King Arthur/Characters: Difference between revisions

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* [[Badass Family]]
* [[Badass Family]]
* [[Defeat Means Friendship]]: Not always, but pretty frequently.
* [[Defeat Means Friendship]]: Not always, but pretty frequently.
* [[Depending On the Writer]]: Who appears,who has major and minor roles, who is related to whom, how characters act... and pretty much everything else.
* [[Depending on the Writer]]: Who appears,who has major and minor roles, who is related to whom, how characters act... and pretty much everything else.
* [[Odd Name Out]]: The children of King Lot and Morgause are Gawain, Gaheris, Gareth, and Agravaine. Guess which one is evil.
* [[Odd Name Out]]: The children of King Lot and Morgause are Gawain, Gaheris, Gareth, and Agravaine. Guess which one is evil.
* [[One Steve Limit]]: Averted. There are several women named Elaine, and there are several different women who occassionally share the title "Lady of the Lake". There are also two Ectors, Arthur's foster-father Ector and Lancelot's half-brother Ector de Maris, and two men named Bors, King Bors and his son Bors of the Round Table.
* [[One Steve Limit]]: Averted. There are several women named Elaine, and there are several different women who occassionally share the title "Lady of the Lake". There are also two Ectors, Arthur's foster-father Ector and Lancelot's half-brother Ector de Maris, and two men named Bors, King Bors and his son Bors of the Round Table.
* [[Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Trailer|Sir Not Appearing In This Book]]: Merlin's liege, Master Blaise is mentioned once in passing but never appears nor does anything to affect the plot.
* [[Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Trailer|Sir Not Appearing In This Book]]: Merlin's liege, Master Blaise is mentioned once in passing but never appears nor does anything to affect the plot.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Variant spellings of names abound.
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Variant spellings of names abound.


== King Arthur's Court ==
== King Arthur's Court ==
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* [[Cool Sword]]: Excalibur
* [[Cool Sword]]: Excalibur
* [[The Good King]]
* [[The Good King]]
* [[Gray Eyes]]: according to Sir Thomas Malory's ''[[Le Morte Darthur (Literature)|Le Morte Darthur]]''.
* [[Gray Eyes]]: according to Sir Thomas Malory's ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur|Le Morte Darthur]]''.
* [[Happily Adopted]]: Arthur actually had quite a happy life with Sir Ector and was extremely upset to learn that he wasn't actually his son.
* [[Happily Adopted]]: Arthur actually had quite a happy life with Sir Ector and was extremely upset to learn that he wasn't actually his son.
* [[The Hero]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[The Hero]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
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* [[Historical Hero Upgrade]] / [[Historical Badass Upgrade]]: Historians have debated for generations whether Arthur was truly historical at all. But if we accept that the "original Arthur" was a British leader who temporarily stopped the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, he has been [[Memetic Badass|greatly transformed and magnified]] into the [[The Good King|Arthur]] [[The Chosen One|of legend]].
* [[Historical Hero Upgrade]] / [[Historical Badass Upgrade]]: Historians have debated for generations whether Arthur was truly historical at all. But if we accept that the "original Arthur" was a British leader who temporarily stopped the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, he has been [[Memetic Badass|greatly transformed and magnified]] into the [[The Good King|Arthur]] [[The Chosen One|of legend]].
** The original Arthur may not have even been a king himself, since he is called ''dux bellorum'' or "leader of battles", who fought "''together'' with the kings of the Britons" in twelve great battles against the Anglo-Saxons. He is also called "Arthur the Soldier" in early material. In later works he is called the High King of all Britain and even Emperor, and he even conquers Rome.
** The original Arthur may not have even been a king himself, since he is called ''dux bellorum'' or "leader of battles", who fought "''together'' with the kings of the Britons" in twelve great battles against the Anglo-Saxons. He is also called "Arthur the Soldier" in early material. In later works he is called the High King of all Britain and even Emperor, and he even conquers Rome.
* [[King in The Mountain]]
* [[King in the Mountain]]
* [[The Messiah]]: His eventual return during Britain's greatest need.
* [[The Messiah]]: His eventual return during Britain's greatest need.
* [[Mutual Kill]]: With Mordred.
* [[Mutual Kill]]: With Mordred.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Herod]]: Arthur decides to round up all of the babies born on May Day and send them out on a rickety boat because Merlin prophesied that a child born on this day would destroy him. One baby (Mordred) survived.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Herod]]: Arthur decides to round up all of the babies born on May Day and send them out on a rickety boat because Merlin prophesied that a child born on this day would destroy him. One baby (Mordred) survived.
* [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]]: Spouts off several in the "Lucius" section of ''[[Le Morte Darthur (Literature)|Le Morte Darthur]]''.
* [[Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner]]: Spouts off several in the "Lucius" section of ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur|Le Morte Darthur]]''.
* [[To Be Lawful or Good]]: Modern writers tend to make him quite conflicted over his decision to burn Guinevere at the stake in order to show that the queen isn't above the law, with some even depicting him as secretly hoping Lancelot will save her. Originally, this was very much ''not'' the case.
* [[To Be Lawful or Good]]: Modern writers tend to make him quite conflicted over his decision to burn Guinevere at the stake in order to show that the queen isn't above the law, with some even depicting him as secretly hoping Lancelot will save her. Originally, this was very much ''not'' the case.


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* [[Alternative Character Interpretation]]: Medieval romancers occasionally note that, though an ally to Arthur, Merlin is actually evil, treacherous and disloyal by nature. He does take several questionable actions over the course of the story.
* [[Alternative Character Interpretation]]: Medieval romancers occasionally note that, though an ally to Arthur, Merlin is actually evil, treacherous and disloyal by nature. He does take several questionable actions over the course of the story.
* [[Composite Character]]: Originally based on the wandering mystic Myrddin Wyllt, he became merged with Romano-British warlord Ambrosius Aurelianus by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Remnants of this remain today with some modern fiction referring to him as "Merlin Ambrosius."
* [[Composite Character]]: Originally based on the wandering mystic Myrddin Wyllt, he became merged with Romano-British warlord Ambrosius Aurelianus by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Remnants of this remain today with some modern fiction referring to him as "Merlin Ambrosius."
* [[Dirty Old Man]]: [[Depending On the Writer]], this was his behavior toward Nimue.
* [[Dirty Old Man]]: [[Depending on the Writer]], this was his behavior toward Nimue.
* [[Eccentric Mentor]]
* [[Eccentric Mentor]]
* [[Half-Human Hybrid]]: In most versions he is the son of a nun who was raped by a demon. This explains why he has magical powers but can only use them for good.
* [[Half-Human Hybrid]]: In most versions he is the son of a nun who was raped by a demon. This explains why he has magical powers but can only use them for good.
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* [[Omniscient Morality License]]: Merlin gives Uther the appearance of Gorlois so he can father Arthur upon Igraine, then has Arthur snatched away at birth and given to Ector, arranging the "sword in the stone" test as well, presumably so that events would happen as he prophesied. Not revealing Arthur's true parentage led to many rebellions during the early years of his reign, as well as the conception of Mordred and the May Day massacre.
* [[Omniscient Morality License]]: Merlin gives Uther the appearance of Gorlois so he can father Arthur upon Igraine, then has Arthur snatched away at birth and given to Ector, arranging the "sword in the stone" test as well, presumably so that events would happen as he prophesied. Not revealing Arthur's true parentage led to many rebellions during the early years of his reign, as well as the conception of Mordred and the May Day massacre.
* [[Robe and Wizard Hat]]: Probably the [[Trope Codifier]]
* [[Robe and Wizard Hat]]: Probably the [[Trope Codifier]]
* [[Sealed Good in A Can]]: After Nimue seals him away in the cave. ''[[That Hideous Strength]]'' by C.S. Lewis features his un-sealing as a plot point.
* [[Sealed Good in a Can]]: After Nimue seals him away in the cave. ''[[That Hideous Strength]]'' by C.S. Lewis features his un-sealing as a plot point.
* [[The Smart Guy]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[The Smart Guy]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[Trickster Mentor]]
* [[Trickster Mentor]]
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* [[The High Queen]]
* [[The High Queen]]
* [[Smart People Play Chess]]: Apparently one of the most skilled players in the court.
* [[Smart People Play Chess]]: Apparently one of the most skilled players in the court.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Too many alternate spellings to mention here. Gwynyvere, Guenevere, etc.
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Too many alternate spellings to mention here. Gwynyvere, Guenevere, etc.
* [[Tsundere]]
* [[Tsundere]]
* [[World's Most Beautiful Woman]]
* [[World's Most Beautiful Woman]]
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* [[Hot-Blooded]]
* [[Hot-Blooded]]
* [[The Lancer]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[The Lancer]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[Sailor Earth]]: He wasn't introduced into the myths until the twelfth century, with [[Chretien De Troyes (Creator)|Chretien De Troyes]]'s ''Lancelot, Knight of the Cart''.
* [[Sailor Earth]]: He wasn't introduced into the myths until the twelfth century, with [[Chrétien de Troyes|Chretien De Troyes]]'s ''Lancelot, Knight of the Cart''.
* [[Sixth Ranger]]: He doesn't show up at the Round Table until long after it's assembled.
* [[Sixth Ranger]]: He doesn't show up at the Round Table until long after it's assembled.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"|Spell My Name With A U]]: Sometimes spelled "Launcelot".
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"|Spell My Name With A U]]: Sometimes spelled "Launcelot".


=== Gawain ===
=== Gawain ===
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* [[The Big Guy]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[The Big Guy]]: [[Trope Codifier]].
* [[Clear My Name]]: One of his adventures in ''Parzival'' has him doing this.
* [[Clear My Name]]: One of his adventures in ''Parzival'' has him doing this.
* [[Family Honor]]: Gawain's main motivation, at least in ''[[Le Morte Darthur (Literature)|Le Morte Darthur]]''.
* [[Family Honor]]: Gawain's main motivation, at least in ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur|Le Morte Darthur]]''.
* [[Henpecked Husband]]: he plays this role to Lady Orgeleuse in ''Parzival''.
* [[Henpecked Husband]]: he plays this role to Lady Orgeleuse in ''Parzival''.
* [[Indy Ploy]]: One episode in [[Chretien De Troyes (Creator)|Chretien De Troyes]]'s ''Perceval'' and Wolfram von Eschenbach's ''Parzival'' has him holding off an angry horde of townspeople while using a chess board as a shield.
* [[Indy Ploy]]: One episode in [[Chrétien de Troyes|Chretien De Troyes]]'s ''Perceval'' and Wolfram von Eschenbach's ''Parzival'' has him holding off an angry horde of townspeople while using a chess board as a shield.
** Of course, the chess pieces are described as being ten times as large as normal ones, and are also used as impromptu missile weapons at one point, so (assuming a board of equivalent size) that's actually not too impractical.
** Of course, the chess pieces are described as being ten times as large as normal ones, and are also used as impromptu missile weapons at one point, so (assuming a board of equivalent size) that's actually not too impractical.
* [[The Power of the Sun]]: Some versions of the legends have him gain strength as the sun rises in the sky and lose it when it sets.
* [[The Power of the Sun]]: Some versions of the legends have him gain strength as the sun rises in the sky and lose it when it sets.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Alternatively spelled Gawan, Gauvain, Gavan, etc.
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Alternatively spelled Gawan, Gauvain, Gavan, etc.
* [[You Killed My Father|You Killed My Brothers]]: The cause of his feud with Lancelot that brings down the Round Table.
* [[You Killed My Father|You Killed My Brothers]]: The cause of his feud with Lancelot that brings down the Round Table.


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* [[No Social Skills]]: After the death of his father, Percival's mother takes him to the Welsh forests where she raises him ignorant to the ways of men until the age of 15.
* [[No Social Skills]]: After the death of his father, Percival's mother takes him to the Welsh forests where she raises him ignorant to the ways of men until the age of 15.
* [[Power Trio]]: With Galahad and Bors.
* [[Power Trio]]: With Galahad and Bors.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Alternatively spelled Perceval, Percivale, Parzival, or Parsifal.
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Alternatively spelled Perceval, Percivale, Parzival, or Parsifal.


=== Galahad ===
=== Galahad ===
* [[The Ace]]
* [[The Ace]]
* [[Ascend to A Higher Plane of Existence]]
* [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence]]
* [[Chaste Hero]]
* [[Chaste Hero]]
* [[Gary Stu]]
* [[Gary Stu]]
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=== Bors ===
=== Bors ===
* [[Overshadowed By Awesome]]: Percival and Galahad are the most-remembered Grail Knights. Bors, if he's remembered at all, is [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|that guy who the Killer Rabbit got to first]].
* [[Overshadowed by Awesome]]: Percival and Galahad are the most-remembered Grail Knights. Bors, if he's remembered at all, is [[Monty Python and The Holy Grail|that guy who the Killer Rabbit got to first]].
* [[Power Trio]]: With Percival and Galahad
* [[Power Trio]]: With Percival and Galahad
* [[The Smart Guy]]
* [[The Smart Guy]]
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* [[Antagonistic Offspring]]: To Arthur, in the versions where he's his son and not just his nephew. One of the alternate names for the trope is [[Arthur and Mordred]].
* [[Antagonistic Offspring]]: To Arthur, in the versions where he's his son and not just his nephew. One of the alternate names for the trope is [[Arthur and Mordred]].
* [[Bastard Bastard]]
* [[Bastard Bastard]]
* [[Child By Rape]]: Medieval versions of the tale have Morgause using magic to get Arthur to sleep with her. Some modern versions have Arthur raping her.
* [[Child by Rape]]: Medieval versions of the tale have Morgause using magic to get Arthur to sleep with her. Some modern versions have Arthur raping her.
* [[Evil Uncle]]: Inverted. In the early versions of the story, Arthur is his uncle and he's the Evil Nephew.
* [[Evil Uncle]]: Inverted. In the early versions of the story, Arthur is his uncle and he's the Evil Nephew.
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: Actually seemed quite promising during the first two years of his knighthood, earning praise from Lancelot himself.
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: Actually seemed quite promising during the first two years of his knighthood, earning praise from Lancelot himself.
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=== Palomides ===
=== Palomides ===
* [[Green-Eyed Monster]]: Most of the reason he alternates between seeing Tristram as a brother-in-arms and wanting to gut him is because they are both in love with La Beale Isoud. [[Spell My Name With an "S"|Er, Isolde? Yseult? Whatever.]]
* [[Green-Eyed Monster]]: Most of the reason he alternates between seeing Tristram as a brother-in-arms and wanting to gut him is because they are both in love with La Beale Isoud. [[Spell My Name with an "S"|Er, Isolde? Yseult? Whatever.]]
* [[Humans Are White]]: Not the only ex-Saracen knight, but certainly the most prominent.
* [[Humans Are White]]: Not the only ex-Saracen knight, but certainly the most prominent.
* [[Kick the Dog]]: On the receiving end of one. After she convinces Tristram to spare his life following on of their clashes, Isolde makes Palomides deliver a message to Guinevere stating that there were but four true lovers within the land: Guinevere and Lancelot and Tristram and Isolde. ''Ouch.''
* [[Kick the Dog]]: On the receiving end of one. After she convinces Tristram to spare his life following on of their clashes, Isolde makes Palomides deliver a message to Guinevere stating that there were but four true lovers within the land: Guinevere and Lancelot and Tristram and Isolde. ''Ouch.''
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* [[Historical Villain Upgrade]]: Modern writers tend to make her a scheming villainess, often by making her aware of her relationship with Arthur when she sleeps with him, or by combining her with Morgan Le Fay. Originally, she seems to have been a generous and friendly person. ''[[Really Gets Around|Very]]'' friendly.
* [[Historical Villain Upgrade]]: Modern writers tend to make her a scheming villainess, often by making her aware of her relationship with Arthur when she sleeps with him, or by combining her with Morgan Le Fay. Originally, she seems to have been a generous and friendly person. ''[[Really Gets Around|Very]]'' friendly.
* [[Honey Trap]]: Malory states that Lot sent her over to Arthur's court in this capacity.
* [[Honey Trap]]: Malory states that Lot sent her over to Arthur's court in this capacity.
* [[Out With a Bang|Out Shortly After A Bang]]: Her son Gaheris, incensed at seeing her in bed with the son of Pellinore (who killed Lot, the Orkney brothers' father), lopped her head off.
* [[Out with a Bang|Out Shortly After A Bang]]: Her son Gaheris, incensed at seeing her in bed with the son of Pellinore (who killed Lot, the Orkney brothers' father), lopped her head off.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Margawse, Morgawse, Margause, [[Odd Name Out|Bellicent...]]
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Margawse, Morgawse, Margause, [[Odd Name Out|Bellicent...]]
* [[Your Cheating Heart]]
* [[Your Cheating Heart]]


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* [[Legion of Doom]]: At one point King Mark appeals to her to get a bunch of evil sorcerers and known evil knights together in order to ravage Arthur's kingdom.
* [[Legion of Doom]]: At one point King Mark appeals to her to get a bunch of evil sorcerers and known evil knights together in order to ravage Arthur's kingdom.
* [[Murder Is the Best Solution]]: Tried to kill her husband King Uriens, but was stopped by their son Ywain.
* [[Murder Is the Best Solution]]: Tried to kill her husband King Uriens, but was stopped by their son Ywain.
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Morgan, Morganna, Morgaine, etc.
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Morgan, Morganna, Morgaine, etc.
* [[Your Cheating Heart]]: Cheated on Uriens with Guinevere's cousin Guiomar. When Guinevere found out she had Guiomar banished. (Understandably, Morgan was rather peeved when [[Hypocrite|Guinevere started her affair with Lancelot.]]) She then proceeded to take on several lovers without actually getting a divorce.
* [[Your Cheating Heart]]: Cheated on Uriens with Guinevere's cousin Guiomar. When Guinevere found out she had Guiomar banished. (Understandably, Morgan was rather peeved when [[Hypocrite|Guinevere started her affair with Lancelot.]]) She then proceeded to take on several lovers without actually getting a divorce.


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* [[Hot Witch]]
* [[Hot Witch]]
* [[Merlin and Nimue]]: [[Trope Namer]]
* [[Merlin and Nimue]]: [[Trope Namer]]
* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Nyneve, Nimue, Nimueh, Vivian
* [[Spell My Name with an "S"]]: Nyneve, Nimue, Nimueh, Vivian
* Trickster
* Trickster


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