Abstract
This paper analyzes how in his "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", Mark Twain seeks to satirize many of the "romantic" notions about the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It looks at how his depiction of 6th century England reveals a time and a country that is rife with political, economic and social problems where many people are subjugated by fear of the supernatural and forced to lead oppressed lives. It discusses how Twain's novel seeks to tell us as much about the failings of 19th century post-Enlightenment American ideology as it does to criticize the romantic vision of King Arthur.

From the Paper
"In his zeal to develop 6th century England into a technologically-advanced republic based on democratic principles, the Yankee unleashes all of the horrors of modern warfare upon the knights that try to stop him. In this final battle, we see the ways in which Twain's satire has increasingly come to question the values of America in the 19th century, and that this critique is just as profound and deep-seated as his earlier attacks on the romanticism of Arthurian England. The Yankee's idea is that it is only the Church and the aristocracy that are opposed to a republic, because a democratic government would not benefit them since they already possess a higher role in the social order under the monarchy. Hank argues that if he and his supporters can just get rid of the upper echelon of British society, then they will have control of the country and can set up a new government."

Tags:king, arthur, knights, merlin, excaliber

Abstract
The paper shows that if there was an historical King Arthur he would have existed centuries before the era of knighthood, probably sometime in the sixth century. It discusses how the historical reality of Arthur is much in doubt and remains a controversy, though Arthur has his champions who believe the stories of his reign began with a real personage and then were turned into myth and legend by various writers, each treating Arthur differently. The author traces the history of the stories relating to Arthur, and analyzes some of these works such as Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur" and "The History of the Kings of Britain" by Welsh monk Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1135.

From the Paper
" Many of the elements that would be part of the later tradition were missing, however. Arthur's court is not at Camelot but at a place called Caerlon-on-Usk, or City of Legions. Geoffrey contributed at least three new elements to the existing histories of Arthur--he supplied Arthur with a family tree, told of Arthur's association with Merlin, and described his burial at Avalon. Later chroniclers would use Geoffrey's account as a source and would develop more complex stories establishing Arthur as a king in the popular imagination."

Tags:Camelot, Merlin, Christien, de, Troyes, Sir, Lancelot, Holy, Grail, Mordred, Alfred, Lord, Tennyson, Idylls, of, the, King

Abstract
This paper discusses how the legend of King Arthur has existed in various forms, passed down from generation to generation to be a dominate part of western literature and society almost fifteen hundred years after Arthur supposedly lived. The story of Arthur and his knights has been told in plays, artworks and even video games; the latest reincarnation being "Tomb Raider: Legend". In order to discover why this story is continually retold, the paper goes back to its inception and looks at its various versions throughout history.

From the Paper
"While Geoffrey of Monmouth's history had been written with the Anglo-Norman kings in mind, the French romances that came next were perhaps aimed at the female audience, queens in particular. With the classical stories of Ovid and Horace as their guidebooks, the French writers added on to Geoffrey's writings and brought the Arthurian legend into a new transition, with a purpose of retelling for the sake on entertainment through courtly love and lust (Miller 146). More characters were added and stories of the Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot love triangle, by their nature were written and retold to include women, most prominently, Eleanor of Aquitaine and her daughter Marie de Champagne. Miller compares this to a modern soap opera: "when damsels in distress suffer succour, a glamorous champion comes ... Formula fiction multiplies easily" (Miller 146). "

Tags:Le, Morte, D'Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot

Abstract
This paper tells the life story and myth of King Arthur. It looks at the period before his birth, the legends of his strength and power, and the impact he had on the region.

Outline
Before King Arthur's Birth
Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther
Uther, the King
Uther's Death
Arthur Became the King
The Round Table
The Death of King Arthur
King Arthur's Childhood
The Sword in the Stone
Rebellion Against King Arthur
King Arthur Is Lied to
Evil Sir Mordred
The Death of King Arthur

From the Paper
"Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther did not let the murder of their brother, Constans, just passed by without revenge. When the two came to manhood, they started their revenge to Vortigern. They burned Vortigern's palace. Along with it was Vortigern who was burned to death. The death of Vortigern paved the way for Aurelius to become the king. As the king, Aurelius fought the Saxons to drive them away of Logres. Horsa, one of the leaders of the Saxons, was killed in the battle while Hengist was captured and executed. Aurelius also fought with Octa, the son of Hengist, which led to Octa's defeat. Aurelius' kingship brought about the re-establishment of Logres. He was soon poisoned by Paschent, Vortigern's son. Aurelius was buried in a Stonehenge, a large circle which was built out of Merlin's advice."

Tags:merlin, stonehenge

Abstract
This paper discusses how the magical characters Merlin and Morgan La Fey impacted the life and reign of the legendary King Arthur. The writer explains the origins of each of these characters and describes the parts that they play in the Arthurian tales. Conflicting accounts of both exist and are analyzed in the paper. Morgan is of mortal descent and Arthur's stepsister, and is generally depicted as an evil woman with magic powers who is ultimately responsible for Arthur's downfall. Merlin is supposedly the son of an evil spirit and a human mother whose baptism as a child removed all the evil from him but did not remove his powers. One legend states that Merlin used his powers to move the large stones known today collectively as Stonehenge from Ireland to England. He was also responsible for Arthur's birth. The paper concludes that Morgan and Merlin are moral opposites, since Merlin uses his magic to heal and protect others, while Morgan is depicted as one who uses her magic to get what she wants, regardless of the consequences to others.

From the Paper
"Morgan La Fey is introduced to Arthurian literature by Sir Thomas Malory, who, for the most part, makes her into a very undesirable character. In his novel Le Morte D'Arthur, Malory explains that La Fey is the half-sister of Arthur, as they shared the same mother. She is described in these depictions as being an evil character who would do nearly anything to achieve the selfish goals that she has set out for herself. At one point, she tells King Arthur that his wife is having an affair with the knight Lancelot, in order cause problems between the two of them. She also imprisons Lancelot at one point, because she has developed a liking for him."

Tags:wizard, heroic, Excalibur, incestuous, Christian, motive, healing, conflict

Abstract
Although there are many similarities between "Beowulf" and "King Arthur", there are a number of significant differences. Both men, for example, became heroes for different reasons and objectives, thus implying that their motivation sprung from different sources. This paper, therefore, contrasts and compares "Beowulf" and "King Arthur" by examining their qualities, their ambitions, and the outcome of their noble and heroic actions.

Outline:
Introduction
Men of Honor
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Beowulf and King Arthur, although existing within different eras, were considered as heroes because of the way in which they stood against evil. Beowulf, for example, whose incredible deeds are told in an Old English heroic poem of the same name, defeated the terrible human-eating monster and its mother, while King Arthur fought an evil knight. Both heroes, furthermore, rode out in battle against an enemy that had supernatural powers, thus leaving them both in a distinctively disadvantaged position. As depicted, therefore, Beowulf and King Arthur were men of courage and honor - heroes because of the way in which they bravely faced a powerful enemy, despite the risks they faced. In fact, both heroes chose to go into battle either alone, or with just a few men, as seen by Beowulf, who demands, "That [he] alone and with the help of [his] men / May purge all evil from [the] hall" (165-166).

Tags:heroes, courage, Christianity

Abstract
This well-researched paper examines the historical content of Bruckheimer's film which the director claims is the true story of King Arthur and his relationship with Guinevere, based on discovered archaeological facts. The writer of this paper contends and explains why this is somewhat inaccurate, due to the fact that the film is based on speculation put forward by the historian Kemp Malone in 1924. This paper focuses on the character of Guinevere as depicted in this film, while comparing it to available historical data that contradicts the director's claims. This paper discusses the difficulty of pinning down an accurate portrayal of Guinevere due to the fact that she is defined primarily by her relationship with Arthur. This paper details why the film's depiction of Guinevere and her relationship to Arthur is not necessarily based on historical fact or legend, but rather on entirely speculative historical fiction.

From the Paper
"Guinevere's clothing and hands are not the only thing critics point to; they also suggest that she is being presented in a historically inaccurate way as a female warrior. In many movies it may be true that women are ahistorically buffed up - however, this is not necessarily one of those cases. While the historical Gwenhyvar is unlikely to have been a warrior, there is no historical reason to suggest that she was not a warrior. Celtic women were considered equal with the men, and many of them went into battle. An article published in Keltria: Journal of Druidism and Celtic Magic, explains how primary sources indicate that "Celtic women also took an energetic part in melee."

Tags:film, history, facts, kemp, malone

Abstract
The paper demonstrates how Twain utilizes the literary techniques of characterization, humor, suspense, irony and symbolism in his novel, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". The paper shows how the work can be seen as a statement of Mark Twain's condition: his lifelong convictions, sardonic humor, and high self-opinion. The paper asserts that it is a literary work without comparison and it leads the reader to look carefully at the actions of the past and to proceed with caution into the future.

From the Paper
"Mark Twain, the pen name of well-known American author and humorist Samuel Clemens from the late 1800s, wrote many novels that are both entertaining and enlightening. His writing was prolific and for the most part well-received, and although not as popular as Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a novel well worth reading. Described as one of Twain's most complex book (A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, homepage) the novel relates the adventures of the main character Hank Morgan, an ingenious inventor and machinist from 20th century Connecticut, who suddenly finds himself transported back to an earlier time when King Arthur reigned and knights in full-regalia roamed the countryside on horses."

Tags:characterization, humor, suspense, irony, symbolism, Hank

Abstract
This paper examines the ways in which Twain used wit, repartee, and an engaging cast of characters in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" to make a strong statement against imperialism. It also looks at how some of his other works, like "Huckleberry Finn," also have social messages against slavery.

From the Paper
"Twain's novel suggests that when different people come together the one with the simpler weapons will always lose: It only takes a handful of imperialists (and indeed in the novel it takes only one) to lay waste to the structure of an entire culture. The message of the novel is that meddling is bound to lead to terrible consequences. (Although a secondary reading of the novel might well be that such imperialist meddling is also inevitable.)"

Tags:huckleberry, finn, slavery, imperialism

Abstract
This paper examines Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", which presents a humorous picture of the sixth century A.D. The paper asserts that, in the story, Twain not only ridicules the customs and traditions of this ancient British civilization, but he also criticizes his present day American society, making it unclear as to which group Twain was indicting in this novel. The paper concludes that, by creating an "all American" character such as Hank who is proud and almost egotistical about the advances of his time, Twain is able to point out how much some "good old American know-how" could have improved Camelot and the lives of the people living in it while also taking subtle jabs at the American people's overt self-confidence.

From the Paper
"Throughout the novel, Twain continuously pokes fun at the gullibility of the extremely religious people, from King to commoners, which he meets during his journey. He becomes "The Boss" simply by using knowledge and skills he had from his more advanced era to come up with different ploys that will fool them into thinking of him as mighty and powerful. For example, when a water well in a community of monks is not filling with water, the monks all assume it is a punishment from God and are shocked when "The Boss" says he can magically solve their problem and refill the well with water. He recalls a time in America when an oil well had ceased to flow. Dynamite was used to blast it out and allow the flow to continue. This would also cause a sudden surge of water that would astonish those present."

Tags:history, critique, monarchy, America, Britain