King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

• Genre: Fiction; middle-grade fantasy
• Originally Published: 1953
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1130L; grades 6-8
• Structure/Length: 22 chapters; approx. 416 pages
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Arthur becomes king and works to surround himself with honorable knights. As he leads and gains admiration and followers, he faces treacherous plans and, finally, war with Launcelot.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: War, violence, death, sexism, ableism

Roger Lancelyn Green, Author

• Bio: 1918-1987; earned a Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) from Oxford University; writer, biographer, actor, librarian, teacher; created Inklings, a literary group, with J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis; wrote largely about fairy tales and legends from different parts of the world; suggested the name for The Chronicles of Narnia
• Other Works: From the World’s End (1948); The Adventures of Robin Hood (1956); The Luck of Troy (1961)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Knightly Codes and Oaths of Virtue
• The Overpowering Nature of Sin
• British Nationalism and Mythological History
• Fate and God’s Will

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Explore background information on the relationship between history and myth and the role of myth in forming national identity to increase their engagement with and understanding of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table.