Sir Agravaine #3

Hello again everyone,

I know as a knight I am supposed to be fearless and nothing should bother me, but even me, as perfect as I am, have some fears. My Biggest fear is to lose my wife, Lady Floree, who is the love of my life. We met at a tournament that was held at Camelot. It was love at first sight for both of us. Shortly after, we got married. We were happy, but as a knight, I knew that I might make her a widow someday and I felt guilty because of it. At the same time, I was more scared to live my life without her. I did not want to imagine life without her welcoming me home when I come back from battles. I knew that if I died in a battle, she will be fine since she is the niece of the king of Scotland, and I know that if she died, I will not be able to function as knight anymore because I will be so broken. This fear is my motivation in battles, is what help me become a better warrior and a better knight.

Sir Bedivere #2

Hi again, it’s me, the most handsome-man to ever roam the earth, Sir Bedivere. Besides my good looks, I am known to be incredibly skilled with a sword and to some to be inhumanly fast, which is still up for debate. I had two hands most of my life, but I can’t seem to remember how I lost the one later. I am well-known for tossing the sword, Excalibur, to the Lady of the Lake, which marked the end of Arthur’s glorious reign. It took me three times to part with Excalibur, as I was its creator. I am very tall, can grow a spectacular beard and can often be seen wearing my armour. I’m hard to miss, especially with only one hand.

Sir Bedivere (Bedwyr)

Hello to all, I am Sir Bedivere (or Bedwyr) of King Arthur’s round table. I am known by all to be the most handsome, one-handed man in the world! My name literally translates to ‘very strong and muscular man’, and believe me I live up to that. I was the first Knight to strike and kill the giant, Ysbaddaden with a poisoned spear. My father is Dedrawt, and my brother is Sir Lucan. I was born around 495 AD in England. In my prime man-hood many women wanted me, but I only chose to be with one special lady, although her name escapes me now; nobody can seem to remember her name actually. We had a daughter, Enefog and a son, Amren together. After some time of our marriage I believed my wife to be an adulteress, so I did the only thing any man would do. I hunted her down on a horse and tried to kill her. I was stopped by Sir Lancelot, because it was unlawful to kill any women. I survived the fight between Sir Lancelot and I, but later die and am buried on Tryfan.

Assignment 3

This assignment is due on Monday October 9th by 12 noon. So far I have been impressed by the quality of the responses. Please make any "revisions" to weaker entries from the first two weeks by this date. I am going to go over the first three assignments and provide some individual feedback. Keep up the good work.

Assignment 3. Okay, this one took a little thought. It's a bit of a challenge, but let's see how you do. Each and every one of you (i.e. your characters) has a fear or something they are afraid of. What is it that you are afraid of? More importantly explain why are you afraid of it.

This could be an idea, a concept, or an actual thing or person. Think about it, and see if you can come up with a plausible answer. This assignment is the first real "think" piece, so try to think about your answer before quickly jotting something down. It is certainly not an assignment to let wait until Monday at 11:45 a.m. There isn't necessarily a "right" answer, or just one answer, for some characters. Choose which answer best suits your idea of your character and their motivations.

Good Luck.

Sir Lancelot #2

A fine day to you again! I see you have returned to learn more about me. Often described as being a  handsome lad, I am neither dark nor very fair in complexion, but rather a gentle mixing of the two. I have curly, auburn hair, bright eyes and a strong body which has aided me in being a great knight. Originally a White Knight; the armor The Lady of the Lake provided me with, I have changed my armor many a time, and thus, have been a Red Knight, Green Knight and even a Black Knight. I usually have my trustworthy sword Arondight on me as well.

King Mark of Cornwall #2

Greetings to you all! It is I, the handsome, treacherous, underhanded King Mark of Cornwall. I shall say my appearance is quiet attractive. I have a nice lined beard and yield my sword often! I wear my crown with confidence and have a stern structured facial expression. I wear a black and red sleeved coat with a black/white undergarment and  I style my hair slicked back. Unfortunately, I had to kill my nephew, Tristan, for falling in love with my beautiful Irish wife Isolde. I sit on my lavish throne in a forbidding manner and display disloyalty to all of my people.

Guinevere #2

https://www.thetapestryhouse.com/tapestries/view/373/the-lady

I have long luscious ash blonde hair, I am the queen of Camelot, married to King Arthur. I have the riches fabrics in the kingdom so I wear long rich dresses. I wear whites and golds on common days and deep red and blue dresses on formal occasions. I can never miss wearing my golden crown consisting of the most luxurious stones. 

I chose this picture because Guinevere is not completely happy with King Arthur, so she falls in love with her knight, Lancelot. This image depicts sorrow on her face yet beauty and elegance, this is how I see my character. Strong and courageous yet fragile. You can see in the back of the image she is being watched.

Sir Kay #2

Greetings and good day,

My good King Arthur has asked me to put to ink a description of myself so that my legacy may carry on to all the good children of England. Since my birth I have always been the biggest lad around. I followed in my dear fathers footsteps and trained day and night to become a worthy warrior. Therefore I am strong and there are few who could best me in a bare handed battle. As a knight in the service of King Arthur I always wear my tunic and sigil showing support for our King. I wear armor to battle and will always have a sword on my person. Some say my sword was made with old magic, for no man has survived even the smallest wound from it.

(Sir Ector on left and Sir Kay on right)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiS44jI8LnWAhVM1CYKHa8UC74QjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSir_Kay&psig=AFQjCNG1tZnEQB0g1R7-pOOkoD10EqubGw&ust=1506206950493331

Merlin the Magician #2

As most of you can come to conclude I am an old man, I've been told there is wisdom in my eyes. I have a long white beard that, I am proud to say, took me decades to grow and I dress in a dark robe with a hood to keep me warm and nonchalant. I wear an intricate headpiece that symbolizes my commitment to God. I am usually found accompanied by my good pal Archimedes, the owl. He is wise and gives great advice, most of the time. I am known to be a Wild Man and therefore appear sometimes in forms of animals. I am usually pictured at a desk, since I am a tutor to Arthur, but really I travel a lot to help people.

King Arthur: Who am I really

Many of you have asked to know more about me. I, King Arthur, am known by many for the story of pulling a sword out of a stone, which led to me to my title of King. As King, I take action in many battles. When preparing for battle I started by getting dressed in my undergarments, pants, and blouse. Next, I would put on my gauntlets (which are currently known as gloves), a cowl (a loose hood), cloak, and hauberk (my armor covering my neck). Many photos depict me as a king that sits in Camelot, however, when I am in war with my knights, we are unwashed, unshaven, and are looking for a source of heat throughout my travels.

Sir Ywain

Greetings fellow Arthurian, I am pleased you have come to gaze upon the Knight of the Lion. My title as Knight of the Lion was bestowed upon me following my heroic deed of saving a lion from a serpent (sometimes said to be a dragon), who then becomes my loyal companion and a symbol of knightly virtue. This noble beast aided me on multiple adventures. Helping me defeat both the giant Harpin, and three fierce knights. Therefore, I am often portrayed in the company of a lion, or have a lion emblem on my shield.

Sir Mordred #2

(x)

Oh, you’ve returned. 

You want to know my appearance, you say? 

Very well, to whet your curiosity, I’ll do it, though I would think it should be an obvious enough thing. I’m fair complexioned, with pale eyes and dark, curly hair. I’m taller than any of my brothers, but, then again, despite their claims otherwise, that is no hard feat. My years of training as a knight have given me a fine form, with a lean, nimble body well-suited to the tourney. Amid all the usual equipment you would expect a knight to carry, my shield is probably the one thing that particularly stands out, as it is black with a silver bend sinister on it. Indeed, it is so recognizable that once, King Mark-But that was another time, long ago. Outside the blood and sweat of the tourney, I usually favor the proper clothes for my rank. Dark velvets, silks, etcetera, etcetera. I’ve heard tell by some in the castle that I would be handsome, were it not for a certain wickedness to be found in my expression, though I’ve not the slightest idea what they mean. But I suppose that gossips will do what they will, and their prattling are nothing to me, as there are plenty of others who seem willing to put up with my all my expressions, wicked as it may be. Indeed, I suspect they might appreciate them all the more.   

Oh, after my riveting tale last time, you want more of the dark side of Camelot? Who shall I discuss next, then, I wonder? What part of the bright, gleaming glamour that is Camelot shall we pick at today? (Sometime, I will have to tell you the sad truth about the weather, though that would take the better part of a day.) 

Hm, I believe I have discussed my father and mother in more than enough detail. If you cannot guess my feelings as to the former in particular by now, I’m not entirely convinced you’re intelligent enough to be worth my time. 

Very well, I suppose that now we should move on to the true king of England, Sir Lancelot. Good, decent, faithful Sir Lancelot, the dream of every young maiden and the envy of every young squire. Even, I will admit, a certain young knight from Orkney, at one point. What can I say? I was naive; I was excited to be out among all these knights of renown and bravery for the first time. We even travelled together, after Lancelot dealt with a…minor inconvenience of mine that is best not spoken of. Suffice it to say, I had the situation entirely under my control, however in my chivalry-addled state I viewed his intrusion as some sort of rescue. We even traveled together for a time, after he freed himself from some regrettable circumstance with Aunt Morgan. He does have something of an awful habit of being kidnapped by her, doesn’t he? Almost as awful as Queen Guinevere’s habit of being captured by every petty king, sorcerer, and bandit in the British Isles, but I digress, of course. My young, stupid self was absolutely thrilled to be in the company of The Great Sir Lancelot. It was like every idle daydream of my youth come true. 

Then we met the old man. He wouldn’t keep his mouth closed, no matter what I did or said. He just went on and on, even when I tried to close my ears he wouldn’t stop, telling me how I was a bastard, fated to destroy my father and ruin Camelot. 

So, I silenced him the only way I knew how. Vae Stultīs and all that. Lancelot, naturally, felt rather put out. He had been so eager, you see, to hear his own sordid destiny, and was upset that I’d denied him his chance. (Did you actually believe that the great Sir Lancelot would have a care to a man’s life?) 

I…disgusted him. I could see it in his eyes. I believe that he would have killed me then, had he not known my brothers would take vengeance. From that moment on, he turned cold to me, and I learned well enough the truth about what true, virtuous knighthood was. It was for the best; I was cured of my childish infatuation and in turn set my sights on better prospects, and, as an added benefit, I was never able to be disappointed again. Every time afterwards he killed some…meaningless peasant whose existence inconvenienced him some way, every time he laid with Guinevere while proclaiming his love for the King, every time he was showered with applause and praise while he showed himself to be nothing more than a braggart and a hypocrite, I no longer felt the burning outrage of youth but the cold disdain of manhood. 

While the rest of the court was shocked at the arrival of Sir Galahad, I could only sit back in mild amusement. What did they expect? Though I will own that it was greatly amusing to watch Lancelot scurrying around the woods as a madman for a few years. My greatest surprise was that his bastard was so…genuine. Rather like my younger self. I could own to some pity for him, in truth. There he is, eyes cast down on a singular, straight path, completely unaware of what life could offer if he freed himself from it all. It is rather a pity, you know. We would make a fine pair, he and I, the king’s bastard and the knight’s bastard, each of us bound to an epic fate, creating the world that would cause our fathers to rouse even from the deepest slumber and cry out in fear. But, alas, he insists on being dull and licking at the Church’s boots like a lady’s spaniel, so any dreams of shared patricide must be left as only that. More’s the pity. 

Really, the sad, bitter truth is that the only one in the court who I have any use for is my brother, Agravaine. He is the only one of my brothers not at Arthur’s heel at all hours of the day, the only one who’s not choking himself on useless vanities like “virtue” and “goodness.” Really, in this sad world we live in, he’s probably the closest thing I have to family. I believe I might almost care for him. He will be a useful asset to have on my side in the coming days, provided he doesn’t lose himself in his pride and do something foolish before the time is right. 

Sir Bors, King of Gannes #2

I am honored to hear there is an interest on my handsome look, indeed there was a lady who went so far to trick me with a magical ring just to have an unforgettable night. 

Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury to have a portrait of myself. As a noble chaste knight, I practice an austere life style, one may expect I don’t have lavish decorations on my armor, only the bare minimum that a Knight should have. A shield, a suit of armor, a helmet and a steed, that sort of things. However, I am an honored wielder of Duke Galeholt's sword, gifted by Seraide, the high priestess of lady of the lake after Duke Galeholt’s untimely demise.

Iseult/Isolde Part 2

Welcome back to my court as you gaze upon your fair princess Isolde of Ireland. As a princess, I am subject to wear the finest fabrics across the land. I like to stick to the brighter colored dies like red and blue, but I also dabble with the exquisite gold and purple silk. I feel like it goes well with my pale skin. I wear a crown that is embedded in jewels atop my brown curly hair. I was intended to be the bride of Mark of Cornwall, but my love fell with Tristan when I drank a love potion. Tristan was banished from Ireland, but I wedded Mark. I could not bear to be away from Tristan, and then I heard he was mortally wounded. He knew I was the only one who could heal him, but I was too late, and he died. When I arrived and found him dead, I couldn't bear it and I died with my arms wrapped around him.

Sir Percival # 2

Come hither and listen carefully now it is me Sir Percival, a great and holy knight, renowned for my strength and fighting prowess, as well as my piety. I am dressed in heavy armor carrying my sword and wearing a red cloak. This is the only clothing I have. I posses my mother’s ring and after my quest consisting of many adventurous nights hold with great achievement the Holy Grail. I am a man of brute and am very skilled in combat, I am grizzly in appearance, but my looks are nothing short of dashing, and I am quite polite to others. I am a man who prospered from nothing, so I know how to have piety in others. My sword was a “fine” sword given to me and I carry this with me most all the time, ready to battle at any moment. I am a legend that will never be forgotten and a man that cannot be unseen. 

Sir Ector #2

Why hello again! Tis me, Sir Ector, here with another entry into this jaunty affair. In keeping with records, I have been told to give a thorough description of my person. And so, onward!

In holding a lengthy career as a knight, I have the bodily remnants of years of swordplay and training that I say can still hold up in quite a tussle from time to time. I keep myself lean should my kingdom ever need me. I have since put up my steel and armor in exchange for the more comforting clothing retirement has brought me. I still keep on my person a token given to me by my young son, Kay, as well as the symbol of the crown bestowed upon me by King Arthur (how strange it was to call him such on that first day...). It also seems the hair on my face has begun outnumbering the hair on my head!

Now, I would love to depart with this hilarious quip I overheard the other day!

- Son, do you see that knight over there? The one that's sleeping?
- What? Which one?
- THE GOODNIGHT!

Morgause

Pray thee a good day again, I think that I should write to explain my appearance. 'Tis always a luxury to wear such fine fabrics, and I take it. Money is not an issue in thy life, good blood sticks together. My brother knows that best, and a good half-sister I am to him. Thus he showers me in exotic furs from brave knights. My treacherous husband, rest his soul, provided well for me and rightfully so, as he is a king, nevertheless. Ah, colors. My silks are always colored brightly, since I am the most beautiful and sought after at any gathering. Pray I never depart from that expectation! Sir Gareth and Sir Gawain are notable children of mine. My other two sons... well that is a story for another time.

Sir Gawain #2

Greetings, T'is I the honorable Sir Gawain. To avoid the common issue of mistaken identities I shall describe my appearance to all. I will often be seen in my full set of armor when out on adventures.  You will notice that I either have an eagle in a purple background for a coat of arms but later I adopted the yellow pentangle against a red background as well as a small green sash given to me by the wife of Bertilak de  Hautdesert. As said before, the ladies seem to regard me as a very handsome fellow, with well kept hair and appearance which is expected of a chivalrous knight such as myself. Also I have a small scar on the side of my neck given to me by the Green Knight so to remember I must always be honest. 

It should be known that I am related to the prestigious King Arthur. My mother is  King Arthur's sister making him my uncle. However, by some accounts Morgause and Arthur are only half siblings.  I respect and admire that man a great deal because in my mind even though he may not be perfect he is what an honorable and just king should strive to become. By the hands of fate I am also a relative the wicked Mordred. You see Mordred is my half brother, born of improper union of my mother Morgause and King Arthur through a series of twisted tales. Though I would rather see his head on a spike Mordred, is ultimately still kin.

Sir Agravaine #2

Hello my fellow knights and royal court,

For those of you who were not lucky enough to see me, or even forgot how I look (which is very unlikely), I will tell I am extrmely handsome, which resuled at me being a very spoiled child.This is probably my best quality since I am not a very nice person, espcially when I helped to get the queeen executed. I am  very tall and have light brown hair at shoulder length. Since I am a great fighter and go to battles alot, I am also very fit and strong. I uaually wear my  knight armour and carry my beloved sword with me almost everywhere. I make sure that both my armour and my sword are always clean and sparkle so everybody will see them from afar. Sometimes I like to vary things and I use  my bow instead of my sword.

Morgan Le Fay #2

Welcome back my little minions. I see you're back to learn more about the mystery that is the great Morgan Le Fay. I understand if you are deciding whether you  should be frightened or enlightened. I have been able to control the strongest men in all of Camelot to do my bidding, so why would you believe that I wouldn't do the same to you? I am a beautiful lady that has been a queen, an advisor, a nun, and an enchantress. Depending on the stories you have read, you may be able to recognize me with a crown on my head as a queen, or in a conservative uniform in a nunnery, or practicing my spells. I can also be recognized as the person who stole excalibur, and gave it to Accolon in an attempt to have king Arthur killed. I generally will wear seductive outfits because one of my major means of controlling individuals is with my undisputed seductive nature. When i am not trying to seduce the most powerful men in Camelot, you can find me reading my book of spells, and practicing my enchantments. I learned plenty about sorcery from the nunnery, and from Merlin himself (a former lover of mine). Though I do not need a wand to perform my spells, I will sometimes use magical items to help with specific enchantments because not all sorcery is done the same way. The thing you will find most frustrating about me is my change between malevolence and benevolence. In some stories, you will find me as a positive force, helping my half-brother and all of the knights of the roundtable. In other stories, you will find me being the cause of most major problems among the knights. It may depend on the point of view of the individual, but to the impartial observer, i am a mystery that can not, and will not be solved. There is no image that you will be able to picture that will truly personify my personality. I have even been known to shape-shift, which further adds to the narrative that you can not ever know what i truly am. I am beautiful, seductive, evil, helpful, mysterious, mystical, manipulating, and much more.

Lady of the Lake #2

As the fair and beautiful Lady of the Lake, I am laced and clothed with the best gowns of blue and gold embroidery - nothing less for a woman as noble and powerful as I am. My golden locks cascade down the length of my body and my eyes are as blue as the ocean. I am known to now be the sole guardian and possessor of Excalibur.

Assignment #2

This assignment is due by Friday, September 22nd at 5 pm. Quick turn around due to hurricane.

Ah....the experiment for the first assignment is over with. Some of the answers obviously are better and "more in character" than others. You can always go back and re-edit your entry, especially if at a later date you feel comfortable doing so. If you feel like it, you can make comments to your fellow student's posts. Be helpful and courteous with your posts.

This week's question is in three parts:
Part I: What do you look like? Describe your appearance, your clothing, and the items you usually have with you. Is there any special item(s) you are known to possess? If you can not find a description of your "character" than make up a logical one. But there are descriptions, even in the Arthurian texts, of almost all of the characters.

Part II: Find a picture, painting or drawing that best describes how you see your character to be portrayed. Throughout history, artists have focused on Arthurian knights and most, if not all, have had more than one image created of their appearance. Several movies have been made about the Arthurian myths as well. Remember your choice of picture has a lot to say about what you think of the person as well. No one image is correct, but this is asking for you to come up with the image that best describes the character as YOU see them.

If someone is already using a more generic image, please find a second one. Post the image along with your own description using the "Add Image" tool in the Create a Post tool bar. Remember in your post to include a URL link for the image. Do not "borrow" an image from a site that specifically forbids you from reposting the image or that is obviously copyrighted.

Note: THIS IS THE ONE TIME I WANT YOU TO SPECIFICALLY POST A PICTURE, not just the link.

Part III: Comment on two different characters from week 1's assignment. What is your specific relationship to them? How do you feel about them? Find some sort of connection that is more than simply: "We are both on the Round Table" or "We both live in Camelot."

Sir Lancelot

Good day to you. I am Sir Lancelot du Lake, father of Sir Galahad, cousin of Sir Lionel and Sir Bors and the first and greatest Knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. My father is King Ban of Benwick, and my mother is a woman named Elaine. They were banished from their kingdom of  Britain and I was raised by The Lady of the Lake. I was King Arthur’s most trusted knight and companion, until my affair with his wife Guinevere came to light. While the date of my birth is unclear I believe I have lived a full life.

Sir Galahad

Greetings, I am Sir Galahad, knight of the round, and the one deemed worthy of the Siege Perilous. I am the son of Sir Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic. I was raised by nuns and wasn't reunited with my father until reaching adulthood. I was then knighted and joined the Arthur's Round Table where I sat at the Siege Perilous, a vacant seat reserved for only the greatest of knights and the one foretold obtain the Holy Grail. After many adventures I finally obtained the Holy Grail and made the request to die at the moment of my choosing. While making my way back to Arthur's Court I was visited by Saint Joseph, upon witnessing this glorious rapture it was then that I wished to die. After bidding my comrades farewell I ascended to heaven.

Sir Ywain

I am Sir Ywain also known as the Knight of the Lion, Knight of Arthur's court, and son of King Urien and Morgan le Fay. It is thought I was born sometime in the 6th Century, however it remains unclear. I have accomplished many great deeds while a part of Arthur's Round Table. Noteably defeating Sir Kay, and undertaking a year of tournaments with Gawain for personal glory.

King Arthur

I am King Arthur, the noble warrior of the British military force who fought against incoming Saxon forces. I was born to my father, King Uther Pendragon, and my mother, Igraine the Duchess of Tintagel, in the late fifth century, but was raised by Sir Ector. I took pride in serving my homeland, Britain, after pulling the sword from the stone, learning my true fate. Upon receiving the news that Mordred declared himself King, I was fatally wounded when a misunderstanding led to the Battle of Camlann.