fellow classmates)
Examine the notes and come up with some responses
Watch the film AGAIN, but this time with the notes (stop as often as needed)
Type in your thoughtful responses in the boxes provided
Turn it in before MARCH 1 for credit
Be in my room on March 1 after school to discuss
(Parts 1-5 only give ½ credit; you will need to be a participant in room A1 on March 1 to get full credit)
QUESTIONS
Presented by Tim the Enchanter
Themes:
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Historical inaccuracies
o It is supposed to be 932 AD in the movie. What is wrong with the costumes?
o Why are castles and the concept of a feudalistic society a clear sign of incongruity?
Even though the year for Arthur is historically correct, anglo saxon era, Arthur and his men are dressed
in Crusades garb for familiarity rather than Viking or Roman gear. The castles came after 1066.

chivalry/heroism
o In the Middle Ages the Knight (esp. the legendary Arthurian Knights) were deemed to
represent the height of chivalry (a knight’s code of honor and conduct) and heroism.
How does the movie mock this idealistic, yet archaic belief?
Monty Python mocks this chivalry and heroism by presenting Arthur’s knights as the antitheses of their
medieval counterparts.
 Lancelot’s excessive violence and stupidity, even his ignorance of his own
“idiom,” mocks the heroic ideals of strength and courage.
 Galahad’s experience at Castle Anthrax is especially funny both because
Galahad was supposed to be the only celibate knight in Arthur’s court and
because even the more promiscuous knights would never have had lucked out
and found a castle full of women b/t the ages of 16 and 19 ½ (except maybe
Gawain – who in this film is killed by the Killer Rabbit).
 In medieval times, the perfect man was strong, an expert warrior, and skilled at
horsemanship. In the movie, King Arthur and his knights often ran away from a
fight.
 A knight’s character was characterized by bravery, humility, loyalty, and
manners. In the movie, Sir Galahad the Chaste is seduced by women and has to
be pulled away from them by the other knights.
 Violence
o What makes violence funny? How does Python make us laugh at a limbless knight or at
slaughtered wedding guests?
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supernatural
o What role do the Knights of Ni, the Three headed knight, the sorcerer Tim and the
vicious killer Rabbit represent in Arthurian legends?
Knights of Ni & the 3 headed knight are spirits of the forest, Tim is Merlin and the concept of Paganism,
the Rabbit represents the supernatural unknown.

Futility
o Why will this Arthur not find the grail? What message does this pose towards England?
Arthur will never find the grail; we know this to be true b/c he didn’t find in the medieval legend and b/c
Python’s Arthur is a bumbling idiot. His search is in vain; the futility of the search is highlighted by the
multiple fake grails scattered throughout this film.

the government
o Near the opening of the film, King Arthur comes into contact with a peasant couple who
have some ideas about government that are not to his taste. What is the satiric comedy
found in this scene with Arthur and the peasant Dennis?
Arthur, becoming annoyed, announces his position as their King to elicit their respect. The King then
backs up his claim to their obedience with the story of his gaining of Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake,
and his divine right to rule. The responses of the peasants come straight from immensely influential
figures such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. This is the struggle between the ideal of an
absolute monarch and the will of the people.
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religion/Christianity
o What’s wrong with the scene depicting the monks practicing asceticism (the practice of
mortifying the flesh to be closer to God; note the monks banging themselves on their
heads while chanting, “Pie Jesu domine, donna eis requiem,” which means “Holy Lord
Jesus, grant us peace”)?
o What message is provided when the church leaders provide the knights with the Holy
Hand Grenade of Antioch, which destroys the mighty Killer Rabbit.
Monks do they seem oblivious to the plight of the common villagers, they smack a board on their
forehead in rhythm to the chant. This is perhaps in reference to the practice of harming oneself as a
display of piety used by some orders of medieval monks, but rather in the film it comes off as an insult in
displaying the stubbornness of the Church.
Brother Maynard, the leader of the priests, spouts nonsense from his texts in relation to the use of the
weapon. This shows how the church justifies the use of violence for their own purposes, especially to
eliminate “paganistic” beliefs – Rabbit represents the supernatural being of the forest.

Reality / Fantasy
o Why does the movie have modern day events intrude upon Arthur’s realm?
o Arthur’s tale has always been in question as to its veracity. Where do we see
characters questioning Arthur’s very reality in the medieval world?
Modern day reality frequently intrudes into Arthur’s realm, calling into question the very reality of the
medieval world. Further some of the characters in Arthur’s story question the reality of his situation:
he is not really riding a horse, point out the guards; anyone can own a grail according to the French
and the seductresses at castle Anthrax. All of these disconnects with reality beg the question: is King
Arthur the great hero of myth and legend or is he just a homicidal loony?
Apolinario’s Final Notes
Monty Python is considered both parody and satire.
A parody imitates another work to make fun of it or to ridicule it. Synonyms include caricature, travesty,
skit, satire, farce, and spoof.
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Parodies are not done to be serious; instead they are for laughs.
The original work is not damaged by the parody, but is just used for comedy. An example of
parody is the work of Weird Al, where he changes words around in famous songs for
amusement.
A satire attempts to make a point when it imitates another work.
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It uses humor to influence people’s opinions or to try and change something.
Satire is usually funny or at least clever; but, its main objective is to criticize something or
someone.
Satire may criticize the attitudes of people or an industry in general. An example of political
satire would be the works of Stephen Colbert, where the intent is to point out certain things
that are wrong or need to be changed.
Thus, while both parody and satire imitate and/or make fun or another work, like a play, piece of
literature, movie, or song, there are some differences. Both of them are humorous; but, the main
difference is the intent of the imitation. A parody is done for fun and entertainment whereas a satire
may be entertaining, but makes a point.