Works Cited

"Arthurian legend." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2012. Encyclopedia.com. 4 Dec. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Ingram, Amy L. "Psychology of a king: Arthur in the Lancelot-Graal cycle." Philological Quarterly 82.4 (2003): 349+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.

May, Jill P. "Howard Pyle's 'The Story of King Arthur and His Knights': A Backwards Look at Chivalry." Touchstones: Reflections on the Best in Children's Literature, Volume Two: Fairy Tales, Fables, Myths, Legends, and Poetry. ChLA, 1987. 221-227. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Jennifer Baise. Vol. 81. Detroit: Gale Research, 1999. Literature Resource Center. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.

'Origins of the Arthurian Legend.' http://www.britannia.com/bhc/arthur/artquest2.html
 

Ritchie, Anne Thackeray. “Alfred Tennyson.” Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 68, 1883, 21-41. Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. The Holy Grail and Other Poems. London: Strahan, 1870.

Tennyson, Hallam, Lord. Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Memoir, 2 Vols. New York, 1897.

Tennyson, Sir Charles. Alfred Tennyson. London: Macmillan, 1949.

Whitehead, F. “On Certain Episodes in the Fourth Book of Malory's Morte Darthur.” Medium Aevum, 2, 1933, 199-216.

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-historical-mysteries.php/king-arthur-mosaic JPEG. file

King Arthur is considered to be one of the greatest heroes in British literature. His legacy has been preserved through story tale, poems, symbols, and historical texts. Arthur’s popularity has dominated literature for over 800 years. Some people believe he was myth and others believe in his actual existence. Many stories have been written and epic tales have been told, but a story can be proven to be false. There are countless variations of styles, versions, and languages written about King Arthur. Arthur’s legend has traveled through many origins over the centuries. Such origins include the Welsh, Celtic, Arabian, and Italian. It is believed that Arthur lived during the dark ages and was also named Rithoamus (high king). According to the encyclopedia of Arthurian legends, Arthur was not a medieval king. Based on some beliefs, he was a fifth century chieftain who protected his people. Arthur goes through many changes. Mostly hailed as a heroic King, he is also depicted as a monarch and in some cases an ordinary man. In most legends he is said to be the son of Uther Pendragon, but some historical findings name him as the son of Aidan. The validity of his existence has occupied the minds of many of those you are fascinated with his legend. It has been debated since the Renaissance and continues to be debated today.

 

An Impact on Modern Film

http://heroesinhypertext.wordpress.com  JPEG. file

Arthur’s character first appears in Welsh poetry. He is continuously referred to as a great warrior and leader. This characterization has provided a template for western culture’s ideas of leadership, honor, and in some cases romance. The legend of Arthur has had a great influence on the modern era. The elements of the Arthurian tradition have been utilized in major films such Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. The character Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings can be seen as mirroring the character of Arthur in some ways.  The legend of Arthur tells a story of a baby being taken by elves and given the gift of enchantments. In the Lord of the Rings, Aragon is also raised by elves. The roles of the elves, in both tales, play a key part in the development of their kings. Another important comparison is that both characters true identities were kept secret since birth. When they came of age, they both found themselves in possession of an ancestral sword and began their adventures of reclaiming their lost heritage.  The two men, in their respective stories, fulfill prophesies of bearing swords of significant importance. By doing this, they are able to unite and rule kingdoms. The sword symbolizes the return of the one true king in both stories. The resemblance of characters can also be found in Harry Potter. Both Harry and Arthur are unaware of their true identity as youths and later learn who they really are with the help from a wizard.  The two characters are considered to be heroes that take on the challenges of their predestined futures. They also face many quests. Harry’s yearning to find the Philosopher’s stone can easily be compared to Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail. The desire to obtain the Elixir of Life is shared by both characters. A distinct resemblance between Arthur and Harry is their swords. Harry pulls the sword of Godric Griffindor from a magical hat, while Arthur pulls Excalibur from a stone.  J.R.R Tolkien and J.K. Rowling do an excellent job creating a character parallel to Arthur. This truly displays the impact Arthur’s legend has made on modern culture.  

 

 

 

Evidence Of Existence

 

 

 

 

The earliest documentation of the name Arthur (Arturius) in British records appears as Arturius in Adomnan's "Life of Columba", written in the 7th century AD. It is the name of a 6th century prince of the Scots, who was the son of a king named Aidan.  Aidan was a king of the Scots from 574 AD. Many centuries later, the name Arthur appears as Artuir in the “Annals of Tighernac.” Clearly there is some evidence of the name Arthur in extant literature, dating back to the 7th century. Although the evidence of his name exists, there is no proof to support the belief that he was a king. His fame could perhaps rest on the fact that he was a battle leader of the Scots and Britons. It is a fact that Arthur’s father, King Aidan, was the most powerful king amongst the Britons of the North, in what is now known as Scotland. The most reliable evidence of the existence of Arthur was discovered in a 7th century AD manuscript named the ‘Vita Columbia.’ It was written by a monk called Adomnan on the remote island of Iona on the west coast of Scotland. This particular manuscript states that Arthur (Arturius), was indeed the son of King Aidan, and describes Arthur’s last battle against the Picts. It can be concluded that Arturius was the inspiration for the legendary Arthur because the two figures are strikingly identical. The Vita Columbia is the oldest manuscript in the world that mentions Arthur and gives the only historical account that identifies him as the son of King Aidan.

"The Vita Columbia"

 This manuscript contains the earliest account of Arthur in the world.

http://www.webworld.co.uk/ JPEG. file



 

 

Durer, Albrecht. King Arthur. 1520. Statue designed by Albercht Durer. Wikipedia. JPEG file.

 

 

Arthur is regarded as the king of the Arthurian universe. This hero of medieval literature can be a complicated yet simple figure. He is depicted as a powerful warlord in Welsh and Latin traditions, but becomes a weak and passive character in Chretien’s romances. In many of the early texts, he is unfailingly portrayed as being one dimensional with little or no emotion. The 13th century Lancelot-Graal presents a different king, revealing more of the man underneath the crown.  In other tales, his emotions are explored and integrated into a plot to reveal the consequences for his actions on other characters and the Arthurian world all together. Many authors have been selective in their presentation of Arthur’s life, more so than any other folklore character. There is a consistent dichotomy between Arthur the king and Arthur the man. Arthur is often in conflict with himself because of his public and private persona's. Doesn’t this problem sound familiar? History tends to repeat itself.  Arthur evolves from a newly crowned king to a seasoned monarch who eventually falls and watches his kingdom fall.  I have read many stories about kings who have gained and lost power. Maybe Arthur’s legend is part of a cycle that warns about the consequences of power.

Intrigued By A Legend

Image Source Page: http://www.wallpaperhere.com/GOLD%20IRONMAN_5364 JPEG file.


.  

I have been interested in folklore ever since I was a young child. My interest in the tale of King Arthur was triggered when I first viewed the classic film "Excalibur." From that moment on, the epic adventures of this hero has continued to tweak my curiosity. Did this person really exist? Could this character be a representation of someone important in ancient history? His existence has often been a topic of debate between scholars and modern historians. Throughout time King Arthur has been depicted as a great warrior and on the other hand as a majestic being of folklore. The story of Arthur, being fable or truth, has been a transcendent one. This 5th century king has a legend that has lived on throughout the centuries and is still popular today. Arthur continues to be a favorite subject in movies, books, and plays. This is possible because the Medieval Period provides a sense of mystery, fantasy, and adventure. These themes are epitomized by the legend of Arthur. Literature has seen many developments and new trends, but Arthur’s legacy has continued to remain relevant through these developments. The objective of this blog is to illustrate the importance of King Arthur and determine if he really existed.