This document summarizes key aspects of legends, including that they are stories about heroes or heroines passed down from the past, often based on real people and events that become more imaginary over time. It also briefly describes elements of medieval culture like knights, pages, squires and the process of becoming a knight through dubbing. Legendary figures like King Arthur and locations like Glastonbury Tor that are linked to the Holy Grail legend are also outlined.

1. LEGENDS

2. CHARACTERISTICS:
• Story about heroes or heroines that is handed
down from the past
• Often based on real people and events
– As story is passed through time the characters,
setting and events become more imaginary and
less factual

3. YOUR TURN --
With your group identify as many
legends as you can in the next 3
minutes.
clock

4. Destiny:
• A predetermined life that
we can’t change even if we
want to.

5. Destiny????
• With your group, discuss whether people
are born to do some particular thing.
Consider:
* your feelings about your own future
* individuals who have changed
history through their dedication to a
job or a goal.

6. YES NO

7. Medieval times (Middle Ages)
• In the Middle Ages, a king’s oldest son was
considered the heir to his father’s throne.
• When the enemies of a king wanted to
overtake his kingdom, they might try to kill his
son.

8. Knight
• A soldier who possessed weaponry and a
horse – 2 signs he had greater advantages
than most people of his time.
• Once knighthood has been achieved, they are titled
‘Sir’

9. PAGE
• Usually a boy of nobility beginning age 7 or 8
• sent to a Lord's castle to be trained
• Learned about: horses, armor, weapons, how to handle hawks and
falcons, how to cut up a deer and how to carve meat because he
was expected to serve the knight’s meals.
• Practiced fighting with a sword against a wooden stake, or "pell”
• Learned to use a bow and arrow
• Cleaned the coats of mail by rolling it in a barrel filled with sand.
* Also had to learn how to be courteous
• The lady of the castle taught a young page manners, social
graces, how to sing, and play instruments
• A priest would give the page religious training and he would often
teach the page how to read and write.

10. Squire
• Age of fourteen the page became a squire.
• Followed their master on the battlefield to protect him if he fell.
– From the 13th century, they fought on the battlefield beside their
knight.
• A squire was the knight’s assistant and the only one allowed to help
the knight
• Responsibilities included: dressing the knight for battles and
tournaments and taking care of the knight's armor and weapons.
• He had to become skilled in the use of the armor as well as the
weapons.
• A squire had to get used to wearing the armor so it would be
second nature to him when worn.
• A squire had to become skilled in using the lance, spear, or sword.

11. Lance

12. King Henry VIII’s armor

13. Knighthood
• When considered ready, usually between the ages of 18 and 20, a
squire was dubbed a knight usually performed by the knight who
trained him.
• The eve before becoming a knight, he confessed his sins to a priest.
• He was given a symbolic bath and then he fasted, cleansing his soul.
• Dressed all in white he prayed and kept watch over his armor and
his weapons in the chapel all night.
• The next morning he would be dressed in symbolically colored
clothes - red (for his blood), white (for purity), and brown (for the
return to the earth when he died).
• Gilded spurs were attached to his ankles and he was "girded" with a
sword.
• By a tap on each shoulder with a sword, he was dubbed a knight,
thus reminding him of his vows he promised to uphold. If a knight
broke his vows or was dishonorable, he was stripped of his
knighthood in another ceremony to bury him, because in the
Middle Ages, " a knight without honor is no longer alive."

14. Round towers are older
than the square ones (12th
century).
Each tower housed 20
knights
They were never more
than 20 miles apart
because that’s how far
they could march in one
day.
In this way, they kept
control of the territory.

15. King
Arthur

16. • The Glastonbury and Somerset legends
involve the boy Jesus together with his Uncle,
Joseph of Arimathea building Glastonbury's
first wattle and daub (building material)
church. These legends gave rise to the
continuing cult of the Virgin on the site of the
present Lady Chapel and inspired the title 'Our
Lady St. Mary of Glastonbury,' which is still
used today.

23. Legend says that Joseph
brought the ‘holy grail’ (the
cup used by Jesus at the Last
Supper and the cup which
Joseph used to catch Jesus’
blood) to Avalon. When he
reached Avalon (England), he
was so tired that he stuck his
staff into the ground and by
morning it had taken root
and grew into a tree. This
bush only grows in this area
and blooms twice a year –
once in the spring and once
at Christmas. Even today, a
sprig of thorn is cut by the
local Anglican vicar and the
eldest child from St John's
School, and sent to the
Queen.

25. • For safe keeping, Joseph is said to have buried
the Holy Grail just below the Tor (hill) at the
entrance to the Underworld. Shortly after he
had done this, a spring, now know as Chalice
Well, flowed forth and the water that
emerged brought eternal youth (good health)
to whoever would drink it.
• The purpose behind the quests of King Arthur
and the Knights of the Round Table was to find
The Holy Grail Joseph is said to have hidden.

33. Chalise Well has been
in almost constant use
for over 2000 years
and produces 25,000
gallons of water per
day. It has never
failed even in a
drought.
It is believed to have
healing properties.

37. What is chivalry?

38. • In the Middle Ages
• In a legend, the hero’s those values included:
main traits usually – Loyalty to those you
reflect the cultural serve
values of the society – – Courteous to all
or the standards of – Always truthful
behavior the society – Always keep your
wants to promote. promises
– Face danger with
courage
– Show mercy to the weak

39. Does chivalry exist today?
What are some examples of
chivalry?
• With your group discuss these two
questions.
• In your notebook, write your personal
response to these questions.

40. Tapestries:
huge wall hangings that
are sewn by hand
The following examples are
hanging in a hallway of the
Vatican (home of the Pope).

42. As you walk
down the
hallway, Jesus’
eyes
follow you. This
is one of
the first times a
piece of
artwork
employed this
technique.