The language of Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur
is remarkably accessible considering it is from the 1400s. As you
might expect, a few words may stump you. The following quiz covers
some of the more common archaic words that you will become familiar with
in reading Malory. To get started, read the following sentences from
Le
Morte. The underlined words are among those featured below.
She was so sorrowful that near
her heart to-brast. Ye are called an orgulous
knight and full of villainy, and not worth of prowess of your deeds. As soon as King Uther knew of
their departing so suddenly, he was wonderly wroth. I am full loth to slay
thee, therefore yield thee to me as recreant. I let thee wit my lord,
mine uncle, King Arthur, shall have his queen and thee, maugre thy
visage, and slay you both whether it please him. O lords, this noble knight that
I have foughten withal, the which me sore repenteth, is the most man of
prowess, of manhood, and of worship in the world. So he went to the other pavilion,
and found a lady lying sleeping therein, but there was the white brachet
that bayed at her fast.
DIRECTIONS:Match the archaic word on the
left to its modern definition on the right.