Morte d'Arthur

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Comprehension
The questions below refer to the selection “from The Day of Destiny from Le Morte d’Arthur.”

____ 1. In a dream that foretells his own death, King Arthur —

a. is stabbed by his own son, Modred
b. is taken on a barge to Avalon
c. is flung into water where monstrous beasts await him
d. finds a magical sword stuck into a stone
____ 2. What does Sir Gawain advise King Arthur to do?
a. Surrender to Modred
b. Attack Modred by night
c. Talk peace with Modred, then wait for Launcelot
d. Challenge Modred to single combat in front of both armies
____ 3. The two leaders meet between their massed armies in order to —
a. fight single-handedly c. pray for a sign from heaven
b. call their armies to attack d. sign a treaty
____ 4. How does the battle start?
a. King Arthur orders his men forward.
b. Modred cries out, “Kill my father and his evil knights!”
c. A bugle call sets things in motion automatically.
d. A soldier unthinkingly flashes his sword, and the armies react.
____ 5. As night falls, how many men are left standing on the battlefield?
a. Modred, Arthur, and two of Arthur’s followers
b. Arthur alone, Modred, and one of Modred’s best knights
c. Only Arthur and Modred
d. Only Modred
____ 6. Who is the only survivor of the battle?
a. Sir Bedivere c. Modred
b. Sir Lucas d. Arthur
____ 7. Sir Bedivere disappoints King Arthur by —
a. going over to Modred’s side
b. failing to throw Arthur’s sword into the lake
c. running away with Arthur’s sword
d. running away from the battle
____ 8. What happens to King Arthur’s sword in the end?
a. A hand rising from the lake pulls the sword underwater.
b. It remains lodged in the body of Modred.
c. Sir Bedivere takes it for his own.
d. King Arthur falls upon it, with Sir Bedivere’s help.
____ 9. How does King Arthur get to Avalon?
a. Arthur, severely wounded, hobbles there himself.
b. A boat full of beautiful ladies wearing black hoods take him there.
c. Arthur’s few remaining knights carry him there on his shield.
d. Arthur’s chief magical advisor, Merlin, arranges a magical trip.
____ 10. “HIC IACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM REXQUE FUTURUS” means —
 a. “Jacketed by night and mist, here the great Arthur lies.”
b. “He pulled the sword out of the stone, and now he is stone himself.”
c. “Here lies Arthur, the once and future king.”
d. “Arthur was once king here, but every man must be a king.”

Literary Focus: Romance Hero

The questions below refer to the selection “from The Day of Destiny from Le Morte d’Arthur.”

____ 11. Which of the following archetypes has the most in common with the romance hero?
a. Epic hero c. Fatal temptress
b. Wise old man d. Best friend
____ 12. The romance hero’s childhood usually does not include —
a. mysterious origins c. wealthy surroundings
b. obscure upbringing d. magical initiation
____ 13. The romance hero is usually aided by —
a. faithful wives and children
b. hard work and determination
c. magical weapons, loyal followers, and wise mentors
d. a Round Table of more than a hundred knights
____ 14. Which of King Arthur’s final actions most clearly shows him to be a romance hero?
a. Suffering a disaster on the battlefield
b. Being troubled by a bad dream
c. Killing his illegitimate son
d. Hinting that he will return in the distant future

Matching

Vocabulary Development
Match the definition with the Vocabulary word from the list below.
a. righteous d. dissuade
b. prevailed e. brandishing
c. dauntless
____ 15. gained the desired effect
____ 16. shaking in a threatening way
____ 17. morally right
____ 18. fearless
____ 19. advise against

Short Answer

Constructed Response
The question below refers to the selection “from The Day of Destiny from Le Morte d’Arthur.”

20. Imagine that you are one of the first citizens of England to read Le Morte d’Arthur when it is first published in
1485. How accurate do you find the book as a portrait of life in your time? To answer this question, use your
knowledge of the Middle Ages as well as your reading of this selection. Write your answer on a separate sheet of
paper.
 Morte d'Arthur
Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: C OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)

2. ANS: C OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
3. ANS: D OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
4. ANS: D OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
5. ANS: A OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
6. ANS: A OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
7. ANS: B OBJ: 12.1.3.2 (character interactions)
8. ANS: A OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
9. ANS: B OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
10. ANS: C OBJ: 12.1.1 (plot)
11. ANS: A OBJ: 12.1.9.5 (archetype)
12. ANS: C OBJ: 12.1.11.15 (romance)
13. ANS: C OBJ: 12.1.11.15 (romance)
14. ANS: D OBJ: 12.1.11.15 (romance)

MATCHING

15. ANS: B OBJ: 12.3.6 (literary meanings of words and their usage), 12.3.10 (synonyms)
16. ANS: E OBJ: 12.3.6 (literary meanings of words and their usage), 12.3.10 (synonyms)
17. ANS: A OBJ: 12.3.6 (literary meanings of words and their usage), 12.3.10 (synonyms)
18. ANS: C OBJ: 12.3.6 (literary meanings of words and their usage), 12.3.10 (synonyms)
19. ANS: D OBJ: 12.3.6 (literary meanings of words and their usage), 12.3.10 (synonyms)

SHORT ANSWER

20. ANS:
Students’ responses will vary. A sample response follows:

If I were living in the Middle Ages, I would find Le Morte d’Arthur to be an inaccurate portrayal of my era
in terms of realistic detail, but accurate psychologically as a portrayal of the longings and nostalgic impulses that
guide me. I might be a merchant in the city, a skilled craftsman, or a yeoman working on my own land; if so,
none of these lifestyles would have a place in the world of King Arthur. Even if I were a knight in the real 1485,
I wouldn’t resemble a knight of the Round Table—as the life of Sir Thomas Malory itself shows. Rather than
fighting evil, jousting, and championing chivalric virtues, Malory engaged in political squabbling and perhaps
petty crime. As a real citizen of the Middle Ages, I would probably be a devout Catholic, and the mixture of
Christianity and Druidism found in the Arthur tales might seem baffling or sacrilegious to me.

OBJ: 12.2.1.5 (reading for details), 12.1.10.1 (Evaluate the philosophical¸ political¸ religious¸ ethical¸ and
social influences of a historical period.)