The quest has been a constant theme in legend, literature and film. This book focuses on one of the most enduring of the quest legends - the story of King Arthur, the Round Table and the search for the Holy Grail.

These stories are the basis of a wide range of photocopiable English activities - speaking, listening, reading and viewing, with references to novels, poems and films which have drawn on the legend of King Arthur.

Contents

Introduction

Malory's Le Morte D Arthur - A Basic Plot Outline

Quest Characters

King Arthur and Star Wars

Character Profile 1: King Arthur

How Arthur Discovered the Truth of His Birth

Responding to the Story 
- Sequencing
- Newspaper Reporting
- Advertising

King Arthur Crossword

How Arthur Claimed the Sword Excalibur

Responding to the Story
-Creating a Weapon

Looking at Picture Books   
- Creating a Children's Book
- Merlin and the Dragons
- Dragon Quest

Further Reading: The Sword and the Circle

Character Profile 2: Merlin

The Round Table

Character Profile 3: Guinevere

Joan of Arc

Character Profile 4: Lancelot

Poetry Worksheet - The Lady of Shalott

Merlin - Film Text

Merlin and Nimue

Poetry Worksheet    
- Poetry Writing
- The Ballad

Character Profile 5: Uther Pendragon

Le Morte D" Arthur (excerpt)

King Arthur's World   

1: Knights
2: Chivalry
3: Jousting
4: Courtly Love
5: Heraldry
6A: Settings - Utopia + Dystopia
6B: Settings - Arthur's Kingdom
6C: Settings - Creating a Map

The Dark Forest Game

Mythical Creatures

Character Profile 6: The Orkney Knights

Bold Gareth and the Red Knight    
- Playscript
- Staging a Production
- Writing & Design Activities

Park's Quest by Katherine Paterson

Character Profile 7: The Grail Knights

The Holy Grail and The Legend of the Fisher King

Film Texts:                
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- Fisher King

In Search of the Holy Grail- Creating a Comic Book

Character Profile 8: Mordred

Character Profile 9: Morgause and Morgan Le Fay

Celtic Heroes:           
- The Legend of Cuchulainn
- The Tragedy of Blodeuwedd

Further Reading: Bernard Cornwell's The Warlord Chronicles

Film Text: Excalibur (Years 11-12)

The Knight of the Lion: Reading & Writing Activities
- Part 1
- Part 2

Notes for the Teacher:         
- Aims and Strategies
- The Historical Arthur
- Creating the Romantic Vision
- King Arthur Comic Books