what is the story of king arthur

The Story of King Arthur

and His Knights is a 1903 children's novel by the American illustrator and writer Howard Pyle. The book contains a compilation of various stories, adapted by Pyle, regarding the legendary King Arthur of Britain and select Knights of the Round Table.

Full Answer

Was there a real King Arthur?

Though Arthur may not have been a real person, his mythic power would only grow stronger as the centuries passed. English rulers from Henry VIII to Queen Victoria have appropriated the Arthur legend for political purposes, while countless writers, painters, photographers, filmmakers and other artists have produced their own versions for posterity.

What are some interesting facts about King Arthur?

Interesting King Arthur Facts: King Arthur is a mythological king said to have been the ruler of Britain during the medieval period. King Arthur's parents were Igraine the Duchess of Cornwall, and King Uther Pendragon. King Arthur's nickname was The One, True King of the Britons. The legend of King Arthur contains many variations.

Who are the main characters in King Arthur?

• MERLIN. oversaw much of King Arthur's childhood, after the death of both of his parents.
• Iseult the Fair. wife of Mark, and loved Tristram (remember the accidental love potion drinking)
• Lady Ragnell.
• King Pelles.
• SIR ECTOR.
• Queen Guinevere.
• Morgan Le Fay.
• Characters in the story.

What are facts about King Arthur?

King Arthur Facts. King Arthur was a fictional British leader from the late 5 th and early 6 th centuries, known as the ruler of Camelot, who has become legendary due to the folklore surrounding his history. King Arthur was described in the History of the Britons by Ninnius in 830 as a British General who fought 12 battles and killed 980 men.

What is the summary of the story King Arthur?

Arthur, who is son of King Uther Pendragon but was raised by another family, takes his rightful place as king when, as a boy, he is able to pull the sword called Excalibur from the stone. Although he rules wisely and is counseled by Merlin the magician, Arthur makes enemies of other kings and is often at war.

What is the original story of King Arthur?

The earliest written account of King Arthur as a historical figure is the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons), a history of the British people. The history was assembled from a variety of sources in 829 or 830, by a cleric sometimes known as Nennius, probably under the patronage of the king of Gwynedd (r.

Is King Arthur a true story?

Some people do believe that King Arthur could have been a real person, but despite the occasional news story about an archaeological discovery that may provide clues, experts on Arthurian legend tell TIME that there is no evidence — no primary source from the time — to confirm that King Arthur was ever a real person.

What was King Arthur known for?

He was a warrior, a knight and a king who killed giants, witches and monsters and led a band of heroes on many daring adventures. He is known for his Knights of the Round Table and for uniting the peoples of his land. Even though his end was tragic, he is still known and celebrated all over the world today.

Was King Arthur a good king?

Arthur remains a good & noble king until the affair of his queen & best friend is revealed by his son Mordred. Throughout all these adventures there are a number of times Guinevere is kidnapped by some menacing lord and has to be rescued or other ladies are in distress and also need the assistance of a noble knight.

Why did Guinevere betray Arthur?

She is seen by the people of Camelot as a devoted supporter of her husband's deeds and ideas. Even after she betrays Arthur by having an affair with Lancelot, Guinevere regrets the betrayal and stays with Arthur, devoting herself to no other man even after his death.

Who ruled Camelot after Arthur died?

ConstantineIn Jean d'Outremeuse's 14th-century Ly Myreur des Histors, Lancelot installs Constantine on the throne after Arthur's death. He is king of Britain in some versions of the Havelok the Dane legend, beginning with Geoffrey Gaimar's 12th-century Estoire des Engleis.

Who betrayed King Arthur?

In the final book of Morte D'Arthur, Gawain explicitly refers to Mordred as a "false traytoure." In the moment when Mordred takes the throne from Arthur, Mordred is "the incarnation of treason." He betrays Arthur as both his knight and his son, committing two acts of treason simultaneously.

What happened to Camelot after King Arthur died?

In Palamedes and some other works, including the Post-Vulgate cycle, King Arthur's Camelot is eventually razed to the ground by the treacherous King Mark of Cornwall (who had besieged it earlier) in his invasion of Logres after the Battle of Camlann.

What are 5 facts about King Arthur?

King Arthur Facts01Description: Mythological king who ruled Britain during the medieval period.02Nationality: English.03Date of Birth: Late 5th century.04Place of Birth: Tintagel.05Death: Early 6th century.06Role: British King.07Parents: King Uther Pendragon and Igraine the Duchess of Cornwall.More items...•

What is the moral of King Arthur?

Moral integrity, loyalty to one's friends and kin, abiding by the law and defending the weak, form the cornerstone of how Arthurian fellowship has been defined through the centuries. They offer the reassurance that doing the morally right thing is valuable, even if it may bring about temporary defeat.

Who killed King Arthur?

But power-thirsty Mordred soon wanted the kingdom for himself, which resulted in a swordfight between Mordred and Arthur that ended in the deaths of both of them.

Who first wrote about King Arthur?

One of the most famous early Arthurian writers was Geoffrey of Monmouth, who lived during the first half of the 12th century. In his book, "History of the Kings of Britain," Monmouth wrote a number of stories about King Arthur and Merlin, mentioning Arthur's birth at Tintagel.

Was Camelot and King Arthur real?

Although most scholars regard it as being entirely fictional, there are many locations that have been linked with King Arthur's Camelot. Camelot was the name of the place where King Arthur held court and was the location of the famous Round Table.

What is the story of Camelot and King Arthur?

Camelot was a Legendary Castle where the Mythological King Arthur held his Court. King Arthur was a Legendary British King who defeated the Saxons and secured the independence of the Celtic Britons for a period. King Arthur had a Famous Round Table around which he seated his knights.

Where is Excalibur now?

The 14th century sword was discovered at in the Vrbas River, near the village of Rakovice in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Driven into a solid bit of rock 36ft below the surface and becoming stuck for years in water - the sword has now been dubbed 'Excalibur' after the legendary tale of King Arthur.

What is the modern tale of King Arthur?

Malory's text transports the reader to a dreamland of castles and kingdoms in which the love of adventure was reason enough to wage battles. Though these adventures are as real as a boy's dream, they're as difficult to place in the latitude and longitude of today's world.

Who was King Arthur?

Celtic bards traveled from court to court recounting folk tales of the past. Over time, Arturus, the military leader, became King Arthur of England. Some historians believe Arthur was Dux (Duke) of Britain, a Roman title. However, by AD 500, such titles had become vague and 'King' was the customary designation of Celtic leaders.

What is a fanciful history?

In the centuries that followed Arthur's death, fanciful histories fleshed out the few reliable facts about the 'King' with a whole body of literature that created an enduring legend.

What did the abbot say to the monks?

In desperation, the abbot raised his voice and declared: "I will tell you something new and great. There was once a mighty king, whose name was Arthur. . . .". The words had an electrifying effect.

Why was the table painted in 1522?

King Henry VIII ordered the table painted in 1522 to honour a visit by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. The image of Arthur is actually modeled on a very youthful Henry VIII seated in full royal regalia.

Where is Arthur's seat?

Arthur's Seat from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Scotland. Excavations conducted by archaeologist Leslie Alcock revealed wattle and daub huts within an 18-acre enclosure on top of the hill. Two shrines, a metalworkers' area, furnaces, smiths' tools, and finished weapons were also unearthed.

Did King Arthur exist?

While there's no document to prove Arthur's existence, and archaeologists have found no objects bearing his name, there's nothing to say that he didn't exist. Then again, the legend of King Arthur may just be a myth - but if so, it's a good one.

Who was King Arthur?

King Arthur ( Welsh: Brenin Arthur, Cornish: Arthur Gernow, Breton: Roue Arzhur) was 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.

What is King Arthur's first account of his life?

King Arthur in a crude illustration from a 15th-century Welsh version of Historia Regum Britanniae. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, completed c. 1138, contains the first narrative account of Arthur's life.

What is the genre of Arthurian romance?

The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes, who added Lancelot and the Holy Grail to the story, began the genre of Arthurian romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature. In these French stories, the narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights of the Round Table. Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the legend continues to have prominence, not only in literature but also in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and other media.

What is King Arthur's name?

Some scholars have suggested it is relevant to this debate that the legendary King Arthur's name only appears as Arthur or Arturus in early Latin Arthurian texts, never as Artōrius (though Classical Latin Artōrius became Arturius in some Vulgar Latin dialects).

Where did the name Arthur come from?

The origin of the Welsh name "Arthur" remains a matter of debate. The most widely accepted etymology derives it from the Roman nomen gentile (family name) Artorius. Artorius itself is of obscure and contested etymology, but possibly of Messapian or Etruscan origin. Linguist Stephan Zimmer suggests Artorius possibly had a Celtic origin, being a Latinization of a hypothetical name *Artorījos, in turn derived from an older patronym *Arto-rīg-ios, meaning "son of the bear/warrior-king". This patronym is unattested, but the root, *arto-rīg, "bear/warrior-king", is the source of the Old Irish personal name Artrí. Some scholars have suggested it is relevant to this debate that the legendary King Arthur's name only appears as Arthur or Arturus in early Latin Arthurian texts, never as Artōrius (though Classical Latin Artōrius became Arturius in some Vulgar Latin dialects). However, this may not say anything about the origin of the name Arthur, as Artōrius would regularly become Art (h)ur when borrowed into Welsh.

How long did the last printing of Le Morte d'Arthur take?

Social changes associated with the end of the medieval period and the Renaissance also conspired to rob the character of Arthur and his associated legend of some of their power to enthrall audiences, with the result that 1634 saw the last printing of Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur for nearly 200 years.

Why did historians exclude Arthur from their accounts of sub-Roman Britain?

This lack of convincing early evidence is the reason many recent historians exclude Arthur from their accounts of sub-Roman Britain. In the view of historian Thomas Charles-Edwards, "at this stage of the enquiry, one can only say that there may well have been an historical Arthur [but ...] the historian can as yet say nothing of value about him". These modern admissions of ignorance are a relatively recent trend; earlier generations of historians were less sceptical. The historian John Morris made the putative reign of Arthur the organising principle of his history of sub-Roman Britain and Ireland, The Age of Arthur (1973). Even so, he found little to say about a historical Arthur.

Who Was King Arthur?

King Arthur is a medieval , mythological figure who was the head of the kingdom Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. It is not known if there was a real Arthur, though it is believed he may have been a Roman-affiliated military leader who successfully staved off a Saxon invasion during the 5th to 6th centuries. His legend has been popularized by many writers, including Geoffrey of Monmouth.

Who wrote the King Arthur story?

Aiming to properly contextualize the array of tales presented, documentarian and writer Michael Wood has looked at the cultural and geographic origins of the King Arthur story in his TV series In Search of Myths and Heroes.

What is the Arthurian story about?

Due to cultural intermingling in Europe, political influences and writers' imagination, the Arthurian story developed into a full-fledged legend and complex story , with an emphasis on a noble kingdom called Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table and the queen, Guinevere, who has an affair with the knight Lancelot. Other aspects of the tale include the king's deadly conflict with his nephew or son, Mordred, and the knights' quest for the Holy Grail.

Who inspired King Arthur?

Little is known about the possible figure who inspired the story of King Arthur, a heroic monarch who has been a popular mythological and literary character for some time. It has been suggested that the real-life "Arthur" may have been a warrior/officer of Roman affiliation who led a British military force against incoming Saxon forces during the 5th to 6th centuries A.D. Still, Celtic monk Gildas wrote of the Saxon invasion in his work The Ruin and Conquest of Britain, citing the conflict at Badon Hills, and no warrior named Arthur is mentioned.

Who was the first English writer to write a retelling of King Arthur's story?

King Arthur in Literature. Thomas Malory was the first to provide an English prose retelling of the legend in his Le Morte D'Arthur, published in 1485. Centuries later, Alfred Tennyson published his Idylls of the King throughout the latter half of the 1800s, telling the story of Camelot in the form of an epic poem.

Who played King Arthur in the movie?

Fast forward to the next millennium where Antoine Fuqua directed King Arthur (2004), whose still fantastic plot relied more heavily on the idea that Arthur, here portrayed by Clive Owen, was a military leader against the Saxons. His life was also portrayed in the 2017 movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Who played the monarch in the movie Camelot?

Later revivals would see Richard Harris — who starred in the 1967 movie version as well — and Robert Goulet portray the monarch. A more serious, grim take on Camelot was seen in the 1981 film Excalibur, with Helen Mirren in the role of Morgana, half-sister to the king.

What is the story of King Arthur?

Howard Pyle's version of the tales of King Arthur introduces the reader to Arthur as a child. Arthur, having been raised by foster parents, has no knowledge of his noble lineage. One day, young Arthur finds a sword and succeeds in pulling it out of an enchanted anvil, a task thought be impossible. Arthur, now bearing the magic sword, learns of his royal lineage and becomes King of Britain.

Who wrote the story of King Arthur and his knights?

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights is a 1903 children's novel by the American illustrator and writer Howard Pyle. The book contains a compilation of various stories, adapted by Pyle, regarding the legendary King Arthur of Britain and select Knights of the Round Table. Pyle's novel begins with Arthur in his youth and continues ...

How many stories are in the book of King Arthur?

The first section in Pyle's The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, "The Book of King Arthur", contains three separate stories: "The Winning of Kinghood", "The Winning of a Sword", and "The Winning of a Queen".

What is Pyle's rendition of Arthurian legends?

Pyle's rendition is an American adaption of traditionally English stories of the Arthurian legends. Although with some unique embellishments, it draws heavily on previous authors' stories, such as the then-recent The Boy's King Arthur (1880) by fellow American Sidney Lanier; Tennyson 's Idylls of the King (1859–1885); James Thomas Knowles 's The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights (1860); and ultimately Mallory 's Le Morte d'Arthur (1485), the primary source material for all of the above.

What happens to King Arthur and his esquire?

Shortly after, King Arthur leaves, seeking adventure. Arthur and his esquire are lost in a forest and seek shelter in a castle. Arthur and his esquire meet an older knight who challenges King Arthur to see who could survive getting their head cut off. Arthur strikes first, and the older knight lives.

What is the story of Sir Gawain?

The Tale of Sir Gawaine. Pyle-Sir Gawain, illustration from the 1903 edition of The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, 1903. During a procession of King Arthur and his Court, the men see a dog pursuing a deer. Immediately after, the men see a knight and a lady attacked by another knight, who takes the woman captive.

Who is the damsel in the book The Queen and the Queen?

While the queen, her court, and Sir Pellias are out maying, a damsel named Parcenet approaches them. The maiden explains that she comes to see if the queen is more beautiful than her Lady Ettard, who is reputed in her area to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Sir Pellias agrees to go to Grantmesnle, the home of Lady Ettard, to settle the matter with her knight Sir Engamore of Malverat.

What is the story behind King Arthur?

One thing about legends is there are lots of different versions, so there are lots of different versions of King Arthur too! But here is the main story: Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon, and as a baby he was given to Merlin to be kept safe and taught. When he was a young teenager, he pulled a sword from a stone which proved that he was the rightful king. Later on, he receives another sword named Excalibur from the Lady in the Lake. When Arthur grew up, he took his place as king of the Britons. The Britons were (the ancient people that lived in England or Britian) The wizard Merlin was his advisor. Arthur married Guinevere and lived in Camelot. He and his knights became known as the Order of the Round Table. Some of them were Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, and Perceval. Eventually, Mordred, King Arthur’s nephew, rebelled against his uncle and badly wounded Arthur in battle. His body was taken to Avalon to be healed, and according to legend, sometime in the future he will return and rule again.

How long has King Arthur captured the imagination?

We probably will never know how much of the King Arthur legend is true and how much is simply a very old story, but one thing is certain, King Arthur has captured the imaginations of people young and old for over 1,000 years- and will continue to do so. What stories capture your imagination and why? How would you feel if a story about you (or a story you wrote) was talked about for hundreds and hundreds of years? What would you say? Would you live your life different?

Where is the castle that King Arthur built?

There is a castle ruin in Cornwall, England that is supposedly the birthplace of King Arthur. It was a stronghold called Tintagel. It is right on the ocean, and it was there long before Arthur would have been born. Because of the legend surrounding Tintagel, in the 1230s the Earl of Cornwall built a castle there. It is a beautiful and mysterious place that has sparked the imagination of many authors who have visited there.

What is the most famous legend in England?

One of the most famous legends to ever come out of the country of England is the legend of King Arthur. People first started talking about him in books during the 9 th century, with stories starting to be written about him in the 12 th century. That means people have been talking about Arthur for over 1,200 years! That’s a really long time! And during that time, there have been hundreds of stories written about him. Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the very first. Other famous authors to write about him include Thomas Mallory (Le Morte D’Arthur), T. H. White (The Once and Future King), Mark Twain (A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court), and Howard Pyle -who also wrote Robin Hood! Alfred Lord Tennyson visited Tintagel (which we will talk about later) twice and wrote a series of poems about King Arthur from the inspiration he got there. There have also been movies and tv shows about him as well, the most well-known being The Sword in the Stone by Disney.

Where did Arthur's knights meet?

Arthur's base was at a place called Camelot. Here he built a strong castle. His knights met at a Round Table. They carried out acts of chivalry such as rescuing damsels in distress and fought against strange beasts.

What was Arthur's sword called?

Under the guidance of Merlin, Arthur had obtained a magical sword from The Lady Of The Lake. This sword was called 'Excalibur" and with this weapon he vanquished many foes. Queen Guinevere, Arthur's beautiful wife brought romance to the story while his equally beautiful half sister Morgan le Fay added a dark side.

What did Merlin do with the sword?

Merlin used his magic to set a sword in a stone. Written on the sword, in letters of gold, were these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born king of all England.". Of course all the contenders for the throne took their turn at trying to draw the sword, but none could succeed.

Where did Arthur's body go?

Arthur was set upon a boat and floated down river to the isle of Avalon. Here his wounds were treated by three mysterious maidens. His body was never found and many say that he rests under a hill with all his knights - ready to ride forth and save the country again. Now, find out how this story developed.

Who gathered knights around him and fought back against the Saxons?

Arthur, quite by chance, withdrew the sword for another to use in a tournament. Following this he became King. He gathered Knights around him and fought back against the Saxons who, since the Romans left Britain, were slowly but surely taking the country over.

Who was the first child of King Uther Pendragon?

The First Reliable Reference to Arthur. Re-enactment 2010. Arthur was the first born son of King Uther Pendragon and heir to the throne. However these were very troubled times and Merlin, a wise magician, advised that the baby Arthur should be raised in a secret place and that none should know his true identity.

What happened in the final battle of Camelot?

Unfortunately, as peace settled over the country things turned sour within the court of Camelot and civil war broke out. In the final battle at Camlan both Arthur and Mordred, Arthur's traitorous nephew, were mortally wounded. Arthur was set upon a boat and floated down river to the isle of Avalon.

Overview

Historicity

Name

Medieval literary traditions

Decline, revival, and the modern legend

See also

External links

Overview

Plot

Characters

Literary criticism

Reception

Other Works

Sources

External links