Medieval Background

Social and Political Problems

• During Middle Ages, Western Europe faced war, illness, power struggles, and illiteracy

• People held a strong sense of faith– New architectural designs in castles– Idea of chivalry– Creation of Romance stories

Medieval Castles

• Designed as a fort or military defense

• Used landscape to their advantage

• Many different buildings for uses

• Trapped prisoners• Symbol for village

• Were built for safety - NOT for comfort– Spiral staircases– Stone (cold temperatures)– POOR sewage systems– Location– Limited exits

Legends of Residents• King Arthur

– LEGEND– Probably a 5th

century warrior– Protected people

against Saxon invaders

– Legend 1st appeared in French literature

Knights of Round Table & Holy Grail

• Authors as far back as the 1200’s have created character names for knights:– Sir Galahad, Sir Lancelot, Perceval, etc.

• Why a “Round” Table?

• Holy Grail = The cup/chalice that Jesus Christ drank from at the last supper

Modern Interpretations

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Perceval Background

• Perceval’s father and brothers are killed in battle

• Raised solely by his mother

• She shelters him from outside world

• Perceval meets King Arthur’s knights in the woods and decides to join them

• His mother is devastated, but Perceval continues his training to be a knight

“The Grail” - Chretien de Troyes• “Christian of Troyes”

• Major rhyming poem (8 syllable couplets)

• Wrote “The Grail” last (1181-1190)

• Earliest recorded account of the Quest for the Holy Grail