In five pages this paper examines the magical and otherworldly components that comprise the Arthurian legend as conceptualized in the literary works of Thomas Mallory and Chretian de Troyes. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.
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was an actual King and united England under one banner is still hotly debated. However, through the tales and stories that surround Arthur it can be certain that he is
alive and well in the hearts and minds of succeeding generations. But what is it exactly that makes us want to hear the stories over and again? Magic. The stories
of Arthur have been attributed to the work of a Frenchman by the name of Chretien de Troyes who managed to romanticize the legends. Through his works the reader was
introduced to a world where men and women had distinctly defined roles. Almost all the heroes were bigger than life and all were motivated by some force greater than themselves.
This is part of the magic, to be sure, but more directly, there is also the lure of the mystical which lures many to read the tales of King Arthur
time and again. The time period of King Arthur supposedly took place at the time when the Christian movement was beginning to gain headway in England. Most of the rural
areas were still pagan believing in the Old Ways and traditions which involved nature worship and the worship of Gods and Goddesses. Some versions mention that for this very reason
King Arthur was the only one who could have united all of England because he was the embodiment of the old and new ways. As such, he was viewed as
being sympathetic to those who still chose to follow the old ways and yet was sympathetic to some of the newer ideas which were making their way into England.
As such, then, magic and the metaphysical played a large role in the Arthur legends. Alchemy, portents, and people who were trained in the occult abound throughout the story in