Current Events Lesson Plan: February 2-8, 2017
Current Event: Mythic Monday: Noble King Arthur
King Arthur was a king of Britain in the Middle Ages. Historians know little about Arthur, but he may have been a British leader who defeated German invaders in the early 500’s. Whatever the historical truth, it is Arthur’s legend that has captivated people’s imaginations for centuries. The exploits of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are among the most famous of Western literature. In the Latin version of Arthur’s legend (there are similar Celtic and French versions), his father was King Uther Pendragon of Britain. The king fell in love with Igrayne, the wife of his rival, the Duke of Cornwall. With the aid of Merlin, a Celtic magician, Uther took the form of the duke to deceive Igrayne, who then gave birth to Arthur. Arthur, unaware of his royal father, later pulled the magic sword Excalibur from a block of stone—a miraculous act that proved him to be the rightful heir to the throne of Britain. Arthur then became king and married Princess Guenevere. Legends about Arthur and his knights accumulated through the years. The Knights of the Round Table included such famous medieval heroes as Sir Galahad, Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Gawain, and Sir Launfal. Many Arthurian stories portray the knights’ quest for the Holy Grail, usually depicted as the cup or bowl that Jesus Christ used during the Last Supper. Many Arthurian stories take place in and around Camelot, the king’s castle in southern England.
Objective:
The Middle Ages is the name for the period in European history from about the 400′s through the 1400′s. The term Middle Ages came from some European writers in the 1300′s and 1400′s. They used the term to describe the gap—as they saw it—between the arts, culture, and society of ancient Greece and Rome and the rebirth, or renaissance, of classical ideas in their own time. Many later writers and historians accepted this description of the Middle Ages. Modern historians divide the lengthy medieval period into three parts. The early Middle Ages lasted from about the 400’s until about 1000, followed by the High Middle Ages until about 1300, and then the late Middle Ages through the 1400’s. During the Early Middle Ages, most people made their living by farming. Some peasants owned their land, however many farmers worked for a landlord. Often, they had little freedom and had to receive permission for many actions. Almost all the schools disappeared, and few people could read or write. The Christian Church helped to provide leadership for the people. During the High Middle Ages, there were some strong governments and some periods of peace. Better ways of farming meant people had more food, and the population grew. During the late Middle Ages, wars, plagues, floods, and drought brought death, disease, and hunger. The kings increased their power over the lords by getting the support of the people. This led to the beginning of the nations of modern Europe. The Behind the Headlines news story and related World Book articles explore the Middle Ages.
Words to know:
- Camelot
- Excalibur
- Galahad
- Gawain
- Holy Grail
- King Arthur
- Knights and knighthood
- Lancelot
- Launfal
- Merlin
- Middle Ages
- Round table
- Sir Thomas Malory
Discussion Topics:
1. Ask your students to name some famous people who came from England. (Students might say Sir Winston Churchill, Oliver Cromwell, Charles Darwin, Sir Francis Drake, Elizabeth II, Stephen Hawking, Henry VIII, Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Walter Raleigh, William Shakespeare, Queen Victoria, William Wilberforce.)
2. King Arthur is regarded as a national hero to some people. Ask your students to debate, “It is important for countries to have and for students to learn about national heroes.”
3. Ask your students to use World Book’s Timelines feature to view or add to the Europe: the Middle Ages timeline. (Students may wish to use World Book’s “Middle Ages” article for help.)