English Literature / Unit 5 ENL 0401 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Romance and the Matter of Britain
Captions available
The idea
Medieval romance drew on three great bodies of story: the Matter of Rome, the Matter of France, and the Matter of Britain, mostly about King Arthur. Geoffrey of Monmouth introduced Merlin around eleven thirty-five; Wace added the Round Table, and Chrétien de Troyes Lancelot.
In practice
Rome, France, and Arthur's Britain.
Where people slip
Arthur's legend grew by additions over centuries.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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