Crazy Guggenheim
03-14-2009, 01:47 PM
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King Arthur is a legendary British ([Only registered and activated users can see links](historical)) leader who, according to medieval histories and romances ([Only registered and activated users can see links](genre)), led the defence of Britain against the Saxon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians.[2] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-1) The sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales Cambriae ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the Historia Brittonum ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), and the writings of Gildas ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). Arthur's name also occurs in early poetic sources such as Y Gododdin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).[3] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-2)
The legendary Arthur developed as a figure of international interest largely through the popularity of Geoffrey of Monmouth ([Only registered and activated users can see links])'s fanciful and imaginative 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (History of the Kings of Britain).[4] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-3) However, some Welsh ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and Breton ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) tales and poems relating the story of Arthur date from earlier than this work; in these works, Arthur appears either as a great warrior defending Britain from human and supernatural enemies or as a magical figure of folklore, sometimes associated with the Welsh Otherworld, Annwn ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).[5] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-4) How much of Geoffrey's Historia (completed in 1138) was adapted from such earlier sources, rather than invented by Geoffrey himself, is unknown.
Although the themes, events and characters of the Arthurian legend varied widely from text to text, and there is no one canonical version, Geoffrey's version of events ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_of_Monmouth) often served as the starting point for later stories. Geoffrey depicted Arthur as a king of Britain who defeated the Saxons and established an empire over Britain ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Ireland ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Iceland ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Norway ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and Gaul ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). In fact, many elements and incidents that are now an integral part of the Arthurian story appear in Geoffrey's Historia, including Arthur's father Uther Pendragon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the wizard Merlin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the sword Excalibur ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Arthur's birth at Tintagel ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), his final battle against Mordred ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) at Camlann ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and final rest in Avalon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), who added Lancelot ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and the Holy Grail ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) to the story, began the genre of Arthurian romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). In these French stories, the narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights of the Round Table ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the legend lives on, both in literature and in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and other media.
King Arthur is a legendary British ([Only registered and activated users can see links](historical)) leader who, according to medieval histories and romances ([Only registered and activated users can see links](genre)), led the defence of Britain against the Saxon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians.[2] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-1) The sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales Cambriae ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the Historia Brittonum ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), and the writings of Gildas ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). Arthur's name also occurs in early poetic sources such as Y Gododdin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).[3] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-2)
The legendary Arthur developed as a figure of international interest largely through the popularity of Geoffrey of Monmouth ([Only registered and activated users can see links])'s fanciful and imaginative 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (History of the Kings of Britain).[4] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-3) However, some Welsh ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and Breton ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) tales and poems relating the story of Arthur date from earlier than this work; in these works, Arthur appears either as a great warrior defending Britain from human and supernatural enemies or as a magical figure of folklore, sometimes associated with the Welsh Otherworld, Annwn ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).[5] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_note-4) How much of Geoffrey's Historia (completed in 1138) was adapted from such earlier sources, rather than invented by Geoffrey himself, is unknown.
Although the themes, events and characters of the Arthurian legend varied widely from text to text, and there is no one canonical version, Geoffrey's version of events ([Only registered and activated users can see links]_of_Monmouth) often served as the starting point for later stories. Geoffrey depicted Arthur as a king of Britain who defeated the Saxons and established an empire over Britain ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Ireland ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Iceland ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Norway ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and Gaul ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). In fact, many elements and incidents that are now an integral part of the Arthurian story appear in Geoffrey's Historia, including Arthur's father Uther Pendragon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the wizard Merlin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the sword Excalibur ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Arthur's birth at Tintagel ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), his final battle against Mordred ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) at Camlann ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and final rest in Avalon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), who added Lancelot ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and the Holy Grail ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) to the story, began the genre of Arthurian romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). In these French stories, the narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights of the Round Table ([Only registered and activated users can see links]). Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the legend lives on, both in literature and in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and other media.