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1st 6 weeks 1st Semester

The Knights who say "Nie!"

"'Tis but a flesh wound!"

"It's just a harmless bunny!" "What does he do? Nibble your bum?"

Monday October 6th- Friday October 10th

Due THIS lab day: Typed page explaining Sir Gawain's cowardice. Print this BEFORE class, please!

Reading of The Pardoner's Tale and Sir Gawain.

In-Class:  Test on Pardoner's Tale?

Medieval history as told through Monty Python's "The Holy Grail".

Assignments:

Monty Python's movie, "The Holy Grail" is definitely a complete parody of medieval history and famous stories. Based on what you've read, seen and heard so far, what are the examples in the movie of medieval life?  TYPE up a page explanation and bring it with you NEXT lab day.  

Read "Morte D'Arthur" in your textbook. Make sure you can understand the steps that lead to Arthur's death, how he was buried and why Sir Bedivere would not follow his orders regarding Excalibur. 

Study all sections of the Medieval unit. Unit test next week! Some of the review you'll need can be found here. 

Information:  Monty Python's "Holy Grail" was produced for the BBC in the 1970's and instantly become a huge British hit. More than anything, this movie truly exemplified the dry and "silly" British sense of humor that many Americans to this day do not understand. There are many examples of British culture in the movie, along with expressions native to England only. Along with modeling an excellent satire of King Arthur and his knights, the movie also displays elements of the Feudal system: the peasants who do not even know or understand their king, the sick townspeople dying of the Black Death and the general idiocy of the people all represent oppression of the poor in the movie. Arthur's Knights, considered to be the bravest in the land are instead portrayed as cowards who run from battle, soil their armor, and even worse, run away from the dreaded "creature, so foul, so cruel, that none has lived to tell the tale", very similar to Sir Gawain. When people first watch The Holy Grail, many do not understand the satire behind the story, yet when carefully examined, it is obvious that this is a timeless masterpiece that truly satirizes English history while simultaneously displaying elements of the British culture.  

Links: The Lego version of the Holy Grail

         See the actual credits page from the movie, (be patient). Yes, even the credits are silly. 

         What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?