Le Morte d’Arthur – Flashcards
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Explain the first dream that King Arthur wakes up from.
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he is sitting in a chair and all of a sudden a wheel turns the chair and flips him over into a black water filled with serpents and fair ladies
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What did King Arthur's first dream represent?
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a premonition of his death and fall of his kingdom
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What does King Arthur's chair symbolize?
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his throne
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Who appears to Arthur in the next vision? What does he warn him of?
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Sir Gawain; he says everyone will die
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For how long should Arthur and Mordred hold off fighting? What are they waiting for?
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1 month and 1 day; they are waiting for Lancelot to return and help Arthur fight
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Why are Arthur and Mordred waiting on Lancelot?
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because Lancelot was vanished for having an affair with Guenevere
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Which trusted brothers does Arthur get to write up the treaty?
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Sir Lucan & Sir Bedivere
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Which land will Mordred get from the treaty?
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Cornwall & Kent during Arthur's days and when King Arthur dies, all of England
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What does King Arthur warn his men to do before meeting up with Mordred's army? Why?
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to be ready to fight if someone pulls out their sword; he does not trust Mordred
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What did Mordred tell his men?
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the same thing as King Arthur; if they see anyone on Arthur's side, pull out their sword and attack
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What came out of the bush and stung a knight's foot?
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an adder (snake)
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What did the snake biting the knight's foot cause?
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the knight took out his sword and chopped the snake's head off; this caused a war
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What are King Arthur's words when the war begins?
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"Alas, this unhappy day"
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Who were the only of King Arthur's men left alive (but wounded) after the battle?
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Sir Lucan le Butler and his brother & Sir Bedivere
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Who was the only one left alive on Mordred's side after the battle?
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Mordred
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Who tries to stop King Arthur from fighting Mordred? Why?
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Sir Lucan; because they have more men alive than Mordred does; it is not worth it for them
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Give a description of the battle between Arthur and Mordred.
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Arthur ran at Mordred with a spear and Mordred heard him coming; he ran at Arthur and held his sword with both hands; he pushes the sword further in to be closer to Arthur and then strikes Arthur with his sword; Mordred falls down dead and Arthur faints
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Where do Lucan and Bedivere bring Arthur after the battle?
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the chapel
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Why were people crying out in the battlefield?
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looters were looking for dead men to take their goods; they were also slaying people who were alive and taking their goods
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Who does King Arthur say he's missed?
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Sir Lancelot
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What happens to Sir Lucan?
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he fell into a swoon and part of his guts fell out of his body and his head bursted; his heart exploded and he died lay foaming at the mouth
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What does King Arthur ask Bedivere to do for him?
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he wants him to take his sword (Excalibur), throw it in the water, and tell him what he sees
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What does Sir Bedivere do with Excalibur when he goes to the water? What does he tell Arthur he's done?
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he puts it under a tree; he tells Arthur he put it in the water
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How many times does Sir Bedivere not throw the sword in the water?
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twice
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What happens the third time Bedivere goes to the lake?
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he throws the sword in, the Lady of the Lake catches is, brandishes it, and goes back into the water (does this 3 times)
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What is waiting for Arthur at the water's edge?
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a barge with weeping women
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Who is in the barge? To where is the barge going?
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Morgan le Faye, the queen of North Wales, queen of the Wastelands, and the queen of De Minerve; the barge is going to Avalon
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Who does Bedivere meet when he approaches the chapel? Who does he say has been buried?
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the hermit who used to be the archbishop of Canterbury; King Arthur
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What does Sir Bedivere resolve to do for the rest of his days?
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become a hermit praying for King Arthur
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What is written on King Arthur's tomb?
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"Here Lies Arthur, The Once and Future King"
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Where is the chapel in which Sir Bedivere dwells?
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Glastonbury
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What did Guenevere become? Why?
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a nun; to repent for the affair with Lancelot
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There are many references and symbols that lie in with Christianity in both "Morte d'Arthur" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." What are some examples of these that both these stories seem to share?
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the repetition of the number 3 (has to do with the Trinity) and they both contain the Christian hope of redemption
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What motivates Arthur to fight Mordred to the death? In your opinion, is Arthur's decision wise? Why or why not?
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Mordred is his enemy so he felt the need to fight Mordred to the death; no, Arthur's decision was not wise because Mordred had no one left
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How would you describe the mood of this selection? Does it change as the story progresses? What details does Mallory use to achieve this mood?
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tense, fearful; yes, the mood changes to hopeful with the treaty
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In the literature of medieval Europe, King Arthur came to represent the ideal of chivalry. In what ways does he embody this ideal?
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he is brave, honorable, noble, puts others before himself, and fights for his kingdom
