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
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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