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True or false: It is known for a fact that King Arthur actually existed
false
What do scholars believe about King Arthur?
that he was real but myths were built around him
How did Tudors in the Renaissance justify their reign?
by tracing their lineage back to King Arthur
Where was King Arthur supposedly born?
Cornwall
Where are stories about King Arthur taken from?
Gregory of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (1138)
What idea was King Arthur against?
“might makes right”; essentially that just because you have the power to do it doesn't mean it’s right
What did King Arthur try to do during his reign?
make Britain more civilized and protect it from tyranny
Who founded the Round Table?
Who wrote the Code of Chivalry?
King Arthur
What set of rules did the Round Table follow?
the Code of Chivalry
What did the Round Table do?
undertake dangerous quests and protect ladies and damsels
Who are some of the most famous knights of the Round Table?
Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad
When were the tales of the Arthurian romance told?
6th century
Who were the Arthurian romance tales appropriated by?
storytellers
What are characteristics of Arthurian romance?
adventure, courtly love, chivalry, history, myth, magic
True or false: Tales of Arthurian romance are far-fetched and open to interpretation
true
How were stories of Arthurian romance first told?
as part of oral tradition
What type of English did writers later begin writing tales of Arthurian romance in?
Middle English
Who wrote Sir “Gawain and the Green Knight”?
the Pearl poet
What happens in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?
a magical creature challenges Arthur’s men to a dangerous task and Sir Gawain agrees to complete the task
Where does “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” begin and end?
King Arthur’s castle
Who does “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” involve?
the knights of the Round Table
True or false: The real name of the Pearl poet is unknown
true
Where was the Pearl poet from?
the English midlands
Who was the Pearl poet a contemporary of?
Chaucer
When did the Pearl poet write?
in the late 14th century in Middle English
Who was Simon Armitage?
English poet and playwright
What is Simon Armitage’s connection to “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?
he translated it from Middle English
Step 1 of a Hero’s Journey
hero receives call to adventure
Step 2 of a Hero’s Journey
hero leaves their ordinary world
Step 3 of a Hero’s Journey
hero faces trials, ordeals and crisis
Step 4 of a Hero’s Journey
hero comes close to death
Step 5 of a Hero’s Journey
hero obtains treasure
Step 6 of a Hero’s Journey
hero returns to ordinary world
Step 7 of a Hero’s Journey
hero has changed/improved
When/where were chivalric romances popular?
Medieval Europe
What do chivalric romances involve?
a “knight errant”
What are characteristics of chivalric romances?
knight in search of adventures to prove himself and rescues “damsels in distress”
heroes and villains sometimes have superhuman abilities
heroes battle monsters and giants
What are the knightly virtues?
liberality
glory
courtesy
honor
unselfishness
bravery
good faith
pride
loyalty
Who is Queen Guinevere?
the wife of King Arthur
How is Queen Guinevere portrayed?
as beautiful but weak and opportunistic
Who does Queen Guinevere later fall in love with?
Lancelot
What is Queen Guinevere sentenced to?
being burned at the stake
Who is Morgana Le Fay?
antagonist to Arthur and Guinevere
What does the name Morgana Le Fay mean?
wood nymph fairy
What is Morgana Le Fay known as?
sorceress, priestess, witch, healer and shapeshifter
What is Morgana Le Fay’s connection to King Arthur?
she is his half-sister
True or false: Morgana Le Fay plays a minor role in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
false
How is Sir Gawain related to King Arthur and Morgana Le Fay?
he is their nephew
What does Sir Gawain appear in?
all major Arthurian tales
How does Sir Gawain change from story to story?
his personality and demeanor varies
True or false: Sir Gawain plays a supporting role in the quest for the Holy Grail
true
What is alliteration?
the use of repetitive consonant sounds in a line
What is alliteration adapted to?
old English meter
What was the original purpose of alliteration?
to help the “singers” of the story to remember the lines
How does alliteration help enhance a story?
it increases emotional draw to/interest in the story and makes it more poetic
When did the French language/style of writing begin influencing English writing?
after the French Normans invaded England in 1066
What did the French language emphasize?
beginning syllables and end rhymes
What is the result of French influence on “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?
a text heavily relying on alliteration, rhyme, and stanza structure
What is the bob and wheel structure in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?
it consists of 1 line of 2 syllables and a quatrain
What is the purpose of the bob and wheel structure in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?
it provides commentary, summarizes, transitions from one line to the next, and creates a moment of suspense
What are the parts “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is divided into and how many are there?
fitts; 4
What are the plotlines of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”?
the beheading game
the exchanging of winnings
Gawain’s temptation
Morgana’s hatred of Camelot
Troy
ancient city in Turkey
Aeneas
mythical hero during Trojan War
Romulus
founder/first king of Rome
Felix Brutus
descendant of Aeneas
joust
a fight, often for entertainment
dais
throne
ebullience
cheerfulness
stalwarts
loayl and reliable supporter
warbled
bird singing
brawn
physical strength
emblazoned
adorned, inscribed with
verdant
green
vestments
gear/clothing
fettle
condition
burnished
polished
hauberk
piece of armor
bairns
babies
skittled
move sideways quickly
scuppered
ruined, thwarted
undaunted
not afraid or willing to give up
smite
to strike down
reap what you sow
get what you put forth
How does the poem begin?
with a brief mythological account of how Britain was founded
Who founded Rome?
Romulus
Who founded Tuscany?
Ticius
Who founded Britain?
Brutus
When and where does the poem begin?
Christmastime at King Arthur’s castle
How long have the lords and ladies been feasting?
15 days
What is going on at when the poem begins?
Camelot’s lords and ladies are playing games and exchanging gifts to celebrate New Year’s
Why doesn’t Arthur eat dinner?
he refuses to begin eating until he hears a marvelous story
Who is Guinevere sitting next to?
Gawain
What 2 items does the Green Knight hold?
a holly bob and a green and gold axe
What colors is the Green Knight wearing?
green and gold
What is the first thing the Green Knight does?
demand to see the person in charge (King Arthur)
How does Arthur respond to the Green Knight?
he invites him to join the feast and tell his tale
What “game” does the Green Knight propose?
someone will strike the Green Knight with his own axe, then a year and a day later they seek him out and allow him to strike them back
Why does the Green Knight put forth this challenge?
the knights of the Round Table have a reputation of being brave and heroic and virtuous and he wants them to prove it
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Flashcard (65)