Medieval Expert SHOCKED By Accuracy of King Arthur: Legend of The Sword
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode covers a medieval historian's analysis of Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, comparing it to historical sources and classic Arthurian legends.
There are three key takeaways from this discussion. First, the Arthurian legend is a highly adaptable myth, constantly reinterpreted to reflect contemporary values rather than being a static story. Second, modern film adaptations often take significant creative liberties, blending high fantasy with traditional elements to appeal to contemporary audiences. Third, many commonly held beliefs about the Arthurian myth, such as the single identity of Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone, are often misconceptions or conflations from various tellings.
The enduring power of Arthurian legends lies in their flexibility, allowing each generation to adapt the narrative to its own anxieties and values. This constant reinterpretation ensures the myth remains relevant across centuries.
Modern film adaptations, like Ritchie's, reimagine key characters and events. For example, Arthur's upbringing in a brothel sharply contrasts with his noble, secret rearing in traditional legends, showcasing a deliberate shift towards high fantasy and contemporary appeal. The film's inclusion of elements like giant war elephants further highlights a departure from historical accuracy.
Many commonly held beliefs about Arthurian mythology are often misconceptions. For instance, the Sword in the Stone, which proves Arthur's lineage, and Excalibur, a magical sword from the Lady of the Lake, are traditionally two distinct weapons. Even Uther Pendragon's name, misinterpreted as "dragon's head," likely meant "chief leader." Additionally, the film's portrayal of Vortigern sacrificing his wife for power deviates from legends, where his sacrifice is linked to a young Merlin.
Ultimately, the Arthurian myth continues to resonate because its core themes are endlessly reconfigurable, adapting to new generations and storytelling forms.
Episode Overview
- A medieval historian provides expert analysis of Guy Ritchie’s 2017 film, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, comparing it to historical sources and legends.
- The discussion breaks down key characters like Uther Pendragon and Vortigern, exploring their origins and how the film reimagines their stories.
- The analysis clarifies common misconceptions within Arthurian mythology, such as the identity of the two swords and the details of Arthur's childhood.
- A central theme is the enduring flexibility of the Arthurian myth, which allows each generation to adapt the story to reflect its own contemporary values and anxieties.
Key Concepts
- Uther Pendragon: There is arguably more historical evidence for Uther than for Arthur. His name "Pendragon" was misinterpreted by Geoffrey of Monmouth to mean "dragon's head" when it likely meant "chief leader."
- Vortigern & Sacrifice: The film shows Vortigern sacrificing his wife for power, a detail not from the legends. In mythology, Vortigern is associated with a different sacrifice: the proposed killing of a young, fatherless Merlin.
- The Two Swords: In most traditional legends, the Sword in the Stone (which proves Arthur's lineage) and Excalibur (a magical sword from the Lady of the Lake) are two separate weapons, a fact often conflated in modern versions.
- Camelot's Origins: The iconic castle of Camelot was not part of the earliest Arthurian tales and was only introduced in 12th-century French romances.
- Arthur's Upbringing: The film presents a modern "rags-to-riches" story of Arthur growing up in a brothel, which contrasts sharply with the traditional legend where he is raised nobly but secretly by Sir Ector.
Quotes
- At 1:22 - "Okay, not familiar with any elephants in the Arthurian legend, or them being in battles in England." - Dr. Howes reacts humorously to the introduction of giant war elephants, highlighting the film's immediate departure into high fantasy.
- At 2:17 - "Uther Pendragon... there's sort of slightly more record of him existing than in fact King Arthur himself." - Providing historical context on the legendary king's father.
- At 3:50 - "There are actually two different swords in Arthurian legend. People think that Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are the same." - Clarifying a key element of the mythology that is often conflated in modern adaptations.
- At 13:30 - "This idea of Arthur as being a bit of an underdog... we have this idea of him growing up not knowing his true parentage." - Discussing the film's modern take on Arthur's youth, contrasting it with his noble, if secret, upbringing in the original legends.
- At 14:25 - "And one thing that's been true of Arthurian legend right from its inception is that it... tells us as much, I think, about our own current moment in history as it does about the legends themselves. It's such a flexible myth." - Summarizing the enduring power and adaptability of the Arthurian cycle through the centuries.
Takeaways
- The Arthurian legend is not a static story but a highly adaptable myth that is constantly reinterpreted to reflect the values and anxieties of the era in which it is told.
- Modern film adaptations often take significant creative liberties, blending high fantasy with traditional elements to create a story that appeals to contemporary audiences.
- Many commonly held beliefs about the Arthurian myth, like the single identity of Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone, are often misconceptions or conflations from various tellings over time.
