5 Epic Arthurian Legends You Should Read

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For centuries, the Arthurian legend has inspired (and continues to inspire) countless books, poems, movies, and television shows. Most recently, a new movie titled The Green Knight opens in theaters today.

The film is based in particular on one of the best-known Arthurian legends: a romantic poem called “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”. Starring Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton, The Green Knight is a retelling of the classic poem that follows Sir Gawain on his journey to confront the mysterious Green Knight, coming face to face with thieves, ghosts, schemers and giants along the way. .

You are reading: Best books on arthurian legend

In honor of the Green Knight, here are five incredible classic stories about King Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, and other iconic characters from Arthurian legends.

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sir gawain and the green knight from the poet gawain

Since this list was inspired by the new movie, the first recommendation I have for you is dedicated to the poem the movie is based on. the poem has been translated numerous times from the original anonymous source.

During a Christmas party in Camelot, a strange gentleman with green hair and green skin, riding a green horse, enters the hall. he issues a surprising challenge: any knight can hit him with a single blow from a battle axe. Within a year, the green knight will strike back at the knight. Sir Gawain accepts the knight’s challenge and beheads him.

However, to the astonishment of everyone at the party, the green knight raises his severed head and walks away, but not before reminding gawain to meet him at the green chapel in a year and a day. The rest of the poem tells the story of Gawain’s quest to meet the Green Knight again and all the events he experienced throughout the year.

the history of the kings of great britain by geoffrey of monmouth

Completed in 1136, the history of the kings of britain is geoffrey of monmouth’s linear history of pre-saxon britain, beginning with its founding of “trojan exiles” and ending with “the loss of british sovereignty (Celtic)” at the hands of German (Saxon) invaders. Geoffrey introduces readers to iconic characters from classic literature, including King Lear, Cymbeline, Merlin, Vortigern, and (most importantly) King Arthur.

geoffrey chronicles the life of arthur from his birth to his death and describes arthur’s triumphs, losses, challenges, heroism and more. Geoffrey’s work served as the inspiration for many Arthurian legends throughout history, right up to the present day. His influence can be seen in the works of such famous literary writers as Shakespeare, Tennyson and Malory.

le morte d’arthur (volumes 1 and 2) by sir thomas malory

Malory’s retelling of the Arthurian legends is possibly the most significant and influential of the classical Arthurian stories. he consulted English and French sources to “give an epic unity to the myth of Arthur.” In 1485, William Caxton edited and published this work, and the rest is history.

The story begins with Arthur’s birth and recounts all the important moments in Arthur’s life, including his claim to Excalibur, his marriage to Guenever, his clashes with Morgan Le Fay, and the adventures of his Knights of the Table. round. love, adventure, battle, and enchantment are woven into a magical tapestry that transports readers to the medieval world.

The second volume continues with stories about Arthur, but also looks at some of Arthur’s most famous knights, such as Sir Tristram and Sir Lancelot. The famous story about the quest for the Holy Grail is told, along with Arthur’s final and fatal battle with Mordred.

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the story of king arthur and his knights by howard pyle

In this Arthurian tale, Pyle divides his account of Arthur’s life into two main sections, each with three smaller parts: the first is “The Book of King Arthur” and the second is “The Book of the Three Kings.” worthy”.

In “The Book of King Arthur,” Pyle begins with Arthur’s childhood and upbringing. He recounts the miraculous event where Arthur first pulls the sword out of the stone. Pyle then recounts Arthur’s loss to King Pellinore and his quest to find the sword Excalibur and his second encounter with King Pellinore. Finally, the last big story in the first section is Arthur’s courtship of Guinevere and the challenges he overcomes before Guinevere becomes his bride.

The first story in “The Book of the Three Worthies” tells how the sorcerer Merlin fell under the spell of Vivien, a friend of Arthur’s wicked sister, Morgan Le Fay. Pyle also describes how Arthur and his knight, Sir Aclon, became prisoners of Sir Nomas Le Noir and the circumstances that led not only to the two friends fighting each other almost to the death, but also how Arthur fell into Sir Nomas’s care. vivien and how she stole excalibur from him.

The second story focuses on Sir Pellias and his strange journey to Grantmesnle’s court to determine if Lady Ettard is more beautiful than Queen Guinevere. While on the way to court, Sir Pellias travels to the forest of adventure, where strange events befall the knight. The story also tells of Sir Pellias and Sir Gawain’s infatuation with the Lady of the Lake, and what their love and lust is for the causes that happen.

Finally, the third story in “The Book of the Three Worthies” focuses on Sir Gawain. The events that serve as the catalyst for Gawain’s adventures are when he, King Arthur, and the other men of Arthur’s court see a dog hunting a deer and the attack and capture of a lady by another knight. Gawaine investigates the strange events, hoping to make sense of what he and the others witnessed.

In addition to the strange adventures of Gawain, the final tale also features King Arthur and his encounter with an old knight who challenges Arthur to a duel. Arthur wins and promises the knight that he will return in a year to solve a riddle. he meets an old woman who tells him that she can help solve the riddle, but he must allow her to marry one of his knights (of his choosing) in return.

the former and future king by t.h. white

In this Arthurian tale, Wart is a boy under the tutelage of the wizard Merlyn. Wart’s future is beyond anything he could ever imagine, and Merlyn knows exactly who the boy is (and who he will become). wart will befriend and ally with the greatest and most chivalrous knights that ever lived. he will take a beautiful woman as his queen. Under Wart’s rule, a country will come together and uphold the code of chivalry for all to see. wart will become king arthur of the british. camelot will emerge as a shining star in the middle ages.

However, the future of wart is not as ideal or as clear as it seems. Merlyn knows what evils will befall Arthur: her queen’s forbidden affair with Lancelot, Morgause’s evil plans against her brother, and Morgause’s abhorrence implanted within Mordred. The last is perhaps the most dangerous of all, as Mordred’s hatred for Arthur will bring ruin not only to the King but also to the people of Britain.

Other content

5 Epic Arthurian Legends You Should Read

sir gawain and the green knight from the poet gawain

the history of the kings of great britain by geoffrey of monmouth

le morte d’arthur (volumes 1 and 2) by sir thomas malory

the story of king arthur and his knights by howard pyle

the former and future king by t.h. white

featured image via standalone

synopsis of ‘sir gawain’ via sparknotes and the british library

synopsis of ‘the history of the kings of britain’ via amazon and broadview press

synopsis of ‘le morte d’arthur’ via amazon

‘the story of king arthur and his knights’ synopsis via amazon and wikipedia

synopsis of ‘the old and future king’ through amazon

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