The Quest

What do the Arthurian Legends teach us for the modern world?

 

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Quest(ion). As a member of the group, you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about Arthurian Legends. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the dictionaries in your classroom or http://www.dictionary.com to help you comprehend the information. If a website if too difficult, move on to one that helps you to understand the Arthurian Legends better. Please keep in mind, that these websites are created by individuals who have an interest in King Arthur's time...being interested in it does not necessarily make someone an expert. Check the source of the websites before you believe every piece of information to be true. Also check multiple websites to find information that is common among scholars, rather than just using one website and assuming it is completely correct. Because the Arthurian Legends have been passed on through the ages orally and through writing, you may discover a variety of ideas and opinions that don't match up with each other. Again, check the website source to determine its merit. 

You'll begin with everyone getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Challenge I - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below or resources found through a search engine (such as Yahooligans or Ask Jeeves for Kids) to answer the basic questions of
            Who?
            What?
            Where?
            When?
            Why? and
            How?
concerning the Arthurian Legends. Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can. (Remember to write down the URL or address of the websites you use for your research as you will be required to cite your resources later).

Fill out the handout called Reality vs. Fiction during or at the end of your research about King Arthur.

A group suggestion: Divide up the web pages below to take notes on the basic information about the legends.

Now that you've learned a little about the Arthurian Legends, as a group, get together and document information you found contrasting whether or not the legends of King Arthur are real or fiction. Use this handout: Reality vs. Fiction and place it in the group section of your finished binder (Challenge IV below).

Challenge II - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

PART 1 INSTRUCTIONS:

1. For part one of this challenge, divide up the characters to research between your group members. Only focus on main characters from the legend.

2. Read through the files links. If you print out the files, underline or highlight the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

Characters in the Arthurian Legends

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Characters in the Arthurian Legends:

1. Who are the most important characters in the Arthurian Legends?
2. How are these characters connected with each other?
3. What are the main conflicts among these characters?

PART 2 INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Together, as a group, print, read and fill out the handout titled Symbolism in the Legend of King Arthur. Place it in the group section of your finished binder (Challenge IV below).

2. Once done with the handout, divide up the themes shown below to research between your group members (If you have two group members, take 2 themes each, if you have 3 group members, also take two themes each. Nobody in the group should do the same themes as another). This is the most important part of your research, so make sure to take notes on what the theme is, show how the theme is connected to the Arthurian legends, and document a few specific examples from the legend demonstrating the theme. Plus, you need to write down how that theme can be applied to the world today.

3. Read through the links below. Take notes in a way that works best for you. You can take handwritten notes, highlighted notes, or copy and pasted notes. If you print out the pages, underline or highlight the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the sites on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take information from so you can easily go back to it when creating your Works Cited.

Themes in the Arthurian Legends--Choose from the following themes and use the links below or a search engine like Google to help you describe the theme, explain how it is shown in the legends, and give specific examples from the Arthurian Legends that prove it is a theme from the legends: 


Chivalry/Loyalty
(The rules of knighthood and their loyalty to King Athur)
Equality 
 (the Round Table)
Search for Self/Identity
(Quests/Hunts)

Love and Romance 
 (King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot)

 
Highest Spiritual Pursuit (the Holy Grail)

Birthright/Nobility 
 (the Sword in the Stone)

 

 

Challenge III - Discussing and Reaching Consensus: Real World Feedback

You have all learned about a different part of the Arthurian Legends. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from a variety of perspectives. You must all now answer the main, overarching question of this Webquest as an individual and as a group. Remember, the "big" question is, "What do the Arthurian Legends say to us in the modern world?"...in other words, what can we learn from the Arthurian Legends?

Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored and examples from the modern world to process your ideas and your own viewpoint. 

Your answer to the overarching question should then be written in the form of a 4 paragraph essay, at least two hundred words in length (check out the Guide to Writing a Basic Essay or the 5 Paragraph Essay Wizard websites for help). 

First, you are to write your own essay. 

Then, you will combine ideas/writing from each of your individual essays together to make a group essay that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've ALL gained. 

Here's the process:

Step 1--On your own write/type your own individual essay. 

1st Paragraph: Introduction (3-5 Sentences)
 Include brief background on what the Arthurian legends are. The key word here is "brief." Introduce what the Arthurian Legends are as if you were writing it for someone who had no knowledge about them. Following this background, transition this paragraph to take the legends to present day.  How can the Arthurian legends help people today? This is the "big question" listed at the beginning of the webquest. Also, this sentence will become the thesis statement for your essay. It should be an overview of what the essay will be about!

2nd Paragraph (8-15 sentences):

General Specific/ConcreteAbtract/Intellectual Apply to Today
In general, write about your first theme and explain what it is (topic sentence). More specifically, write about how the theme is literally shown in the legends (concrete detail). More abstractly/intellectually, explore the symbolism of the theme (commentary/interpretation). Applying to today, explain how and why we should apply the theme to today's world (conclusion).

3rd Paragraph (8-15 sentences):

General Specific/ConcreteAbtract/Intellectual Apply to Today
In general, write about your second theme and explain what it is (topic sentence). More specifically, write about how the theme is literally shown in the legends (concrete detail). More abstractly/intellectually, explore the symbolism of the theme (commentary/interpretation). Applying to today, explain how and why we should apply the theme to today's world (conclusion).

4th Paragraph: Conclusion (5-10 sentences). 
Briefly sum up your main ideas and why future generations should continue to study and learn from the legends.


Step 2--As a group, share your individual essays with each other. Pick at least one body paragraph from each person's essay, plus one intro. and conclusion. Combine these pieces from each group members' individual essays to create a group essay. Make sure that your group essay includes ideas/writing from each group member. This essay may be 4 paragraphs or more for two person groups and must be 5 paragraphs or more for three person groups.
Have each person on the team proofread the essay. 

Use correct essay format and make sure you include a works cited page or use this MLA citation machine to help you cite your web pages.

Don't forget to use transitional words/phrases to help the flow of your essay. Click here for transitional words/phrases suggestions. 

If working from home, use the link below to make contact. Send your essay and make sure your teacher gets a copy. If working at school, make sure your teacher gets an electronic copy of your essay either through the server or on disk.

Possible Contacts at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School: 
Ms. Forster
Ms. Lichti
Mr. Nicolini
Mr. Read
Ms. McTaggart

 

 

Challenge IV - Putting it all together

You and your team will put together a binder to prove your efforts as group members and individuals. The binder must include items below in the following order: 

1) Cover--Title ("Arthurian Legends WebQuest") and group member names, 
                               plus some Arthurian images

2) Title Page--Title (such as "Arthurian Legends WebQuest"), group member names, 
                               some Arthurian images, and the date.

2) Table of Contents

3) Group Section (title page)
                    Group Paper (typed)
                    Reality vs. Fiction completed handout for the group
                    Symbolism in the Legend of King Arthur completed handout for the group

4) Individual Sections (title page)
                    Group member individual sections must include (title page for each member):
                         Individual Paper (typed)
                         Works Cited--Cite all sources used for research, notes and images used in this project. Use proper MLA formatting to cite works.
                         Rough Drafts of  Individual Papers (need at least one edited rough draft)
                         Research and Notes for each challenge. Make sure the notes are labeled as to which challenge they address. 
                        

 

Challenge V (EXTRA CREDIT) - Sharing Your Findings: Presentations

You and your team can put together a class presentation to persuade your peers to believe that your answers to the overarching question are the best ones. Choose one or more of the following presentation styles to enhance your presentation and then schedule a presentation date with your teacher:

Remember that the FOCUS of your presentation is on what we can learn from the Arthurian Legends, not on the background information. Use the background information sparingly as the entire class has spent time researching the same information. Your presentation should teach them what you learned that you could apply to your lives today. The main focus should be on the themes/lessons we can learn today from the Arthurian Legends.

 

Conclusion

Now you all know a lot more about life and the legends. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of the Arthurian Legends could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops!

This webpage created by Ms. Forster
Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School
Moraga, California

This WebQuest has been revised from an original WebQuest created by Brendan Desilets, bdesilets@mediaone.net from John Glenn Middle School.
Desilets WebQuest can be found at PacBells Filamentality website: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webarthuriabr.html