The Day of Destiny from Le Morte dArthur

1
The Day of Destinyfrom Le Morte dArthur

• By
• Sir Thomas Malory

2
Arthurs Dream

• He was appareled in gold cloth and seated in a
  chair which stood on a pivoted scaffold. Below
  him, many fathoms deep, was a dark well, and in
  the water swam serpents, dragons, and wild
  beasts. Suddenly the scaffold tilted and Arthur
  was flung into the water, where all the creatures
  struggled toward him and began tearing him limb
  from limb. (216)

3
Arthurs Dream

• Beasts of the water
• Serpents
• symbol of evil and deception
• Sir Modred
• Foreshadowing the death of King Arthur?

4
Arthurs Dream

• Vision of Sir Gawain
• Begs King Arthur not to battle Sir Modred
  tomorrow.
• Wait for Lancelot to come back and he will defeat
  Sir Modred

5
Characteristics of King Arthur

• Hero
• Honorable
• Brave
• Super-natural

6
The Snake

• Bites the knight
• The knight pulls out his sword to kill the
  serpent
• As soon as the sword is drawn, both sides see it
  as an act of war.
• Because of the serpent, many people die
• Allusion?
• The serpent in the Garden of Eden

7
The Honorable Knights

• The knights give their lives for King Arthur
• Sir Lucas the Butler
• Dies trying to comfort and protect King Arthur
• Sir Bedivere the Bold
• Lives with the monk to honor King Arthur

8
The End of King Arthur?

• Tomb stone inscription
• Here lies Arthur, the once and future king.
• Legend
• Some believe Arthur did not die and the he will
  return Britain to glory.