Name Period Harris, English IV H 1
A&E Biography of King Arthur – Viewing Guide
1. How long ago was Arthur born?
2. Why does Merlin raise Arthur?
3. What is Merlin?
4. What happens to Merlin (how does he die)?
5. Why is Arthur made king?
6. Why does Merlin try to dissuade Arthur from marrying Guinevere?
7. What does the cross-hilt of the sword represent to a knight?
8. Who gives Arthur his second sword?
9. What is Avalon?
10. What’s the name of Arthur’s second sword?
11. Why is the scabbard of this sword important?
12. Who is Mordred?
13. Who is Morgan le Fey?
14. Who will be the last to come to the round table?
15. What’s the name of Arthur’s castle?
16. Where does Arthur go to see the lady of the lake and get his wounds healed?
17. Who brings Lancelot to Arthur?
18. Who heals the dying knight?
19. On Lancelot’s trip away from Camelot, he defeats what enemy for King Pellas?
20. What does Lancelot see after defeating this enemy?
21. Who is Elaine?
22. What happens to Elaine?
23. What quest can only Galahad fulfill?
24. Who is the greatest knight?
25. Why doesn’t Galahad return to Camelot after seeing the Grail and Jesus Christ?
26. Why did the story of the Grail emerge?
27. Who wrote the most complete version of Arthurian legends?
28. Who tells Arthur about the affair of Lancelot and Guinevere?
29. What is the punishment for adultery?
30. Where does Lancelot go after the battle at his castle?
31. Who takes over England in Arthur’s absence?
32. Who kills Arthur?
33. Who gets to keep Excalibur?
34. Where does Arthur go when he dies?
35. Who is the last knight of the Round Table living?
For each event, find and record the page and paragraph number for Malory’s version and the line number for Tennyson’s. Then, compare the versions. Also, compare the two author’s writing styles.
1. King Arthur tells Sir Bedivere to throw the sword into the lake.
2. Description of Excalibur
3. Sir Bedivere does not throw the sword into the lake (1st time).
4. Sir Bedivere does not throw the sword into the lake (2nd time).
5. Sir Bedivere throws sword into the lake.
6. Description of the arm of the Lady of the Lake.
7. Description of Avalon.
Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory (1400s) – p. 176 – Study Guide. Indicate page & par. #s.
1. Arthur has two dreams/visions. What is the significance of the first one?
2. What is the second dream/vision?
3. Why is Gawain surrounded by women?
4. What is Gawain’s message for Arthur?
5. Who delivers Arthur’s orders concerning the peace treaty? (2 people)
6. What does the “treatise” promise to Mordred?
7. Who is Mordred?
8. Why does the battle break out?
9. Explain the significance of your answer to #8.
10. What does Sir Lucan mean when he says that Mordred is “unhappy”?
11. What does “swough” mean in the following statement: “And noble King Arthur fell in a swough to the earth”?
12. Why does Sir Lucan want to take the dying Arthur to a town?
13. Who does Arthur regret missing as he dies?
14. Which of Arthur’s knights dies before he does?
15. What is Malory’s description of Excalibur?
16. How does Sir Bedivere disobey Arthur? Why does he disobey Arthur?
17. Think about Malory’s use of the number three. What significance does it have?
18. How does Bedivere show (not tell) Arthur that he loves him and is devoted to him? Be specific. Quote the line.
19. Of what epic poem does this remind you?
20. What is a barge?
21. Who is the queen that greets Arthur at the barge?
22. What does Arthur tell Bedivere to do to comfort himself?
23. Who does Bedivere meet at the chapel?
24. Why does Bedivere faint?
25. Who were the three queens on the barge?
26. Who takes Excalibur and shakes it three times?
27. What is the significance of Arthur’s tombstone?
28. What is the primary theme of this piece?
Morte d’Arthur by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1842) – handout – Study Guide. Indicate line #s.
1. What is Lyoness and of what does it remind you?
2. Where does Sir Bedivere take King Arthur? How do they get there?
3. What saddens Arthur before he dies?
4. What does Bedivere have to cross to get to the lake?
5. Describe Excalibur.
6. How does Tennyson’s Bedivere differ from Malory’s?
7. How does Bedivere rationalize disobeying his lord?
8. For what reason does Arthur think Bedivere refuses to throw Excalibur?
9. Describe the arm of the Lady of the Lake.
10. Where does Arthur tell Bedivere to take him?
11. What is the significance of Bedivere and Arthur passing through the tombs and over the crags?
12. Why does Tennyson describe Bedivere as “larger than human on the frozen hills”?
13. Quote Tennyson’s description of the queens’ lamentations. How are these descriptions effective?
14. What is Bedivere’s greatest fear?
15. What advice does Arthur give Bedivere in order to comfort him? Quote Tennyson and explain.
16. According to Arthur, the world is bound about the feet by what? Explain this statement.
17. Describe Avilion.
18. According to Tennyson, Bedivere “revolve[s] many memories” as Arthur sails away. What significance does that statement have in relation to the theme of this work?
19. How does Tennyson’s attention to setting compare to Malory’s? Which do you prefer? Explain.