Whether or not you have an interest in Arthurian literature, you won't have to think long to realize that Arthurian memorabilia is still popular, even prevalent, today.  In fact, if you chose this class because of its focus on Arthur, it is probably the contemporary version of Arthur that attracted you in the first place.  You will learn this semester that the contemporary King Arthur of video games and movies is a far cry from the medieval Arthur.  You will also discover that  our modern interpretations of Arthur are, nonetheless, of some value.  They  have much to tell us about who we are today and where we have been as we adopt and rework this old but never worn-out legend. This course begins with medieval versions of Arthurian legend and moves through Arthuriana today.

Let’s begin with an obvious and impossible question, one which scholars still struggle to solve: Did King Arthur ever really exist?  Click on the blue text to find out:   Origins of Arthur

The main purpose of the romance was to exemplify chivalry.  Click here for historian Maurice Keen's standard definition of chivalry.

Though all of the elements of Keen's definition are manifested in the the medieval romance, courtoisie , is, in relation to the romance,  the most intriguing.  Click on the blue to learn more about this term.  

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Another important figure in shaping the medieval romance is Andreas Capellanus, whose Art of Courtly Love details guidelines for courtly lovers.  Learn more about medieval rules of love.  

The purpose of the medieval romance is not to show adulterous lovers at play, but to set ideals for knighthood. Most Arthurian romances feature a young squire who must prove his worth at fighting or his love for lady; or a disenfranchised or unnamed knight who must fight to win recognition, or to regain his kingdom or the good graces of his lady. Settings are remote and distant; geography isn’t accurate and seldom realistic. Magical occurrences crop up randomly to test the knight. Dragons, however, infrequently appear. The structure of the romance is at odds with modern literary expectations. Described as "a loose episodic frame that focuses on the adventures of a hero," the central unifying element is the knight proving himself; adventures crop up at random with no modern sense of plot or character development. 

Recurring Arthurian characters have familiar traits but aren’t always the "same" from one medieval work to the next. Certain characteristics do get associated with certain characters.  Click on the blue to learn about a few of the significant Arthurian characters.

King Arthur and Merlin

Guenivere

Lancelot

Gawain

Kay

Parcival

Galahad

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Completing the cast of Arthurian knights is a host of others, including the tragic lover Tristan, Pellinore of the Questing Beast, Bedevere, Balan, Balin, Yvain... the list goes on and on.

In addition to the lover’s triangle just discussed, the cast of characters in the Arthurian romance includes numerous other knights of the Round Table.   Click here to learn more about the origins of the Round Table, the Seige Perilous, and the Holy Grail.  

In addition to Guenivere and a handful of other female characters, magically endowed women also grace the pages of the medieval romance.  Of these, Morgan le Fey is by far the most notorious. 

Arthur is ultimately defeated in battle, impaled with a spear by his son Mordred (who is in turn killed by his father’s sword; the film Exalibur reverses the events). Grievously wounded, Arthur is placed on a barge accompanied by three magical ladies, not necessarily dead.  Click here to learn why some think the king lives!

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The fact is that references to King Arthur are so numerous, so much a part of our everyday lives, that I can only begin to sample here how they infiltrate popular culture.

Arthurian legend is often used politically. 

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Sometimes the myth of Arthur appears subtly, even subconsciously, in our culture, especially in literature.  Thus, lovers of literature can greatly benefit from being well-versed in Arthurian lore.  Click here to see how Arthurian themes and motifs are evidenced in contemporary literature.

King Arthur and his knights have always been anachronisms.  Click here to see how the characters are jettisoned through time and across cultures. 

The universal and timeless appeal of King Arthur and his knights can be attributed to the adaptability of the legend, which has always been reworked to fit the purposes of the culture and generation at hand. Most writers simply change the details that no longer fit.   Click on the blue to see how medieval elements are sometimes adapted to suit modern tastes.

Of all the Arthurian images borrowed by us today, the Grail seems to strike the loudest chord.  Click to learn about adaptations of the Grail. 

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As you have seen if you have explored the alleys on this page, modern writers use the legend to suit their own agenda. Contemporary interpretations focus less on chivalry and emphasize feminism, religious tolerance, postmodernism, or New Age spirituality.

Still so much a part of our culture, Arthurian literature is relevant today and will continue to have a vital role not only in popular culture, but also in the Academy.

From the Harvard medieval society to the comic strip Prince Valiant; from Chretien de Troyes to Monty Python; from a bag of King Arthur flour to Wagner’s operas, the King and his knights live on. Long live the King!

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