This document provides biographical information about Sir Thomas Malory, the author of Le Morte d'Arthur. It states that Malory was born between 1415 and 1418 in Warwickshire, England to a knightly family. He had a career as a soldier and later spent time in prison, during which he is believed to have written Le Morte d'Arthur. The document also gives a brief overview of the structure and content of Malory's work, including its eight books that recount the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
2. Who was Malory?
ïThomas Malory of Newbold Revel
ïBorn to Sir John Malory and Lady Phillipa Malory of
Warwickshire
ïBorn between 1415 and 1418
ïProfessional soldier
ïAccused of a series of crimes from extortion to theft to
rape
ïAppears to have written from prison
ïHis life is one that âreads more like an account of
exemplary thuggery than chivalryâ
3. Who was Malory?
ïThomas Maelor â Welsh poet
ïLittle evidence
ïSpecifically focused on the alternative spelling of the
name.
ïVarious other Thomas Malorys from other areas
ïEfforts to prove that a Thomas Malory other than
the one presented above wrote Le Morte dâArthur
have been failures
ïSeem to be from a hope that a less-difficult-to-like
person wrote these stories (similar to Shakespeare)
4. 15 Century England
th
ïWars of the Roses (1399-1485)
ïLancastrians vs. Yorkists
ïDecades of civil war
ïChanges in battle technology
ïLongbow
ïMan in armor on horse no longer defensible
ïKings would no longer lead followers into battle after
Richardâs defeat
5. Why would Malory
choose King Arthur?
ïArthur brought order out of chaos
ïWarfare as form of sport vs. warfare as technology
aimed at widespread devastation
ïMen heroically die in single combat, but are not
slaughtered as they lie in the mud
ïImaginary past in which nobles had absolute
power over contented peasants
ïHero/King who will return to bring peace
6. Le Morte dâArthur: Cultural Conflicts
ïThe stability of the society as a whole
ïGovernment by contract between ruler and community
of nobles and commons
ïRule of law within class system
ïThe motivations of individuals
ïPersonal goals
ïCourtly love
ïThe will to power
7. Le Morte dâArthur â 8 books
ïâFrom the Marriage of King Uther unto King Arthur
that Reigned After Him and Did Many Battlesâ
ïâThe Noble Tale Between King Arthur and Lucius the
Emperor of Romeâ
ïâThe Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot Du Lacâ
ïâThe Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkneyâ
ïâThe First and Second Book of Sir Tristrams de Lioneâ
ïâThe Noble Tale of the Sangrealâ
ïâSir Launcelot and Queen Guinevereâ
ïâThe Death of Arthur (Le Morte dâArthur)â
8. âFrom the Marriage of King Uther unto King
Arthur that Reigned After Him and Did Many
Battlesâ
ïArthur is born to Uther Pendragon and Igraine and is
fostered in the country
ïSuccessfully removes the sword in the stone and
becomes the leader when his father dies
ïArthur conceives a son by his half-sister
Morgause(Mordred)
ïArthur marries Guinevere and inherits the Round
Table from her father
ïArthur establishes the Round Table and the Oath
9. Pentecostal Oath
ïâThe king stablished all his knights, and gave them that
were of lands not rich, he gave them lands, and charged
them never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to
flee treason; also, by no mean to be cruel, but to give
mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeiture
of their worship and lordship of King Arthur for evermore;
and always to do ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen
succor upon pain of death. Also, that no man take no
battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, ne for no worldâs
goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table
Round, both old and young. And every year were they
sworn at the high feast of Pentecost.â (Le Morte d'Arthur,
pp 115-116)
10. âThe Noble Tale Between King Arthur
and Lucius the Emperor of Romeâ
ïArthurâs march on Rome
ïArthur starts the book without an enemy â secure, confident
ïArthurâs knights have proven themselves with a series of quests
ïEnvoys from Rome arrive and accuse Arthur of not paying the
necessary tribute
ïArthur and his knights are looking for a fight
ïArthur claims that Britain had conquered Rome first, many ages
ago, and asks them for tribute
ïRome is shown as being less-Christian and more corrupt than
Arthurâ Britain
ïArthur succeeds and is crowned Emporer
11. âThe Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot Du Lacâ
ïLauncelot is established as Arthurâs most apreciated
knight