Class 8
- 2. Arthurian background Background to The Arthurian Legend Celts arrived on the British Isles from Northern Europe. Their religious leaders were Druids: priests, prophets, poets, magicians, scientists, and doctors. They were both expert in human knowledge and they could also deal with the gods and goddesses. Interestingly enough, Druids were They worshipped the sun and the four holidays were the two solstices, summer and winter, when the sun is closest to the earth and the two equinoxes, when it is the farthest, vernal and autumnal. The Celts were into sacrifice, to help them get enough food and to ward off illness. Britain was later conquered by the Romans, who brought Christianity, but the Celts lived pretty comfortably with the old gods and goddesses and the Christian God for many years.
- 3. Arthurian Background continued The enemies of the Britons were the Picts, from the north, the Gauls, (from what is now know as France) the The Saxons and, The Goths, and the Visigoths. The first chronicler of Arthur is Geoffrey of Monmouth, who lived in the 12th Century. His History of the Kings of England is a largely fictional work, that traces Arthur and the current Britain back to the Trojan War. Geoffrey of Monmouth's work was regarded as fiction until Geoffrey Ashe wrote a historical detective story that showed that Arthur was almost certainly Riothamus (name means (High king in Celt Rigo (King) + amos(most)). Arthur is his Roman name (remember the Romans had conquered and were benevolent invaders); it is Artorius (which means bear). Many people had both British and Roman names such as St. Patrick, who was also called Maun. Riothamus actually did fight the Gauls and was known for peace-making and his court. He also, like Arthur, was away in battle when his throne was seized and he died, discredited and alone in what is now France, near Avallon, an actual French town still.
- 4. Prior to Arthur’s Birth 1. One of the princes of Troy, Aeneas, fled to an island, killed off giants and named the island Britain after the leader, Brutus. Brutus's descendant is Constantine, father of Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon (name means hear of the dragon). Uther is the father of Arthur. 2. Aurelius and Uther are told by Merlin to go to Ireland and bring back the Giants' Ring. Uther does so and Aurelius dies while he is there. 3. Uther has a dream that he sees a huge star with a beam in the shape of a dragon. Two rays of light from his mouth, one pointing toward Gaul and the other into seven smaller rays. It comes 3 times. Merlin tells him that he is the dragon because his brother is dead and that his son will live near Gaul and rule over all and that the 7 rays will be Morgawse's sons, who will rule after him. (Gawain, Gareth, Mordred, Agravain, Gaheris)
- 5. Group work: Get into groups of 7. Each group will fill out an overhead and present it to the class. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Rank’s Hero: Arthur Rank’s hero: Mordred Arthur’s Campbell’s hero’s Departure Arthur’s Campbell’s hero’s Initiation Arthur’s Campbell’s hero’s Return How Merlin represents tricksters Bierlin’s Meanings in Arthur
- 6. Homework: For Class 9 (Oct. 21) Rosenberg: pp. 296-321 Ramayana