King Arthur Investigation
Description: To identify the characters, examine the symbols, themes and morals associated with
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
Task one: Identify the main characters
Task two: the knights and the chivalry code //our present world
Task Three: Symbolism, what does it all mean?
You will apply your knowledge of symbolism and investigate the three main symbols of King Arthur's
Legend. Using the links below, answer the questions provided to you on your handout #3
The Round Table
http://www.kingarthursknights.com/structures/roundtable.asp
http://www.arthurian-legend.com/more-about/more-about-arthur-3.php
Excalibur
http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/excalibur.html
Holy Grail
http://www.kingarthursknights.com/items/grail.asp
Task four : The importance of the different places with Arthurian Connections.
HANDOUT FOR TASK #3
Symbol One: The Round Table
1. What was the purpose to the Round Table?
2. Why was the Round Table, Round?
3. Who sat at this table?
Symbol Two: Excalibur the Sword
4. Who gave Excalibur to King Arthur?
5. What was a sword of this type intended to symbolize?
6. Why did Merlin give him the sword?
Symbol Three: Holy Grail
7. What was the holy grail?
8. What does the term, “grail” mean?
9. What did the Holy Grail mean to King Arthur and his men?
REFLECTION:
Based upon the information you discovered and the qualities that King Arthur valued, what do you
believe each item represented or symbolized?
The Round Table symbolized ____________________
Excalibur symbolized __________________________
The Holy Grail symbolized______________________
King Arthur Project Help:Following are some recommended links to broaden your
knowledge of the subjects we are learning:
http://www.britannia.com/history/h12.html
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Arthurian+legend
Arthurian Characters (Task 1)
Guinevere - Arthur's wayward wife
Merlin - King Arthur's magician
Ambrosius Aurelianus - Some say he's Arthur
Joseph of Arimathea - Biblical character in England?
Uther Pendragon - Arthur's legendary father
Ygerna - Arthur's legendary mother
Nimue - The Lady of the Lake
Vortigern - Sponsor of the Saxons
Arthur’s knights: (Task 2)
King Arthur's Knights - King Arthur's Chivalric Order.
More websites:
http://www.kingarthursknights.com/knights/
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm
Aspects of the Arthurian Legend (Task 3)
Camelot - King Arthur's Magnificent Court.
Excalibur - Arthur's famous sword.
The Holy Grail - The most mystical of objects.
The Round Table - World's most famous table!
Places with Arthurian Connections (Task 4)
Cadbury Castle - Was this Camelot?
Magical Glastonbury - by Geoffrey Ashe
Glastonbury Abbey - and the legends of King Arthur & Joseph of Arimathea
Special Nature of Glastonbury
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Glastonbury+Tor
http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/student_orgs/arthurian_legend/england/sites/
Arthur’s cross: http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/cross.html
Conclusion
A. Why do you think society enjoys this story so much?
1. What appeals to so many people? Provide an example from the story to support your answer.