The legend of King Arthur began as folk stories in early Britain and tells the story of Arthur, who became king by drawing the sword from the stone. He established Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table, including his most trusted knight Sir Lancelot. Arthur embarked on the quest for the Holy Grail but his kingdom eventually fell due to betrayal by his nephew Sir Mordred. In the end, Arthur was fatally wounded and transported to the island of Avalon, leaving behind a legacy of bravery, chivalry and honor.

1. The Legend of King Arthur The Knights of the Round Table AND

2. The legend of King Arthur began in early Britain as a number of folk stories. As the legend spread, it gave rise to a rich collection of art and literature. Legend

3. An epic is a long verse narrative that tells the story of a hero who represents the values of a particular group of people. Epic:

4. Medieval Romance: A forerunner to modern fiction, Medieval Romance is a story about a noble hero, his adventures, and his pursuit of love.

5. A lord would employ knights and give them the time and equipment they needed to practice; in return, they served their lord as vassals. DUTIES OF A VASSAL: ~Fight in his lord’s army ~Guard his lord’s castle ~Give his lord financial aid ~Act as his lord’s messenger or ambassador ~Serve on his lord’s council *In return, The knight was under his lord's protection, both legally and militarily. Knights

6. Stages of Knighthood PAGE SQUIRE KNIGHT pacek.tripod.com

7. It was the relationship between himself and his lord that defined the knight's life. The lord's position gave him considerable control over the knight's life, career, and future , including the final say in whom the knight could marry and the disposition of his estate after his death. The lord technically owned the land used by the knight to raise revenues, and while the property usually remained in the knight's family for generations, it was the lord's prerogative to revoke a knight's right to the land and give it to someone else.

8. Today, the word "knight" conjures up far more than war and service. Loyalty, courtesy, honor, glory, courage. And, indeed, as history unfolded, the knight's role in society altered from that of a cavalry soldier to a model of behavior. Yet, as we know, knights were only human, and did not always live up to the standards imposed on them by society.

11. The "Excalibur" was King Arthur's sword. Also known as the "Sword in the Stone" or the sword that Merlin helped him get from the Lady of the Lake. Unbreakable and it came with a magical scabbard (sheath) that prevents the wearer to be injured by man-made weapons. Excalibur

12. Lady of the Lake Since King Arthur was always in battle, (the sword from the stone broken in battle), Merlin led Arthur to a lake, from the middle of which an arm protruded holding a sword. The sword, Excalibur, belonged to the Lady of the Lake, who gave it to Arthur. It was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magic unbreakable blade, fashioned by an Avalonian elf smith, along with a scabbard which would protect him as long as he wore it. Towards the end of his reign, during the troubled times of Mordred's rebellion, Excalibur was stolen by Arthur's wicked half-sister Morgan le Fay.

13. Though it was recovered, the scabbard was lost forever. Thus when Arthur was mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann , the King then instructed Bedwyr to return Excalibur to the lake from whence it came. However, when questioned about the circumstances of its return, Bedwyr claimed to have seen nothing unusual. Arthur therefore knew that Bedwyr had kept Excalibur for himself and sent him back to the Lake once more.

14. Hurling the sword into the misty waters this time, Bedwyr saw the mystic hand appear to catch Excalibur and draw it beneath the rippling waters for the last time.

15. Sword in the Stone Legend The story of the Sword in the Stone is a story about Arthur's claim to the throne of Britain. According to legend, the Sword was Uther's sword, the sword of the High King of Britain. After Uther's death there is no known heir and the barons are fighting among each other who is to be the next High King of Britain.

16. Merlin, who was Uther counselor, has the solution: he takes Uther's sword and with his magic, he runs it into a rock. The one man who is able to draw the sword from the stone again will be the rightful heir. Many have tried: Lot, Uriens, even Leodegrance and many more, but no one was able to draw the sword. Until one day Sir Ector and his sons Kay and Arthur (not knowing he is not Ector's real son but fostered by him) come to the place where the sword is captured in the rock, they come for a tournament. Arthur, being squire to Ector and Kay, has to get Kay a new sword for his one is broken. He passes the rock and draws the sword, which he brings to Ector and Kay. Next, confusion is great, for how could this boy draw the sword from the stone.

17. Then Merlin makes his entrance again and declares that Arthur is Uther's son. To proof that he places the sword back in the stone and dares anyone to draw it. Again no one succeeds, but Arthur. And so he became High King of Britain at a very young age.

18. Pre-Arthurian Times www.cnn.com

28. Arthurian Times Jeffreykbedrick.com

34. The Knights of the Round Table www.uidaho.edu

44. Queen Mab Mordred Sir Galahad Morgana (Morgan le Fay) Sir Gorlois Lady Igrain King Uther Queen Gwynevere King Arthur Sir Kay Sir Ector Lady of the Lake Sir Launcelot du Lake Merlin The Grid Ambrosia

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