Essay on The Many Versions of The Legend of King Arthur

The Many Versions of The Legend of King Arthur There are countless versions of the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Most English versions are based on Sir Thomas Malorys Le Morte dArthur, but where did these tales originate, and what different interpretations are there today? This essay seeks to examine the roots and different renditions of the various legends circulating today. The first section deals with the origins of the legend. The second section speculates on who the real King Arthur could have been. A comparison of several different versions, and suggestions of why they differ are given in the third section, and the conclusion presents an analysis on the ambiguity of the legend. The†¦show more content†¦He was also the first to use the name Camelot for Arthurs headquarters, and it was he who first told us of the Grail, though he didnt associate any religious meaning to it (It was Robert de Boron who is responsible for transforming the grail into a holy symbol, in 1210). He was the first to supply the literary form of the romance, to the transmission of the stories of Arthur. (Britannia web page) In the early 13th century, the Vulgate Cycle is written, changing the stories from verse to prose. The material begins to take on more historical and religious overtones, and here the idea that Mordred is the incestuous son ofArthur is introduced (David Nash Ford web page). In the 15th century, Sir Thomas Malorys Le Morte de Arthur is published. It is the definitive English Athurian romance (Britannia web page), and With one stroke of his pen, he transformed Arthurs Court from Dark Age obscurity to the height of middle age pageantry (David Nash Ford web page ). It is on this book that many of the modern versions are based, but by this time, it is mainly a work of literature, and there is little history left amongst his pages. From these roots, many famous poets and writers have been inspired. William Blake, Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Matthew Arnold Alfred Lord Tennyson, Mark Twain, Thomas Hardy, C.S.Lewis, John Steinbeck, Mary Stuart, and many, many more According to GeoffreyShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Once and Future King1411 Words   |  6 Pages The Once and Future King, or King Arthur, is a legend that is, despite its age, known by all. Everyone has heard of King Arthur and his loyal knights that make up the Round Table, but the rest of the famous legend is less known. If asked about Arthur’s parentage or birthplace, most people would not know. How many people can name off Arthur’s knights? Everyone knows Arthur’s name, but the details are less defined. 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