Arthurian Legends
Chivalry and Chivalric Codes
"For a medieval knight, "honour" meant far more than a mere courage and the skill of a warrior. The concept of chivalry developed, within a fairly brief period, from a simple warrior's code to a sophisticated system of values in which the principals of personal integrity, the duty to defend the weak from oppression, and the practice of knightly virtues, such as largesse (generosity), pite (compassion), franchise (a free and frank spirit) and courtoisie (courtliness, especially to women), combined with the more traditional virtues of loyalty and prowess. These qualities are repeatedly stressed in medieval accounts of knights, where the conduct of both real knights and fictional heroes is measured against this standard." Andrea Hopkins
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Textbook pp. 168-183)
Complete the following before, during, and after you read the story.
Complete the following before, during, and after you read the story.
- King Arthur's knights observed a code of honorable behavior called chivalry. (Read the information in that previous hyperlink.) This code demanded that knights be brave warriors and virtuous Christians who would selflessly fight for justice. As you read, look for passages that reveal the kind of behavior that chivalry requires. (This could be behavior from ANY character - the Green Knight and Gawain.)
- As you read read, complete this chivalry assignment. (Remember, the "reading check" questions in the margin can help you pay attention to the right details. You do not have to complete them, but you may want to answer them in your head as you read.)
- After you read, be ready to discuss whom you admire more, Gawain or the Green Knight? Consider their honor and their loyalty to the chivalric code. Be able to defend your thoughts using textual support.
Surveying the Legends - The Camelot Project (The University of Rochester)
Using the University of Rochester's website The Camelot Project, you will complete research on the essential elements of Arthurian legend. For each character, symbol, or place listed below these instructions, you should:
- provide a complete but concise description of the character, symbol, or place (think of this as the WHO/WHAT part of the assignment)
- explain the significance of the character, symbol, or place (think of this as the HOW/WHY IT IS IMPORTANT part of the assignment)
- include an image/picture that enhances the description and explanation of significance; include the title and the artist's name and be able to explain how the image enhances the description and explanation of significance (Please note: You MAY NOT choose the focal/main image of a character, symbol, or place already provided by The Camelot Project. I want you to browse other images and choose your own. You may browse the secondary images beneath the descriptions, or you may use another image that you find on the Internet.)
Arthurian Characters, Symbols, and Places
Complete notes or slides for EACH of the following:
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Complete notes or slides for FIVE of the following:
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King Arthur and his Ideal - Right is Might - How do great leaders inspire action?
Variations of the King Arthur Legends |
Modern Influence |