Reading and Rambling: Mallory's Le Morte D'Arthur
Version: John Matthews edited, with illustrations by Anna-Marie Feuguson. 2000.
So far, I'm still in the introduction and overview all of which is providing more than ample reason why I should just go and finish the book. The anecdotes and historical reference is refreshing, and I know that the bits I read in childhood had a lot of detail edited out of it to "save" our child-like sensibilities. It seems that the author of Le Morte D'Arthur (LMA)is just as mysterious as the greatest leader Briton has ever known. He's evolved from the warlord who united the Celts and led them to victory, as others rewrote the tales to fit in with the audience, times and even theological ideals. Geoffrey of Monmouth was an inventive liar, he started to collect the tales and started with the life of Merlin the wizard, who aged backwards. Then came others,each adding or editing out the tales bit by bit. Lancelot never existed until there was a need for courtly love and dramatics, Arthur wasn't a king. The Grail? Not really a major point until the monks got their hands on these tales. What started as Celtic legends to remember a man who kept them from being overrun by the Saxons soon became an epic cycle, of chivalry, honor, valour and tragedy.
Whither has not the flying fame spread and familiarized the name of Arthur the Briton, even as far as the empire of Christendom extends? Who, I say, does not speak of Arthur the Briton, since he is almost better known to the peoples of Asia than to the Britanni, as our palmers returning from the East inform us? The Eastern peoples speak of him, as do the Western, though separated by the width of the whole earth . . .Rome, queen of cities, sings his deeds, nor are Arthur's wars unknown to her former rival Carthage, Antioch, Armenia, Palestine celebrate his acts.
Alanus de Insulis, Prophetia Anglicana Merlini (1175)
From that quote, and it's often been used in conjunction with the tales of King Arthur it's sort of crazy weird the influence the mythic figures had on the world. Who's never heard of him really? Is a bit shocked about the fact that it was known to the people in Egypt.
1. Mordred was not always the bastard son of Arthur and his half-sister Morgause. He was once another lord in his own right.
2. The sword Excalibur/Caliburn - is not the sword in the stone. That honour falls to Clarent, or another unnamed blade. It shatters in battle, resulting in Arthur's need to retrieve Excalibur from the Lake. The name derives from the Welsh word Caledfwlch (CALED - battle, hard & BWLCH - breach, gap, notch) and was later latinised into Caliburnus. (CALIBS/CHALYBS - steel) It is later changed to Excalibur by the French and takes on the meaning of "cut steel".
3. There's a version of the legends where Arthur tried to drown Mordred and other children of his birth year at sea in order to avoid the downfall, but Mordred is rescued and raised away from court.
4. The Lady of the Lake's true identity has never been proven and she goes by quite a few names.
5. Sir Dinadis, forced into a dress after being knocked out in a joust with Sir Lancelot. Also murdered by Mordred later on.
To read: The Mabinogion ~ Charlotte Guest, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ~ Anon
So far, I'm still in the introduction and overview all of which is providing more than ample reason why I should just go and finish the book. The anecdotes and historical reference is refreshing, and I know that the bits I read in childhood had a lot of detail edited out of it to "save" our child-like sensibilities. It seems that the author of Le Morte D'Arthur (LMA)is just as mysterious as the greatest leader Briton has ever known. He's evolved from the warlord who united the Celts and led them to victory, as others rewrote the tales to fit in with the audience, times and even theological ideals. Geoffrey of Monmouth was an inventive liar, he started to collect the tales and started with the life of Merlin the wizard, who aged backwards. Then came others,each adding or editing out the tales bit by bit. Lancelot never existed until there was a need for courtly love and dramatics, Arthur wasn't a king. The Grail? Not really a major point until the monks got their hands on these tales. What started as Celtic legends to remember a man who kept them from being overrun by the Saxons soon became an epic cycle, of chivalry, honor, valour and tragedy.
Whither has not the flying fame spread and familiarized the name of Arthur the Briton, even as far as the empire of Christendom extends? Who, I say, does not speak of Arthur the Briton, since he is almost better known to the peoples of Asia than to the Britanni, as our palmers returning from the East inform us? The Eastern peoples speak of him, as do the Western, though separated by the width of the whole earth . . .Rome, queen of cities, sings his deeds, nor are Arthur's wars unknown to her former rival Carthage, Antioch, Armenia, Palestine celebrate his acts.
Alanus de Insulis, Prophetia Anglicana Merlini (1175)
From that quote, and it's often been used in conjunction with the tales of King Arthur it's sort of crazy weird the influence the mythic figures had on the world. Who's never heard of him really? Is a bit shocked about the fact that it was known to the people in Egypt.
1. Mordred was not always the bastard son of Arthur and his half-sister Morgause. He was once another lord in his own right.
2. The sword Excalibur/Caliburn - is not the sword in the stone. That honour falls to Clarent, or another unnamed blade. It shatters in battle, resulting in Arthur's need to retrieve Excalibur from the Lake. The name derives from the Welsh word Caledfwlch (CALED - battle, hard & BWLCH - breach, gap, notch) and was later latinised into Caliburnus. (CALIBS/CHALYBS - steel) It is later changed to Excalibur by the French and takes on the meaning of "cut steel".
3. There's a version of the legends where Arthur tried to drown Mordred and other children of his birth year at sea in order to avoid the downfall, but Mordred is rescued and raised away from court.
4. The Lady of the Lake's true identity has never been proven and she goes by quite a few names.
5. Sir Dinadis, forced into a dress after being knocked out in a joust with Sir Lancelot. Also murdered by Mordred later on.
To read: The Mabinogion ~ Charlotte Guest, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ~ Anon