Fantasy Fiction

Lesson 2: Arthurian Fantasy

Historical and Literary Background of King Arthur

The story of King Arthur started from vague roots and grew into a grand legend bordering on myth today. He is a very important hero in the history of Britain. Arthurian legend has permeated the collective unconscious of humanity to the present day. The real story begins in the past.

King Arthur was a war chief sometime between the 5th to 8th centuries. He fought against the Anglo-Saxons that were invading Britain at that time. According to scholars, he led his people and won many battles. Historians still debate over his actual existence even to this day.

Arthur’s exploits began to show up in the literature after that. About 540 C.E. he first appears when Gildas mentions the battles that attach to Arthur. Around 800 C.E., Nennius talks about the twelve battles of Arthur. His story begins to spread into other parts of Britain too as he appears in the Welsh Mabinogion story of “Culhwch and Olwen.”

The story grew during the Middle Ages. In 1138 C.E., Geoffrey of Monmouth presents Arthur in his History of the Kings of Britain. From 1155 to 1470 C.E. writers added Merlin, knights, the Round Table, the Holy Grail, etc. Characters appeared in several popular romances by Chretien de Troyes.

Throughout these times Arthur is depicted in many ways. He is portrayed as An Epic hero like Beowulf who won many battles. Later, he appears as a symbol of the virtues of Camelot, a social force or arbitrator. At other times he is portrayed as a naive victim of fate, lost without Merlin’s advice and refusing to see the relationship between Guenivere and Lancelot.

The exploits of an ancient Briton war chief, who possibly did not exist, grew into a timeless legend that inspires people today.

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