Teaching The Once and Future King

Instructions for You

Objective: The idea of the Round Table is thrown around a lot in The Once and Future King. Most people have heard of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, even if no one really gets it. Why does it have to be round, after all? Wouldn't the knights be just as happy sitting at a long table? We think they might prefer fluffy recliners or beanbag chairs.

Nevertheless, the Round Table is actually symbolic for Arthur's vision of creating a system of justice and equality. No one person is superior over another. These ideas were important to King Arthur's legacy. Circular seating positions are the great equalizer, donchaknow?

The Round Table represented the upmost level of chivalry: belonging to a noble family, devoting themselves to honor, and having a pure heart. Talk about pressure.

In this lesson, students will examine chivalry and whether it's a practical societal expectation, and participate in their own round table discussion.

Materials Needed: Access to this cool video about chivalry made by a British professor

Step 1: Before we jump at a chance to take a seat at the Round Table, it's best first to understand what chivalry is. Chivalry is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the medieval system of appointing knights who swear to follow a strict religious, moral, and social code."

After reading the definition to the students, or writing it on the board, ask for words that might define this code. For example: honor, courage, courtesy, etc. Come up with as many chivalrous words as you can think of.

Step 2: The idea of chivalry is an important concept that was affected by many factors during the medieval times. Chivalry wasn't always a thing. For a long time, to be a knight meant war, war, fight, blood, sharpening swords, spit, fight, fight. Since the church was such a huge influence upon medieval people, it wasn't surprising that this mind-set was tweaked to create a more Biblical feel among these knights.

Let students see what happens when a little purity of heart is thrown into the mix by showing the 30-minute video, "Knights and Chivalry." If you don't want to show the entire video, the chivalric code is discussed at 20:00.

Step 3: Discuss some "Ah-ha!" moments from the video. What was most striking for your students about the chivalric code?

Step 4: Depending on class size, arrange your class into a round table setup. Including the whole class is ideal, but if you need to create two round tables, that's okay, too.

Step 5: Together, students will create a chivalric code for the 21st century. This is meant to be an open discussion. One person should be in charge of creating a list of the virtues that the group agrees upon. If there is disagreement, suggest that students take a vote. Since there's no king in the ranks, it's up to the Round Table members to come to a unified decision.

The list must also include a brief explanation of each virtue and when it would be used.

For example: justice—to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to stand up to bullies, and to challenge wrongdoing.

Step 6: As a class, debrief and discuss what stood out about being part of decision-making at the Round Table. Call students' attention to the section in Chapter 11 of Book One where the intended idea behind the Round Table (and its limitations) is discussed. Was their experience with the Round Table more of a success or a failure? (If you began the school year by creating an agreed upon set of classroom rules, compare this process to that earlier discussion.)

Step 7: Make your classroom code of chivalry pretty and display it in the classroom.

Instructions for Your Students

When you think of the word chivalry, you probably picture a dude wearing tights and handing a flower to a blushing medieval maiden, right? We've all seen the paintings. Believe it or not, chivalry was actually much more than that.

Chivalry was a code of conduct that all knights promised to live by—and the virtues were specific and demanding. Prior to the development of a Code of Chivalry, knights lived by the simple warrior class motto of "kill all the things," but later had their minds reset by the church to instill an array of important qualities.

Step 1: Before jumping into our seats at the Round Table, we need a firmer understanding of what chivalry is.

Here's what the dictionary says: "Chivalry is the medieval system of appointing knights who swear to follow a strict religious, moral, and social code."

Cool, but what, specifically, are these virtues and social codes?

When you think of a knight, or someone who demonstrates good virtues, what words come to mind? Come up with as many chivalrous words as you can think of.

Step 2:. Chivalry was not always a thing. For a long time, being a knight meant war, war, fight, blood, sharpening swords, spit, fight, fight. Since the church was such a huge influencer during this time, church leaders thought they'd take the knight mind-set and tweak it to create something nobler.

Watch this video about chivalry and be amazed at what happens when they throw a little purity of heart into the mix.

Step 3: Discuss a few ideas that stood out to you from watching the video.

Step 4: You'll arrange your classroom so that you'll be sitting at round tables. As a class, you'll create a chivalric code for the 21st century. This is meant to be an open discussion among all people in attendance with one person writing down the virtues that the group agrees on. If there is disagreement, you'll take a vote. Since there's no king in the ranks, it's up to you Round Table members to come to a unified decision.

Step 5: Your list, when it's complete, should include a brief explanation of each virtue and when it would be used. For example: justice – to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to stand up to bullies, and to challenge wrongdoing.

Step 6: As a class, you'll debrief and discuss the things that stood out to you about being part of the Round Table. Reread the section of Chapter 11 in Book One where the idea behind the Round Table—and its limitations— is presented. What worked in your classroom Round Table debate? What were the problems? How does this compare to what T.H. White describes in this chapter?

After the discussion, your teacher will lead you in making your modern code of chivalry pretty enough to display in your classroom.