Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Was King Arthur a real person? With what time in history is he associated? If real, what was his most important contribution to the history of Britain? Why do you think this figure is still famous so many centuries later?

Teaching Suggestion: Although for a long time scholars believed that Arthur was completely fictional, some researchers now think there may be at least some basis in fact for his existence. This prompt elicits students’ prior knowledge and offers you an opportunity to fill in any gaps before they begin reading. As students work on this prompt, you might also teach them the term “Sub-Roman Britain,” the academic term gradually replacing the older term “Dark Ages.”

• This interview with Professor Marion Gibson offers an interesting look at Arthur’s historical context.
• These lecture notes from a professor at Winthrop University offer helpful insights into the reasons that the Arthur legend has endured. (Due to length and formatting, the notes may be better suited to older readers.