Posted on by Stephanie McGann

The Legend of King Arthur #7: Debates

Debates are an extremely valuable classical exercise. I use them at the conclusion of reading because students can weigh all of the story and the Socratic discussion we enjoyed along the way in order to sharpen their own ideas on a particular question.

Put differently, debates give students a chance to deeply contemplate and form an argument in a personal way. In other words, they learn to develop a thesis. Classically speaking, they are coming to know and embody a Truth.

We divide our debates into three rounds: opening (present story context and thesis), position (make argument), and rebuttal (attack opposing view).

Once the debates are concluded, students are then ready to formally write their ideas in essays, which turn out beautifully. Pretty much across the board, this approach makes for essays that are much stronger and more well-thought-out than before I started using debates as a pre-writing activity.

Plus, the students love it!   

Here is a quick summary of three popular debate questions. They are written as such that either side could win; it all depends on which one makes the better argument.  

Debate Question One: Is King Arthur a righteous king?  

Proposition: Yes! 

This side lists out all of Arthur’s good qualities, moving from the literal (i.e., creating the Code of Chivalry) to the figurative (i.e., striving to be humble).

Then they move on to explain how this is connected to righteousness in his person and in his kingdom. They define righteousness as the desire and will to do what is right in God’s eyes. Based on this definition, they say Arthur always tries to do so.

Finally, they argue that his imperfections do not outweigh the goodness he showed throughout his whole life. Even when he failed, his desire was to do good. He simply did not always know what the right course of action was because some of the issues, like the affair, were so complicated. Plus, Arthur is on his way to Heaven at the end of the book. 

Opposition: No! 

This side focuses on Arthur’s weaknesses, also moving from the literal (i.e., his handling of the affair) to the figurative (i.e., demonstrating pride and anger).

Then they move on to argue that his vices outweigh his virtues, primarily because he died heavily laden with vice. Using the same definition of righteousness above, they argue that the desire to do what is right is not enough. It must be coupled with the will, and Arthur’s will for revenge after the affair blinded him from seeing the world through God’s eyes.

In the rebuttal, they acknowledge Arthur’s good side, but point out that the “grievous wound” in his soul holds him back from going straight to heaven. If he was righteous in life, he would have not have needed Purgatory.  

Debate Question Two: Do Guinevere and Lancelot really love each other?  

Proposition: Yes! 

This side typically begins by painting a picture of Guinevere’s marriage to Arthur as one-sided. Arthur wanted to marry Guinevere, so she had to marry him. Lancelot, on the other hand, was the object of her free will.

In the second round, they address our class definition of love, which is wanting the ultimate good for another. They argue that even though pursuing their love in a secret affair may not have been the best for either of them, they were trying their best given the circumstances. Neither one could very well tell Arthur what was going on without committing treason and breaking his heart.

Furthermore, they both repent of the sin of adultery in the final years of their lives. Guinevere enters a nunnery; Lancelot enters the priesthood. Both remain devoted to each other, but to God first. In this way, they want the ultimate good for one another by praying for their mutual redemption.  

Opposition: No! 

This side also starts off by describing Guinevere’s marriage to Arthur. However, in contrast to the proposition side, they argue that Guinevere did not have to accept his proposal. Arthur never forced his will on anyone, not even an enemy, so he would hardly have done so on the woman he loved.

Furthermore, Guinevere seems happily married for many years, and Arthur appears to be a good, devoted husband. As such, the opposition side concludes that Guinevere’s interest in Lancelot was unjustifiably selfish and the product of lust, not love.

From here, they move onto our definition of love, arguing that Guinevere could not have wanted the ultimate good for Lancelot if she was willing for him to risk his honor as a knight and betray the trust of the Round Table, for such would hurt him both in life and in death.

In their rebuttal, they congratulate Lancelot and Guinevere for wanting redemption, but lambast them for having the affair in the first place, which they knew was wrong. If they truly loved each other, they would have kept their distance.   

Debate Question Three: What brought down the Realm of Logres—the affair or the plots of Mordred?  

Proposition: The Affair! 

This side begins by describing the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, noting that it was a constant, ever-growing stain on the realm that was bound to bring about destruction.

In the second round, this side typically explains the nature of sin itself. They focus on how venial sins, if left unchecked and unforgiven, grow into mortal sins. Further, they argue that sin hurts not only the sinner and its object, but the world more broadly. Such was the case with Lancelot and Guinevere. Their sin of adultery reverberated throughout the entire kingdom.

Finally, while Mordred may have started the battle that ended Logres, it was the affair that gave him the opportunity.  

Opposition: Mordred! 

This side likes to focus on Mordred’s character in its opening. They point out that as the son of Morgana, he was born with a hatred for Arthur and a desire to bring about his downfall. Thus, his goal was precisely that which occurs.

In the second round, they argue that from the time of his emergence in the story, he was lying in wait for his chance. In fact, it was he who exposed the affair and brought it to Arthur’s attention. Other knights knew what was going on, but Mordred was the only one who took action because he was self-interested in its revelation.

In the rebuttal round, they argue that Mordred would have found a way to accomplish his designs even without the affair. He is pure evil. 

Posted on by Stephanie McGann

The Legend of King Arthur #5: Character Sketches

I always have my students develop “sketches” of the most important characters in the legend of King Arthur. Before I finish giving instructions on this, some number of them start taking out their coloring pouches to draw pictures.

That can be a lot of fun, but the real point of a character sketch, as I explain, is to write such a good description of a character that the words “draw a picture” in the reader’s mind. We focus not just on what the characters look like physically, but on what they look like spiritually with regard to virtue and vice.

In this way, we marry the literal and figurative aspects of the quests. Of course, they all want to draw pictures, too, so the outcome is truly beautiful and insightful. Depending on what version of the book you read, these descriptions could vary a lot.

King Arthur

As the central character of the story, it is important to give a lot of thought to King Arthur’s sketch. Most of my students favor him, though some do not. Either view is perfectly fine, provided students can back it up.

Generally, we focus on Arthur’s struggle between the virtue of humility and the vice of pride. Our definitions are religious, with humility referring to accepting one’s weaknesses before God and pride referring to believing one can do something without God. All of Arthur’s strength as king and legitimacy to rule flows from his devotion to God.

For example, when he succeeds in pulling the sword from the stone and proving himself the true-born king of Britain at the outset of the story, it is not simply because of his birthright but also because it is an act of humility in service of his step-brother, Kay. Arthur’s calling as ruler of the Realm of Logres is to give glory to God, not to himself.

Moreover, he designs the code of chivalry as a means for his knights to balance their own struggle between pride and humility. Put differently, it teaches his knights that strength, whether it be in arms or spirit, is only found in service to God and others.

Finally, Arthur’s “undoing” in the aftermath of Queen Guinevere’s affair with Sir Lancelot also reflects this struggle. A key question for students is whether Arthur honored God or himself in his handling of the affair.

Merlin

Merlin is one of the most magical characters in the legend. He sees and knows everything, or near everything, about King Arthur and the Realm of Logres. He uses this knowledge along with his sorcery to impart wisdom on Arthur, but he never tells him what to do.

Merlin’s relationship with Arthur is much like that of a parent to a child. He tries his best to prepare Arthur for the trials of his kingship, but he knows that he cannot rule for him. In fact, Merlin goes to his “deep sleep” very early on in the story and leaves Arthur to rule according to his own judgment.

The virtue and vice paradigm does not really work for Merlin since he has an other-worldly, super-human quality about himself. Instead, it is helpful to think of him as a type of prophet set apart from the world.

Guinevere

The context of Lady Guinevere’s marriage to King Arthur is fairly ambiguous in Green’s version. She seems to be pretty young, and she does not seem to have much of a choice in the matter. Nevertheless, she also seems happily married to him, at least until Sir Lancelot joins the Knights of the Round Table.

At that point, her head is turned and the seeds of her infidelity are sown. She makes open advances toward Lancelot, who both encourages and resists them in turn. Some of my students see her as a “victim” in a forced marriage, but most see her as a terrible cheat and refuse to justify her actions.

Guinevere’s struggle is between the virtue of purity, which is living in a state of grace, and the vice of impurity, which is falling from grace. We debate Guinevere’s affair and the “pureness” of her love for Lancelot extensively.

Gawain

Sir Gawain is King Arthur’s nephew and most loyal knight. He is immensely devoted to Arthur, offering him his very life over and over again.

He initially struggles with chivalry, and therefore makes his life’s mission an attempt to prove himself worthy of the Round Table. He is most well-known for his quest with the Green Knight, which revolves around the virtue of valor, or courage with honor. He also marries an Old Hag in order to honor his word, which turns out pretty nicely for him in the end!

His greatest challenge comes during the Guinevere-Lancelot affair. He struggles with how to obey his king while also obeying his conscience. While Gawain’s character touches on many virtues, he is most focused on honor, which means being true to God.

My students grow to love Gawain, no doubt because he faces and overcomes so many grave challenges. But when he messes up, they are all the more disappointed in him.

Lancelot

In contrast to Sir Gawain who works very hard for his virtue, Sir Lancelot seems to live a charmed life. He is the “best knight” of the Round Table, complete with superior battle skills, good looks, and a spotless character—that is, until he meets Queen Guinevere.

From that moment on, Lancelot is tormented by impure thoughts. He thus begins leading a double-life. Outwardly, he appears as upright as ever. But inwardly, he falls further and further from grace. It proves impossible, even for the mighty Lancelot, to lead a life of such contradiction, and he eventually fully succumbs to the vice of impurity and has an affair with Guinevere.

My students are always torn between feelings of deep disgust and pity. His character, noble in so many ways, is truly tragic.

Galahad

Lancelot bequeathed the good side of his character to his son, Sir Galahad, who was born out of wedlock when the Lady Elaine bewitched Lancelot into believing she was Guinevere. Despite this questionable action by Elaine, she claims holy lineage as a descendant of Joseph of Arimathea, which no doubt predisposes Galahad for goodness.

In fact, Galahad is the only knight who proves stronger in might and virtue than Lancelot. Moreover, he is a messianic character fated to achieve the quest of the Holy Grail, which will be discussed in the next post.

My students always admire Galahad, but his perfection makes him a little harder to relate to on a human level.

Morgana 

Morgana is King Arthur’s older half-sister and nemesis. Green’s version of the legend does not explain Morgana ‘s hatred, but there is certainly plenty of “history” we can read into.

Most significantly, Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon, murdered Morgana’s father and then married her mother. That probably started things off on the wrong foot! In any event, Morgana was sent away to a nunnery as a young girl, but she somehow got secretly mixed up in the black arts. She hence becomes a powerful sorceress intent on bringing about the downfall of Arthur.

Morgana nevertheless disappears early on in the book only to reappear in the final chapter as a virtuous aid to Arthur. The reasons for her conversion are even more ambiguous than the reasons for her prior evil ways.

Incidentally, she’s the lead character in my book, which tries to fill in the details…

Mordred

Son of Morgana and King Lot, Mordred is pure evil. He takes after his mother and desires to bring about the downfall of Arthur so he can rule the Realm of Logres.

He only appears in the final chapters of the book when he forces the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere into the open and pressures King Arthur to sentence them to death. His intentions are totally insincere, however, because he seeks vengeance, not justice. He wants to elevate himself, not serve his king. This becomes apparent, but not until the kingdom has erupted into full-blown civil war between his side and Arthur’s.

In Green’s version, Mordred is entirely unsympathetic and without redemption. Other versions paint his story and lineage differently. For example, in one, Mordred is the son of Morgana and Arthur, which can be confusing and troubling for students!