Arthurian+Allusions

Main Arthurian Categories: I. Uther, Igraine and the story of Arthur's birth II. King Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot (their love triangle and the characters themselves) III. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight IV. Merlin V. Morgan Le Fay VI. Nimue or Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake VII. Morded VIII. Avalon and Camelot (Places) IX. Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone, and the Holy Grail. X. The Adventures of the Knights of the Round Table


 * I. Uther, Igraine and Arthur's Birth**

UTHER AND IGRAINE (http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/arthur.htm)

King Arthur's father, a mighty ruler named Uther, fell in love with a noble lady Igraine, but she wouldn't have anything to do with him. At the time, there was a powerful wizard named Merlin, who promised Uther that he could make Igraine fall in love with him, if he would give Merlin his firstborn child (not unlike Rumpelstiltskin's request for turning straw into gold; however, unlike the mother in that tale, Uther kept his promise to send Arthur to Merlin). MERLIN, RUMPELSTILTSKIN (http://fineartamerica.com/featured/magical-merlin-sundara-fawn.html)(http://matsalleh.net/)

Merlin changed Uther's appearance and made him look like a man Igraine had loved very much, and so Igraine married Uther. When Arthur was born, his father sent him to live with Merlin.

KING ARTHUR (http://www.logoi.com/pastimages/king_arthur.html)
 * II. King Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot**

King Arthur of Camelot (in Britain) was born in approximately 470 A.D., and died about seventy years later. There is some debate as to how much of the folklore surrounding him comes from actual history or the fantastical tales told by authors throughout time, from Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chretien de Troyes in an earlier period, all the way to Mark Twain.

GUENEVERE (http://www.elfwood.com/~delfingache/Queen-Guinevere.2676212.html)

Guenevere was Arthur's third wife. Different authors have portrayed her with different character traits--in some tales, she is a noble lady and faithful to her husband. However, in Chretien de Troyes' version, she has a love affair with Lancelot, who this author also added to the Knights of the Round Table.

LANCELOT (otherwise spelled "Launcelot"):

Lancelot was perhaps one of Arthur's most loved knights, and one of the first knights to be mentioned in Arthurian Legend. He is also famous for starting a love affair with Guenevere, causing a massive love Triangle to ensue between Arthur, Guenevere, and Lancelot. This love triangle is commonly considered as a destructive force, and a main cause for the fall of Camelot.


 * III. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight**

(http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/sggkms.jpg)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was a poem written in the 14th century about an adventure Sir Gawain (a knight of the Round Table) had. The summary of the poem is that Sir Gawain was challenged by a mysterious green creature (the Green Knight), offering Gawain to hit him with his axe, and in exchange, the Green Knight would be allowed to deliver him a blow exactly a year and a day later. Sir Gawain accepts, and beheads the Green Knight. TO his surprise, the Green Knight then gets up, picks up his head, and tells Sir Gawain not to forget the day he must take a hit. The poem goes on to describe Gawain's journey to find the spot where he will receive the blow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight


 * IV. Merlin**


 * V. Morgan Le Fay**


 * VI. Nimue or Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake**


 * VII. Morded**


 * VIII. Avalon and Camelot (Places)**

(http://ripiuw.blogspot.com/)
 * IX. Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone, and the Holy Grail.**

The Excalibur sword was the sword of King Arthur. In some stories, it was said to have magical powers. Although it is commonly thought that Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are the same sword, the story actually says that the Sword in the Stone would determine the rightful heir to the English throne (if that person could pull it out), while Excalibur was given to King Arthur after he'd started his rule as king.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excalibur

KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE (http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/english/arthur/book6/chapter18/chapter18.htm)
 * X. The Adventures of the Knights of the Round Table**

There are twenty-five Knights of the Round Table. There names are (King Arthur), Sir Galahad, Sir Lancelot du Lac, Sir Gawain, Sir Percivale, Sir Lionell, Sir Tristram de Lyones, Sir Gareth, Sir Bedivere, Sir Bleoberis, La Cote Male Taile, Sir Lucan, Sir Palomedes, Sir Lamorak, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Safer, Sir Pelleas, Sir Kay, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Dagonet, Sir Degore, Sir Brunor le Noir, Le Bel Desconneu, Sir Alymere, and Sir Mordred.

(http://metamedia.stanford.edu/imagebin/Knights%20at%20the%20Round%20Table.jpg)

The origin of the table comes from the issues of the time of King Arthur. When a large gathering of knights was taking place, often times the person sitting at the head of the table would be considered the most important. This would make the other knights jealous and would often lead to quarrels amongst the knights. When King Arthur went to make his table, he decided to make it round so that everyone at the table was equal. Regardless of if they were a KIng or a baron.

Joe, Jimmy. "Origin of the Round Table." Timeless Myths. N.p., 10 Apr. 2008. Web. 17 Oct. 2010.

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