British Myths and Legends

An early British king discovers what he is really worth to his daughters.

Geoffrey of Monmouth devotes several chapters of his History of Britain to the entirely legendary Leir, telling a tale that captured the imagination of William Shakespeare, and deservedly so.

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The legendary British warrior makes ready for his final journey, leaving Sir Bedivere with one last duty to perform.

‘The Passing of Arthur’ is the last of twelve poems forming ‘The Idylls of the King’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Mortally wounded in his victory over Mordred, Arthur now prepares to depart for the Isle of Avilion (Avalon), and has some last words of counsel for Sir Bedivere, the only surviving Knight of the Round Table.

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A girl’s choice of words sees her turned out of hearth and home.

This distinctively English tale has a lot of Cinderella in it, but in some ways it is a richer story, framed by an Aesop-like moral and not cluttered by magic.

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The outlaw showed that strange as it may be, he did have a code of honour.

This tale opens a mediaeval ballad called ‘The Gest of Robin Hood’, and introduces us to the dashing outlaw’s peculiar code of ethics.

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A little fable of encouragement for all the suffering.

This touching tale appears almost out of nowhere in Jerome K. Jerome’s comic novel. It reminds us that only those who utterly despair understand hope, and only those who truly grieve know the meaning of joy.

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A knight issues a bizarre challenge to King Arthur and his court.

One New Year’s Eve, a knight rode into King Arthur’s hall. He was green, all over, and he made a strange offer.

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