21
Jun
in reading for my classics course today, i came by an idea in the book (Classical Myth by Barry B. Powell) that i had known before, but had never really thought about. quote from the book, (page 3) “Because they are traditional, myths are also anonymous. In contrast to such modern forms of storytelling as Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, or George Lucas’s film Star Wars, myths never have identifiable authors. Literary works based on myth may have authors, but not the myths themselves.”
i thought that this was very interesting, not only that he mentioned Star Wars in a text very commonly used in college classes, but that even with Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, it isn’t his stories that he is telling. he is simply writing down the oral tradition that was already in place. where these stories, myths, legends and fables come from is never known, which gives them more reason to be told and makes them just that, myths. my classics prof was telling today that the ancient romans truly believe in the Aeneid, it is a history to them, not just a tale. the tales of arthur were history to ancient peoples, not just something that had good morals and stories.
looking into the oral tradition of each tale is something that i think i will continue to research further. as with everything told by word of mouth, things become exaggerated, lessened, possibly forgotten from person to person. what we are left with today is not the true myth. the true myth is every variant possible, that has ever been known, yes it’s confusing, but the whole, whether contradictory or not is the true story, the true myth, the true history.
20
Jun
hey guys! thought i would upload my presentation powerpoint from thursday for those of you who didn’t already see it (*cough cough* EMORY). i’m going to continue blogging about research and things that pop into my head about my work or possibly work we’ve done in class, or even ideas for possible research for others.
it was great meeting you all!
17
Jun
This link give a brief account of the Holy Grail in literature and in the modern media, including movies and books like The Da Vinci Code. There are other links to related articles and it is a great place get ideas about research and things to look up for a paper; it has a lot of ideas about topics for a paper or ideas to start with.
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/holy-grail/modern-interpretations.html
9
Jun
As I have been researching for criticism related to Mary Stewart’s Crystal Cave, a fictitious account of Merlin’s life, I found this article with a list of books and summaries related to the tale of Camelot. For people that love the myth as much as I do, some of these are author’s totally fictitious accounts and have very interesting plot lines.
arthurian legend book descriptions
8
Jun
Found the video showing the two statues in the Kord of the Rings we were looking for in class.
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Today in class while we were discussing Arthurian theme’s in modern culture it got me thinking to characters based on Merlin’s original structure. I found Merlin’s presence to be rampant in recent productions that come in a variety of mediums. In numerous widely viewed films, cartoons, books, and television series the archetypical mentor is experienced.
Merlin’s character structure’s widespread presence bloomed after Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the Historia Regum Britanniae in 1136. Merlin’s character has become a universally recognized archetype that is present in popular culture to date. Julian Murphy’s Merlin is a television series created in 2008 that revolves entirely around the wizard. Based on a mini series created in 1999, the recent series is aired on the BBC and has been so successful that it is currently being commissioned for a third season.
As a mentor, Merlin provokes curiosity in his understudies by ushering his pupils through dainty adventures. Merlin can be titled Arthur’s mentor without much ground for argument. His advice, which is informed and precise, ultimately leads Arthur to his seat of power. The advice Merlin provides to Arthur combines both foresight and hindsight, granting the wizard supernatural powers.
This character structure has recently been utilized by extremely popular films, television series, and novels by their creators as personal adaptations that rely on Merlin as a powerhouse of a vehicle in creating masterful characters and stories. Merlin’s character structure can be observed in Gandalf in both the texts and films of the LOTR trilogy, Morpheus in the Matrix trilogy, Obi Wan in Star Wars, Dumbeldore in the Harry Potter novels, the television series Stargate SG1, C.S. Lewis’s That Hedious Strength, Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court to name a few, and the list is ever growing.
Merlin’s reoccurring presence in science fiction is testament to the character structure’s importance to the development of modern day myths as well as the relevancy of Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur in current popular culture.
Merlin as Obi Wan
Merlin as Gandalf
Merlin as Dumbledore
Merlin by Rick Wademan
Striking resemblances, wouldn’t you say?
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This is the song mentioned in calss that no one knew. Also I am trying to find a video for the conneticut rabbit in king arthurs court. but no luck so far.
Hey guys, I found this info and more on this website. Check it out
http://www.kingarthursknights.com/others/fisherking.asp
The Fisher King
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| Sir Percivale failed to ask three vital questions about the Fisher King causing the King unnecessary pain. |
The Fisher King encountered during the Quest for the Holy Grail. He is sometimes, but not always, identified with the Maimed King. He is called Pelles in the Vulgate Version, in which the Maimed King is named Parlan or Pellam. In Manessier’s Constitution we are told he was wounded by fragments of a sword which had killed his brother, Goon Desert. By Chretien we are told he could not ride as a result of his infirmity, so he took to fishing as a pastime. Robert de Boron gives his name as Bron and tells us he earned his title by providing fish for Joseph of Arimathea. In Sone de Nausay he is identified with Joseph of Arimathea himself. By Wolfram he is called Anfortas.
30
May
Hey guys I found a video synopsis of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal, which is apparently a 19th century echo of Parzival. The name Parsifal comes from an erred etymological study of Percival. I’m not sure what Wagner changed in his opera. Perhaps after reading Parzival we may see some of the differences/similarities in the two works.
If anything the synopsis shows a continued evolution of myth. It also imitates a modern comedic strategy used to present medieval mythology.
The embed code was not working, so I posted a link below.
26
May
