In King Arthur, which is more important: who your parents are, or what you are capable of doing?
Many of the events in the book are predicted long before they happen. Do the characters in King Arthur have any free will, or are they entirely prisoners of destiny?
Can you see any similarities between Arthur and modern heroes such as Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker?
Which are your favourite and least favourite stories in the book, and why?
Do you think that Arthur’s way of ruling is a good one? How does it compare to the way countries are ruled today?
SOME THINGS TO DO …
Make up a code of chivalry for the modern world – and try to live by it!
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of adaptations of the story of King Arthur – books, poems, films, cartoons and more! Find one and compare it to this book. What are the similarities and differences between them?
Imagine that there were newspapers and magazines back in King Arthur’s day – and that you are running one of them! Design the front page for the day after one of the key events in the story.
You are a computer game developer who has been commissioned to design a new game based on the King Arthur legend.
How would the game look? Design some screens and the packaging for the game.
Who would your heroes and villains be?
What different levels could you have?
What would your weapons and pickups be?
The legend of King Arthur ends with the promise that he ‘will come again when Britain has need of me’. Imagine that you are living in Britain when this happens, and write a first-person account of it. What threat do you think Britain might be facing that brings Arthur back from the past?
TECHNOFILE
ARMOUR
Purpose: To protect the wearer from sword blows, crossbow bolts or bullets.
Specification: The most famous type of armour is called plate armour, and was worn by medieval knights from about 1350 to 1700. It was made of as many as 200 pieces of steel cleverly jointed together, with chainmail used to protect any areas not covered by armour. Underneath, a knight would wear padded linen or wool clothes. The armour was held on with leather straps.
Advantages: Very effective. Someone wearing a good suit of armour would be almost invulnerable to sword blows, crossbow bolts (unless fired from close range), and even the bullets from early guns. A well-made suit of armour was also surprisingly light and easy to wear.
Disadvantages: Very expensive – only rich people could afford it. Someone wearing armour could still be knocked out or have their arms or legs broken by an opponent with a big stick – and, as weapons evolved, guns were developed which could penetrate armour.
Modern equivalent: Bullet-proof vests.
SWORDS
Purpose: The most important weapon from around 2000 BCE (when people first learnt how to work metal) to 1800 CE (when handguns became a more attractive option). Specification: Swords come in many different styles. All have a blade (for cutting), a point (for thrusting), and a hilt (for holding the weapon). The type of swords two medieval knights would have used against each other were steel longswords that could be used with either one or two hands. They were so long that if a knight put the point on the ground, the end of the hilt would reach to his armpit. Advantages: A very effective personal weapon. Disadvantages: An opponent with a gun would kill you before you got close enough to attack him with your sword. Modern equivalent: Modern armies no longer use swords. However, the modern sport of fencing still uses three special types of swords, called foil, épée and sabre.
SPEARS
Purpose: A medieval knight’s spear (also called a lance) was used on horseback, and was usually tucked under one arm. If the horse was then spurred to a gallop, it became a lethal weapon.
Specification: Made of wood and metal, the spear was long and heavy. Sometimes there was a small circular plate fixed at one end, to stop a knight’s hand from sliding up the spear in the shock of impact, or a handguard. Lances for use in war were sharp and stout. In jousts and tournaments, however, knights’ spears usually had a blunted end, and might also be hollow so that they would snap easily. This reduced the risk that knights jousting with each other for fun would end up dead.
Advantages: A sharp lance allied to the power of a war-horse made for one of the most powerful weapons available in the medieval period.
Disadvantages: Usually the spears could only be used for just the one charge – they were too long and heavy to be useful in close combat. Knights had to carry other weapons, such as swords, for these circumstances.
Modern equivalent: None. Modern weaponry such as machine-guns means that cavalry charges are no longer an effective battle strategy.
SHIELDS
Purpose: Made of a strong piece of wood or metal, a shield was held in one hand and used to block attacks.
Specification: Medieval knights’ shields were usually made of several layers of strong wood, and often had a coat-of-arms emblazoned on the front. Usually they were slightly curved and kite-shaped – having a shield tapering to a point at the bottom made it easier to get on and off a horse.
Advantages: Portable, versatile protection.
Disadvantages: Wooden shields provided little protection from bullets.
Modern equivalent: Riot police today use large, light riot shields to protect them from crowds. There are also specially developed bullet-proof shields made of modern synthetic materials that are used by armed police in (for example) hostage situations.
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First published in Puffin Books 1953
Reissued in this edition 2008
Text copyright © Roger Lancelyn Green, 1953
Illustrations copyright © Lotte Reiniger, 1953
Introduction copyright © David Almond, 2008
Endnotes copyright © Penguin Books, 2008
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ISBN: 978-0-141-91870-9
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table Page 27