The Depiction of Morgan Le Fay in Various Accounts of The Arthurian Legend

The most widely accepted myth says that Arthur wins acknowledgement as king by pulling a sword from a stone, after which Merlin reveals Arthur’s true parentage. Despite his young age, Arthur proves to be an able warrior and a noble king and manages to push the Saxon invaders out of Britain. Arthur possessed the sword Excalibur, which was given to him by the inscrutable Lady of the Lake. Arthur surrounded himself with loyal followers that became known as the Knights of the Round Table. Like every good legend, Arthur had a nemesis, his sister Morgan le Fay. Morgan le Fay is usually an evil sorceress who spends her time attempting to steal Arthur’s throne for her and her lover. Mordred, or Modred, is another enemy of Arthur’s. Mordred is either Arthur’s son or nephew by his sister Morgawse. Mordred seizes Arthur’s throne whilst he is away and in ultimately slain by Arthur, but not before fatally wounding the king. Arthur is then said to have retreated to Avalon, where he waits to once again take his place as king, earning him the title the Once and Future King.

She is the most perdurable female figure in King Arthur and his Knights. Without her the suspense and the plot flow could not have been achieved. Her influence has enabled her to penetrate into men’s world a trait that distinguishes her from the rest of the women. Knights are referred to as the queen’s knights. We could say the same of the ladies who accompany the queen and keep the knights in good company (pg.52) .Queen Guinevere, as the King’s wife, is acknowledged by males.

He was also the first to use the name "Camelot" for Arthur's headquarters, and it was he who first told us of the Grail, though he didn't associate any religious meaning to it (It was Robert de Boron who is responsible for transforming the grail into a holy symbol, in 1210). He was "the first to supply the literary form of the romance, to the transmission of the stories of Arthur." (Britannia web page)

heiress to Avalon, Morgaine. The story is told by each, as they saw it happen.

King Arthur is an outstanding British leader of the 5th and the 6th centuries, son of Uther Pendragon and the Lady Igraine. Arthur is one of the greatest mythical heroes that the world has ever known. Arthur has had a great influence on other people and many of them looked up to him. The coming of Arthur was prophesied years before he was even born. Arthur was born into a world of chaos and disorder, full of love and tragedy. Nowadays, many of the scholars continue to argue whether or not King Arthur was a real person or just a mythological figure. Based on facts however, many believe that Arthur was not a real person; just a legendary British leader in the 5th and 6th centuries. According to history, there wasn't anyone named King Arthur

The Lady of the lake was the original ruler of Avalon a breath-taking entrances with a many beauty and apprentice of Merlin foster-mother to Lancelot and the giver of the Excalibur. She was thanked for the many of good deeds she brought except one. Back when the entrances was known as Viviane she would travel with Merlin the wizard, learning everything she could, but this was sometimes difficult for her for Merlin had fallen in love with her but sadly she did not feel the same. Now using what she had learned she used Merlin's own spell on him, trapping him in a tree stump where he remained for many years till rescued. Later on the lady had fallen in love with Pelleas and got married punishing Pelleas’s last lover Ettardy for treating him poorly.As you can see the Lady of the lake plays a pivotal role in many Arthurian legends.

Initially the woman saves Arthur's life by giving him the correct answer to a riddle posed by Sir Gromer Somer. Somer says Fyest thow shalt swere upon my sword broun,

To establish any sort of idea that there was, in fact, a "real" Arthur, it is imperative to look over the legendary Arthur and his impact on different cultures. Arthur's beginnings are shrouded in mystery, though it is generally accepted that he is the bastard child of Uther Pendragon and Ygerna. Ygerna was not married to Uther, but to Gorlois at the time of Arthur's

She was known to have stud up to the Puritans of the time and protest a new anti-Quakers law. She is also famous for her set example of determination and sacrifice.

accomplishments that built her to be the well known figure she is today and this proves how hard

The legend of King Arthur has inspired, and continues to inspire, many retellings of the well known stories and cast of characters. Ranging from film to literature to art, these retellings often include depictions of two key characters in the legend: King Arthur and and the wizard Merlin. Disney’s The Sword and the Stone (1963) and the British Broadcasting Corporation program Merlin (2008-2012) both showcase the relationship between Merlin and Arthur in the development of Arthur, but they differ in approach; in the animated version, Merlin assumes the role of a mentor while the television program depicts Merlin as a friend to Arthur.

The film King Arthur differs in a great propensity with the traditional Arthurian tale. The elements which represent the medieval society and which forms the key aspect of the traditional tale, have not been included. The Holy Grail, a vital motif that is persistent in the traditional tale of King Arthur is dropped from the cinematic representation of the tale. The film differs from the tale on multitudinous accounts, for instance there is an absence of the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere in the movie. Moreover, the film chooses to not include Camelot, Avalon and Mordred. Important characters like Mordred, the archetypical villain in the traditional tale of King Arthur is not ascribed to any significance in the film. The character of Guinevere is indispensable in the Arthurian legend as well as in the movie. However, the very characteristic of Guinevere is represented in a dynamically polar opposite fashion in both the traditional tale of King Arthur and the movie. Contrary to the ancient tale, Guinevere is no damsel in distress in the movie. The representation of Guinevere in the movie as a warrior queen who partakes in the war along with King Arthur is emblematic as it does not depict the character of a woman in the light of the gender typicality. It is an important alteration that the movie chooses to make from the traditional tale.

She is frequently abducted in Romance, sometimes by King Melwas of Somerset, sometimes by Modred and sometimes by the marauding tribes from the north. (Britannia) It was heard Modred was shown forcing his way into Arthur’s court, dragging the queen from her throne and striking her. (Britannia) The incident may have been related to quarrels between Guinevere and her sister, Modred’s wife, Gwenawyfah. (Britannia) She appears in the Arthurian legends as the victim of abduction. (Fords) Her abduction is usually Sir Meleagant (earlier known as Sir Melwas) who takes her to his stronghold at Glastonbury. (Fords) Sir Lancelot with his allies together they defy the law of the land and ride to rescue Queen Guinevere from the execution flames. (Day 136) The evil Sir Modred had seized both Arthur’s crown and Queen Guinevere. (Day 136) She is abducted by Modred while Arthur is in Europe fighting the emperor of Rome. (Lace 63) She marries Modred “in violation of her first marriage.” (Lace 63)

    In all the long history of literature, some fictional characters have loomed above others, written about again and again by various authors of various eras. Arthurian literature is one area of fiction that has always been popular for writers to recreate in new versions, and one of the most intriguing characters of all Arthurian literature is Merlin, the magician/ prophet who aids Arthur early in his reign. As the Arthurian saga develops, so does Merlin, changing from an aloof, druidical character into a more human, magical being, though always retaining some traces of his Welsh origins.

The Arthurian Legend is seen to be extremely influential in benefitting the English people during the Romantic Era. Even if King Arthur is a fictional character of myth and legend in England, his childhood, countless glories and achievements as the king of Camelot, and the final down fall of his strong empire validated his importance to English literature. Proof of King Arthur’s existence would possibly solidify the impact he had on the English culture (Arthurian Legends Vol. 1).