King Arthur: The History and Story of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

Summary

This video delves into the legendary tale of King Arthur, exploring the origins and evolution of the story from its roots in Celtic poetry to its development by various authors. Key figures like Geoffrey of Monmouth, who penned 'Historia Regum Britanniae,' and Sir Thomas Mallory, who compiled the comprehensive 'Le Morte d'Arthur,' are highlighted. The script also touches on the influence of French poet Chrétien de Troyes and Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, emphasizing the enduring themes of chivalry, love, and the quest for the Holy Grail.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The legend of King Arthur has its roots in Celtic poetry during the time of the Saxon invasion of Britain around 400 CE.
• 🤴 The earliest historical reference to Arthur as a hero comes from the ninth century, with the Welsh poem 'Marwnad Cattgwyn'.
• 📚 Geoffrey of Monmouth is credited as the 'father of the Arthurian legend', having created a comprehensive story in his 'Historia Regum Britanniae' in the 12th century.
• 🧙 Merlin, a key character in the legend, was transformed by Geoffrey of Monmouth from a sorcerer into a significant figure in Arthur's lineage and rise to power.
• ⚔️ Arthur's battles against the Saxons, including the pivotal Battle of Baden Hill, are central to the early development of his heroic narrative.
• 🗡 Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur, was originally named Caliburn in earlier texts and became known as Excalibur after translations and adaptations.
• 🪑 The concept of the Round Table, symbolizing equality among knights, was introduced by Wace, a French writer, and further developed by later authors.
• 🥂 The story of Lancelot, Guinevere, and the love triangle involving Arthur was a significant addition to the legend, emphasizing themes of courtly love.
• 🛕 The Vulgate Cycle and later works Christianized the legend, turning the Grail into a holy relic associated with Christ's Last Supper and integrating themes of sin and redemption.
• 📖 Sir Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur' compiled and expanded upon previous works, creating a cohesive narrative that became the foundation for modern Arthurian literature.
• 🎭 Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' revitalized interest in the legend during the Victorian era, influencing subsequent retellings and portrayals of King Arthur.

Q & A

What is the origin of King Arthur's story?

The earliest roots of King Arthur's story come from Celtic poetry during the time of the Saxon invasion of Britain, around 400 CE, when a British leader named Ambrosius Aurelianis defended the land against the Saxons.

Who is credited with the creation of the Arthurian legend as we know it today?

Sir Thomas Mallory is recognized as the author of the legend as he created the most comprehensive version of the story in 'Le Morte d'Arthur', weaving all previous tales into a single narrative.

What significant contribution did Geoffrey of Monmouth make to the Arthurian legend?

Geoffrey of Monmouth is considered the father of the Arthurian legend. He wrote 'Historia Regum Britanniae', which pieced together bits of poetry and myth about Arthur, elevating him to an unforgettable legend.

What is the significance of the Round Table introduced by Wace?

The Round Table introduced the concept of equality to the story, showing Arthur as a king who cared more about people's merits instead of social class, with no one seated at the head or foot of the table.

How did the character of Merlin evolve over time?

Merlin evolved from a mysterious sorcerer in early tales to an omniscient figure and antichrist in later works, such as those by Robert de Boron, who provided Merlin with a Christianized backstory.

What is the Grail's significance in the Arthurian legend?

The Grail, initially a dish with pagan connotations, was transformed into the Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, becoming a central quest item in the legend.

Which character is known for the first mention of the 'sword in the anvil' motif?

The motif of the 'sword in the anvil', which later became the 'sword in the stone', was first mentioned in the story 'Merlin' by Robert de Boron.

What themes are explored in the love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere?

The love triangle explores themes of courtly love, including the ennobling power of love and the idea that love is a desire never to be fulfilled, within the chivalric bounds of the time.

How did the story of Percival evolve in the Arthurian legend?

Perceval's story evolved to depict him as a country boy on a chivalric quest for the Grail, embodying the themes of courtly love and chivalry, and ultimately becoming a knight.

What is the significance of the character Galahad in the quest for the Grail?

Galahad, introduced in the Vulgate Cycle, is significant as he embodies the virtues of his father Lancelot but without the sin of adultery, making him worthy to accomplish the quest of finding the Grail.

How did Alfred, Lord Tennyson influence the modern perception of the Arthurian legend?

Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' revived interest in the Arthurian legend during the Victorian era and became the main influence for Arthurian stories from the 1850s onwards, shaping the modern perception of the legend.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Origins of King Arthur's Legend

The script begins by introducing the legendary figures and tales associated with King Arthur, such as Camelot, Excalibur, Merlin, Lancelot, Guinevere, and the Holy Grail. It then delves into the historical roots of these stories, tracing them back to Celtic poetry during the Saxon invasion of Britain around 400 CE. The narrative discusses how a British leader, Ambrosius Aurelianis, later known as Arthur, emerged to defend against invaders. The script highlights the work of Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century, who synthesized various sources and myths to create the enduring legend of King Arthur, including Arthur's lineage, his rise to kingship at 15, his battles against the Saxons, and his quest to conquer Europe and avenge Rome's oppression of Britain.

05:00

🗡 Development of Arthurian Legend and the Round Table

This paragraph explores the evolution of the Arthurian legend through various authors and their contributions. It mentions Robert Wace, who added the concept of the Round Table to symbolize equality among knights, and the changes in Arthur's sword's name from Caliburn to Excalibur. The script also discusses the transformation of the Grail from a pagan dish to the Christian Holy Grail by Robert de Boron. The introduction of the sword in the anvil and the character Merlin's backstory are also highlighted. The paragraph further elaborates on the development of the love story between Lancelot and Guinevere, the character of Sir Lancelot, and the influence of French poet Chrétien de Troyes, who contributed courtly love and chivalry to the legend.

10:01

🛡 The Quest for the Grail and the Transformation of Arthurian Characters

The script continues with the story of Percival's quest for the Holy Grail and the introduction of the character Galahad, who is deemed worthy of finding the Grail due to his purity. It discusses the Vulgate Cycle, which further Christianized the legend, and the Morte Arthur, which portrays Lancelot's repentance and his struggle with unworthiness due to his love affair with Guinevere. The paragraph also covers the dichotomy between courtly love and Christian values, the transformation of Arthur from a pagan warrior to a Christian king, and the ultimate redemption of Lancelot in the Mort Artu.

15:02

📚 The Legacy of King Arthur in Literature and Culture

The final paragraph summarizes the influence of Sir Thomas Mallory and Alfred Lord Tennyson on the modern understanding of the Arthurian legend. It explains how Mallory's compilation and editing of previous works created a cohesive narrative that has become the foundation for contemporary retellings. Tennyson's Idylls of the King are credited with reviving interest in the legend and establishing Arthur as an idealized hero. The script concludes by reflecting on the enduring appeal of the legend, its themes of good triumphing over evil, and its inspirational message. It invites viewers to share their favorite characters and stories from the Arthurian canon and to support the World History Encyclopedia for more content.

Keywords

💡King Arthur

King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. In the video, Arthur is portrayed as a heroic figure central to the narrative, with his story evolving from a British leader to a legendary king through various retellings and adaptations.

💡Excalibur

Excalibur is the renowned sword of King Arthur, often associated with the legendary inscribing of the words 'Take me up, O mighty one' on the blade. In the script, Excalibur symbolizes Arthur's authority and his divine right to rule, with its origins traced back to earlier forms like Caliburn and Chaliburn.

💡Merlin

Merlin is a legendary figure best known as an enchanter or wizard in Arthurian legend. The script describes Merlin as a mysterious sorcerer who plays a pivotal role in Arthur's conception and rise to power, embodying the magical elements of the Arthurian tales.

💡Lancelot

Lancelot is one of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, often portrayed as the greatest of Arthur's knights. The script highlights the love triangle between Lancelot, Arthur, and Guinevere, which is central to the narrative and the theme of courtly love.

💡Guinevere

Guinevere, also known as Gwenevere, is King Arthur's wife in the legend. In the video, her character is deeply involved in the story's emotional core, particularly through her adulterous affair with Lancelot, which leads to the downfall of Camelot.

💡Holy Grail

The Holy Grail is a recurring motif in Arthurian literature, often depicted as the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, and the quest for the Grail is a central theme in the script. It symbolizes the spiritual journey and the search for divine grace and purity.

💡Round Table

The Round Table is a symbol of King Arthur's court, where all knights were equal and seated without hierarchy. The script mentions the introduction of the Round Table by Wace, emphasizing the theme of equality and camaraderie among Arthur's knights.

💡Jeffrey of Monmouth

Jeffrey of Monmouth is credited as the father of the Arthurian legend in the script. His work 'Historia Regum Britanniae' (History of the Kings of Britain) was instrumental in establishing Arthur as a legendary figure, combining various myths and historical references into a cohesive narrative.

💡Chretien de Troyes

Chretien de Troyes was a 12th-century French poet who contributed significantly to the Arthurian legend by adding elements of courtly love and chivalry. The script highlights his works 'Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart' and 'Perceval' as foundational texts that expanded the legend's themes and characters.

💡Sir Thomas Malory

Sir Thomas Malory is recognized in the script as the compiler and author of 'Le Morte d'Arthur,' a work that synthesized previous Arthurian tales into a comprehensive narrative. His version of the legend is considered the foundation for modern retellings and has had a profound influence on the portrayal of Arthur and his knights.

💡Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, a Victorian-era poet, is noted in the script for his 'Idylls of the King,' a series of poems that revived interest in the Arthurian legend and established a model for the ideal hero and king. Tennyson's work is seen as a significant influence on the legend's modern perception.

Highlights

The legendary figures and stories associated with King Arthur have a rich history rooted in Celtic poetry and the Saxon invasion of Britain.

The earliest mention of a British leader who fought against the Saxons is found in the writings of historians from the 9th century.

Geoffrey of Monmouth is credited with creating the enduring legend of King Arthur through his 'Historia Regum Britanniae' in the 12th century.

Arthur's story was embellished with elements of magic and chivalry, including the introduction of Merlin and the concept of the Round Table.

The character of Lancelot and the love triangle involving Guinevere were developed by French poet Chrétien de Troyes, adding the theme of courtly love.

The quest for the Holy Grail was introduced as a central theme in the Arthurian legend, symbolizing a spiritual journey.

The Vulgate Cycle and Sir Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur' further Christianized the legend, integrating the Holy Grail with the Last Supper.

The story of King Arthur evolved to reflect the tension between courtly love and Christian values, particularly in the portrayal of Lancelot.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' revived interest in the Arthurian legend during the Victorian era, influencing modern retellings.

The legend of King Arthur represents the triumph of good over evil, order over chaos, and hope over despair.

The development of the Arthurian legend is a collaborative effort of many authors and poets over centuries.

The legend's enduring popularity is due to its themes of heroism, chivalry, and the pursuit of a higher moral code.

The story of King Arthur has inspired countless retellings and reimaginings in various forms of literature and media.

The historical basis of King Arthur's existence remains uncertain, but his legend has come to symbolize ideals of leadership and virtue.

The legend's adaptability and cultural significance continue to make it a relevant and compelling narrative in modern times.

Transcripts

king arthur camelot excalibur merlin

lancelot guinevere and the holy grail

these well-known figures and objects and

their adventures quests and love stories

are legendary but where did the stories

come from and who wrote the legend as we

know it today stick around to learn all

about the long history

of king arthur

[Music]

hello and welcome to world history

encyclopedia

my name is kelly and today we're going

to have a look

into the legendary story of king arthur

and his knights of the round table

don't forget the easiest way to support

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[Music]

before we get into the exciting tales of

king arthur

let's have a look at the history of his

tales and how they developed into the

stories we are familiar with

arthur's story has its earliest roots in

celtic poetry from the time of the saxon

invasion of britain

when the romans left britain in around

400 ce

they left the people there helpless

against invaders namely the picts and

the scots

the saxons agreed to come and helped

fight against the picks and the scots

but then decided to stay and continually

looted and sacked the region

it was at this time that a british

leader appeared to defend the land

against the saxons he rallied his men

and defeated the saxons at the battle of

baden hill

in around 500 ce this hero was called

ambrosius aurelianis by the historians

gildas ambidi

and arthur by neness who was writing in

the ninth century

later than gildas and beede before his

mention in nenius's work

arthur was mentioned by name as a great

hero in the welsh poem

eager dodden which was believed to have

been written shortly after the battle of

catraith

in 600 ce since it's an elegy for the

warriors who fell there

other than mentioning that arthur was a

great warrior

the e godotn doesn't say anything else

about him

and so when jeffrey of monmouth was

writing his historia regime britannia

or history of the kings of britain in

the 12th century

he pieced together bits of poetry and

myth of arthur

in addition to some creative lessons and

created a story

which would elevate arthur to an

unforgettable legend

at the time jeffrey was writing his

history in the loosest possible sense of

that term

arthur was already considered a great

king

although he was probably a military

leader rather than a king

but that didn't quite fit the story

jeffrey wanted to tell

jeffrey wrote in latin and finished his

historia regime brittanier in around

1136

establishing him as the father of the

arthurian legend jeffrey tells the

history of king arthur like this

uther pendragon was in love with a woman

named aguerner but a guerner

who loved uther back was married to

gorlois the duke of cornwall

uther and gorloyce were fighting the war

over agana

and during this time merlin who was a

mysterious sorcerer

transfilmed uther to look like girloise

so he could sneak past

enemy lines and then sleep with the

gurner which brought arthur into the

world

during the battle gorlois dies and uther

and ugerna get to stay together and they

have another child a daughter named anna

when uther is poisoned by enemy saxons

and dies

arthur becomes king at the age of 15.

because all the saxons who have heard of

uther's death have poured into northern

britain

arthur lays siege to the city of york in

retaliation

and he goes up against the saxons in a

bunch of battles

he is depicted as fearless in battle and

a skilled leader and tactician

and at the battle of baden hill arthur

defeated the saxons

arthur then marries the noblewoman

guinevere and then he goes about

conquering as much of europe as possible

including norway denmark and gaul the

roman emperor at this time was lucius

tiberius

and when he calls arthur a tyrant arthur

decides to rally his troops

and go to battle for vengeance against

rome for their former enslavement of

britain

before departing arthur leaves the

defense of britain to his queen

guinevere and his nephew mordred in

battle the brother of mordred gawain

is depicted as rash defiant and

hot-headed which are characteristics

which stick with the character

throughout the development of the

arthurian legends

during the fight against rome lucius is

killed by an

unknown hand and the britons win arthur

has taken revenge for their oppression

and the romans have brought their

failure on themselves

arthur never actually gets to rome

though because on his way

he hears about how mordred has seized

the crown for himself

and is having an adulterous affair with

gwynevere so he absolutely has to return

home

on the way back to british lands gawain

is killed meanwhile mordred has been

gathering forces and has ended up with

allies from britain's enemies

including the saxons the picks the scots

and the irish

arthur and mordred meet in camelon and

mordred is killed although not specified

as by arthur

and arthur is mortally wounded and

carried off to avalon

although the noble knights are killed

and arthur himself finally falls

their sacrifice restores order to the

land as good

triumphs over evil this theme became the

underlying message of hope

and redemption in the developments of

the legend after jeffrey

by around 1160 jeffrey's work had

already been translated into french by

robert weiss of normandy

waste was writing in french and composed

his roman dubroot in around

1155. didn't really make many additions

or changes to geoffrey's tale

but wrote it in the french vernacular

which made it more accessible for

readers

although he doesn't alter the story much

waste is responsible for the addition of

the concept of the round table

so arthur and all his knights or guests

would be seated the same

with no one at the head or foot of the

table and so no special seat of honor

the round table introduced the concept

of equality to the story

showing arthur as a king who cared more

about people's merits instead of social

class

wace also changed the name of arthur's

sword from caliburn to chaliburn

so when it was translated into english

it became known as

excalibur his small changes have carried

through

all the developments and additions to

the legend up until the modern day

next we have robert de barron who wrote

two romances known as merlin and joseph

of aramathia

and he potentially wrote a third called

percival which only survives as an

edited prose version written later

in bronze tale he turned the grail from

a dish with pagan connotations to the

grail as a cup or chalice that we are

familiar with today

and makes it explicit that the grail was

the cup used by jesus christ

at the last supper baron does not

however introduce the quest for the

grail

that would come later his story merlin

is the first time that the motif of the

sword in the stone

which was actually initially a sword in

the anvil but it just doesn't have the

same ring to it does it

is mentioned in around 1200. he also

christianized merlin by giving him a

backstory

and turning him from a mysterious

sorcerer to an omniscient foiled

antichrist who acted as a guide for

arthur

through his childhood and early

adulthood we also have the poet barrow

who was writing in the 12th century and

developed the roman de tristan

which is known in english as tristan and

assault which is another adulterous love

story and chivalric romance

which was developed from cretienne

another version of this tale is written

by thomas of britain

in the 12th century which only exists in

eight fragments and around three

thousand lines

[Music]

the next stop in the history of the

arthurian legends was to add some

romance to the tales

and that was done by the french poet

cretien de trois

craigtienne was responsible for the

additions of courtly love and chivalry

the quest for the grail and the

character of sir lancelot

it is thanks to kuratien that we have

the love triangle between arthur

lancelot and gwynevere kretzien was

writing in france during the latter half

of the 12th century

and wrote a total of five arthurian

romances

but the ones we're going to take a look

at are la lancelot chevalier de la

charae

or lancelot the knight of the cart and

percival

lancelot the knight of the cart is the

first time lancelot is mentioned and the

story goes a bit like this

an evil knight by the name of malegiant

threatens arthur and tricks arthur into

letting him abduct gwynevere

after gwynevere is taken arthur lets

gawain pursue them

on his travels gawain runs into a night

we don't know at the time but it's

lancelot

who has ridden his horse to death

lancelot borrows a horse from gawain and

joins in the search for guinevere

when lancelot wears this horse out as

well he encounters a dwarf

who says he will tell lancelot where

gwenevere is

if he gets in the cart which is a very

dishonorable way to travel if you're a

knight

but lancelot gets in the cart and gawain

who refuses to get in

follows on his horse they encounter many

obstacles on their journey

and after the two nights split up

lancelot goes through a bunch of trials

eventually he finds gwynevere in the

castle of gore and rescues her from

allegiant

and they have a passionate night

together gwynevere though

refuses to leave with lancelot when she

sees that he's travelled in a cart

lancelot agrees to fight malegent in a

year's time to defend gwynevere's honor

and when he goes to fight in the

tournament guinevere asks him to lose in

order

to prove his love but when he starts to

lose

she changes her mind and asks him to win

instead

and so he wins during that year lancelot

was held in a prison

so after the tournament he is returned

to the prison but is freed by

a woman who he had saved from a

kidnapping during his many trials on his

way to find gwynevere

who actually ends up being my legion's

sister

lancelot battles with malaysian finally

and after cutting off malignant arm

he beheads him lancelot and guinevere

timidly embrace

since they're in public and people

cannot know of their affair

and the story ends this story emphasizes

the concepts of courtly love

which were very prevalent in france at

the time they were written

which includes concepts such as marriage

is no real excuse for not loving

love is desire never to be fulfilled and

the ennobling power of love

and overall makes the love affair

between lancelot and gwynevere

not a bad thing at all but within the

chivalric bounds of courtly love

which ultimately makes lancelot more

chivalrous

the second story by kretzienne we're

going to look at is the unfinished tale

of percival this tale depicts percival a

country boy who embarks on a chivalry

quest with gawain for the grail

and ultimately becomes a knight percival

heads out with gawain and they have a

number of adventures

and at some point percival starts

wondering what's become of his mother

and so he heads off to find her on his

way he meets two men and one of them has

been wounded

they send him to the nearby castle where

the king

who has been maimed cannot rise and

bequeaths him with a sword

this king is known as the fishing king

while they speak

percival witnesses a procession with a

squire holding a bleeding lance

a maiden holding a silver bowl and

another maiden

holding a vessel which is known as the

grail

percival was taught not to ask too many

questions so he kept them to himself

and the next morning the castle was

empty he learns from a weeping maiden

that his host was the fisher king

and if he had only asked about the grail

the wounded king

would have been healed he then has to go

on a bunch of quests

to fix his mistake or else the kingdom

of the fisher king

will remain barren due to the king's

injury this is a pagan belief

that the fertility of the land is equal

to the fertility of the ruler

the tale is unfinished so we do not know

what kretiene had in mind

for the end of percival's tale

from there more and more french british

celtic and german poets

added to the stories of arthur notably

by wolfram von eschenbach

a german poet who wrote parsival as an

adaptation of cretiens percival

wolfram really developed the concept of

the quest and wrote a story where

percival went on a quest for the grail

without turning away from a shiverick

life his story is both an arthurian

romance and a quest for the grail

and retains the pagan and magical

origins of the story and doesn't

incorporate priests or chapels or

clerics

another german writer was gottfried von

strasberg

who just like wolfram developed a middle

high german tale but this was an

arthurian romance titled tristan

which was left unfinished

[Music]

coming to the early 1200s we get to the

vulgate cycle which takes it upon itself

to adopt the christianized backstory

of merlin and then highly christianized

the rest of the legend

with key changes being adding the holy

part to the holy grail

which is now firmly associated with the

cup of jesus christ at the last supper

and the transformation of arthur from a

pagan warrior chief

to a christian king in this version of

arthur's life and death story he didn't

know he was uther's son in heir

and so to prove his birthright he had to

pull the sword out of the stone wait

note it's still an anvil at this point

the story of lancelot de luck doesn't

follow the same beliefs that chivalric

love makes adulterous love affairs okay

and so punishment for cheating and

adulterous behavior is introduced

and basically meant that lancelot was

unworthy to find the grail

because of his love affair with

gwynevere instead the hero of this tale

is lancelot's son

galahad whose mother was elaine and had

to literally disguise herself

as gwynevere so that lancelot would

sleep with her

galahad inherits the virtues of his

father and accomplishes the quest

of finding the grail which is something

that lancelot

could have done if he hadn't sinned it's

worth noting that prior to the vulgate

cycle

galahad didn't exist and was introduced

specifically for this development

of the legend in the tale known as quest

lancelot actually repents his sins with

gwynevere

and although he knows he's unworthy of

finding the grail he still gives it a

crack anyway

he actually gets a glimpse of it in the

grail castle before being cast out and

called unworthy

in this story lancelot is more of a

relatable character

and depicted as a good man who still

tries to find the grail even though he

ultimately fails

because of his previous mistakes finally

there's the mort art

in which lancelot actually wins

salvation and redemption

after embarking on a quest lancelot

destroys the evil sons of mordred

but he loses his king and the woman he

loves and so he spends the rest of his

life as a holy man

and goes to heaven after he dies these

stories show the dichotomy between

courtly love where an affair was no big

deal and the christian value of fidelity

to one spouse

in a way that earlier versions did not

[Music]

then you've got thomas mallory writing

in english much

later in the 15th century who builds on

the works of his predecessors to produce

what is considered the foundation for

the english texts

of the legends of king arthur sir thomas

mallory compiled

edited revised and added to the legend

of king arthur

in a book known as le morte de arthur or

death of arthur

thomas mallory's additions to the

already long and rich history of arthur

created what would become the foundation

of the modern depictions

and retellings

finally we have alfred lord tennyson who

was writing during the victorian era in

the 1800s and it was his idols of the

king which revived interest in the

arthurian legend

and became the main influence for

arthurian stories from around 1850

onwards

[Music]

so now that we've answered the question

where did the stories come from

it's time to answer the other one who

wrote the legend as we know it today

the legend of king arthur as it is known

in the present is the result of all

these authors works of course

but mainly mallories and tennysons

although jeffrey of monmouth

is recognised as the father of the

arthurian legend

his story lacks many of the most famous

motifs of the story

mallory drew upon all the earlier

writers to create his mort d'arta

as an original work which weaves all the

previous tales into a single cohesive

narrative

mallory's work which gave world culture

the concepts

of the quest for the grail the round

table where all are equal

and the image of the noble knight who

fights for justice

instead of power might actually have

been lost

however if it were not for tennyson

tennyson's idols of the king

not only revived interest in the story

but made arthur a national and then

international model for the ideal hero

king

tennyson's work is also understood as

original and was the inspiration for

later retellings

but sir thomas mallory is recognized as

the author of the legend

as he was the first to create the most

comprehensive version

of the story the story of arthur has

developed and transformed through the

years and has not only become one of the

most

popular legends of all time but has

inspired

countless retellings and reimaginings of

the stories

arthur himself often plays a minor role

in many of the most famous stories

but it's always understood he is the

reason the knights able to perform the

great feats that they do

arthur is the stabilizing force in a

world of chaos who inspires the best in

others to do the same whether arthur was

ever a chief or a king

or if he or any of the other world

famous characters

actually ever existed in some form at

all is hard to know for sure

but that is not as important as what the

legend has come to mean to people

the legend of king arthur continues to

be among the most popular

in world literature because it's

ultimately the story of the triumph of

good over evil

order over chaos and hope over despair

who is your favorite arthurian character

and why or your favorite story let us

know

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