This term paper focuses on the perception of the Holy Grail and also on the represenation of the Arthurian legend in the Monty Python movie.
The Arthurian legend is one of the widest known legends of the middle ages and the story about King Arthur can be dated back to the 9th century. Then his name was first mentioned in the "Historia Brittonum", which is a Latin compilation of historical texts and events. In the "Historia Brittonum" he was described as a Roman British military leader unlike to his later image as the king of the Britons who fought against the Anglo Saxons.
The first mention of Arthur as the king of Britons was then in the 12th century by the British author Geoffrey of Monmouth in his "Historia Regum Britannie". This was also the time when the Arthurian literary circle became part of the Matter of Britain, a collective body of medieval literature and legendary material which is associated with Great Britain.
Monmouth's "Historia Regnum Britannie" functioned as the base for Robert Wace's verse history "Roman de Brut". In this text the renowned round table of king Arthur and his knights was first mentioned and also the name of the magical sword Excalibur first arose. Moreover, in the 12th century the French poet Chrétien de Troyes wrote his works based on the Arthurian legend. He added the stories about Parceval, one of Arthur's knights, and the search for the holy grail.
This research report argues that the story about Arthur and his knights never lost its significance and its fascination over hundreds of years, even up until today. Not only by actors during the middle ages, the story was used for their mystery plays, but also in the 20th century the Arthurian legend can be found in several texts and movies, one of which is Monthy Python and the Holy Grail.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Story of the Holy Grail
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
4.Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the endurance of the Arthurian legend from its medieval origins to its modern cultural interpretations. It specifically explores how the narrative of the Holy Grail evolved over centuries and analyzes how the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" utilizes this legendary material to deconstruct romanticized historical perceptions through comedy and satire.
- Historical evolution of the King Arthur figure from the 9th century to the medieval literary tradition.
- Symbolism and narrative significance of the Holy Grail in various literary sources.
- Translation and popularization of Arthurian tales in medieval England.
- Satirical representation of medieval history and King Arthur in 20th-century cinema.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
In the Monty Python movie from 1975 the image of king Arthur and the middle ages are represented in an escapist way. The image of king Arthur is mocked and there is not only the medieval setting of the story but three intermingling realities are shown to the audience . Nearly all of the Monty Python creators have more or less a background which has something to do with the middle ages. Either it was part of their studies , or they were interested in the topic. This means that they know certain things about the middle ages and could have represented them more realistically .Nevertheless, they decided, due to the comedy genre they work in, to make fun of the romanticized historical figure of king Arthur and to deliberately mix the reality of the dark Ages with their own reality, Great Britain in the 1970´s . Already the second scene of the movie shows the misrepresentation of king Arthur and the clash of the different realities. This scene mocks the image of King Arthur ,who is normally depicted as a brave, fearless hero and with riches that cannot easily be found elsewhere, but in the scene he is shown as a king without sufficient financial means . For example , instead of riding on a horse his servant has to use coconuts to imitate the clapping of the hooves on the ground. This shows his lack of money, he cannot even afford a horse on his own. Another indicator for his bad financial situation is that he is only accompanied by one servant, unlike the common practice at that times for kings, to travel with a whole household of servants.(Larsen 54) The realistic representation of the middle ages is interrupted in this scene, when a guard starts to talk about the migration of coconuts from one place to the other:
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter provides a historical overview of the Arthurian legend, tracing its roots from early Latin texts to its development in medieval English literature.
2. The Story of the Holy Grail: This section investigates the symbolic function of the Holy Grail as a mystical object and its integration into the Arthurian cycle by various writers.
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail: This chapter analyzes how the 1975 film satirizes the idealized medieval world and the legendary figure of King Arthur by blending historical myth with 1970s reality.
4.Conclusion: The final chapter reflects on the enduring fascination with Arthurian myths and their continued relevance in modern culture as a mirror of historical identity.
Keywords
Arthurian legend, Holy Grail, Middle Ages, King Arthur, Matter of Britain, Monty Python, Satire, Literary history, Medieval literature, Excalibur, Cultural representation, Parzival, Chrétien de Troyes, Modern adaptation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the historical perception of the Arthurian legend, specifically focusing on the Holy Grail motif and how this narrative has persisted from medieval literature to modern satirical film.
Which central themes are examined in the study?
The key themes include the evolution of King Arthur from a military leader to a literary hero, the theological and magical symbolism of the Holy Grail, and the use of comedy to subvert romanticized history.
What is the primary research question?
The research explores why the story of Arthur and his knights remains significant and how it maintains its fascination for audiences across centuries, moving from medieval mystery plays to modern cinema.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a qualitative literary and historical analysis, examining primary medieval sources alongside contemporary film theory to contrast historical myths with modern representations.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main sections cover the emergence of Arthur in early historical compilations, the literary development of the Holy Grail, the popularization of these tales in England, and a detailed look at "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Arthurian legend, Holy Grail, Monty Python, medieval literature, satire, historical representation, and cultural studies.
How does "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" differ from traditional Arthurian retellings?
Unlike traditional versions that focus on heroism and religious questing, the film uses anachronistic comedy and satire to mock the financial, social, and romanticized aspects of the medieval narrative.
What role did language translation play in the popularity of Arthurian tales in England?
Translating these tales from French into English made the legendary material accessible to a wider audience, which was considered important for the cultural and religious identity of the English-speaking population.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2015, The perception of the Arthurian legend during Medieval Times and today. The Holy Grail, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/353485
