Week 4
King Arthur and the "Matter of Britain."
King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Great Britain, where he appears as the ideal of kingship both in war and peace. He is the central character in the cycle of legends known as the Matter of Britain. There is disagreement about whether Arthur, or a model for him, ever actually existed. In the earliest mentions and in Welsh texts, he is never given the title 'King'. An early text refers to him as a dux bellorum ('war leader'), and medieval Welsh texts often call him ameraudur ('emperor'; the word is borrowed from the Latin imperator, which could also mean 'war leader')." (Wikipedia)
You also may want to consult the Wikipedia: King Arthur which is very useful.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript,
Helen Cooper (editor),
Oxford University Press (2008),
ISBN 0199537348
READING MALORY:
Read the editor Helen Cooper's Introduction on p. vi. It is very good and very helpful and I recommend that you also read the few pages she provides on this text (pp. xxiii-xxvi). And yes I know you will all remind me that I always say don't read the introduction, but that is exactly why I am writing this all out in detail. This introduction is useful. Then you will move forward with Malory's text beginning on p.3. This text is very long, running to more than 500 pages, and I do not expect you will want to read all of it. So, how much? I would say read through the story of Lancelot which ends on p. 119. That will give you a very good idea of what the tale of Arthur is all about and what Malory cared about.
