The most famous king in Britain — but did he really live? Story and legend together.
Want more detail? Read this lesson at B2/C1 level →
Ten new words for the story of King Arthur, in four short tasks. Try each one first, then click Reveal to check.
The bold word fits the sentence. Say what you think it means, then reveal.
Choose the closest meaning, then reveal.
Three of these words are about war. One is not. Which one is different? Then reveal.
Match each word to its meaning, then reveal.
9. a legend = B — a very old, famous story that may not be all true.
10. to betray = A — to turn against someone who trusts you.
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one. Remember: this story is part history and part legend.
About the year 410, the Roman army left Britain. The Romans had lived there for a very long time, but now they had big problems at home, so they went away. Suddenly there was no strong army to keep Britain safe.
New people came from across the sea to take the land. They fought the people who already lived there. There was no one king. Many small leaders fought each other, and life was hard and dangerous.
Later stories say that one brave leader helped the British people fight back. His name was Arthur. But here is the problem: no one wrote his story at the time. The first books about Arthur came many years later. So we cannot be sure that he was real.
1. What happened in Britain about the year 410?
2. Why is it hard to know if Arthur was a real person?
1. The Roman army left Britain. There was no strong army, and new people came from across the sea to fight for the land.
2. No one wrote his story at the time. The first books about him came many years later.
Many years later, in the 1100s, a writer named Geoffrey wrote a big book about Arthur. He turned the small, old stories into a great tale. In his book, Arthur was a strong king with a crown. Geoffrey said it was history, but most of it was not true.
After that, more and more writers added new parts to the story. They gave Arthur a beautiful home called Camelot. They gave him brave knights who sat at a round table, so no knight was more important than another. They gave him a magician named Merlin, and a special sword.
One story says Arthur pulled a sword out of a stone, and this showed that he was the true king. In another story, a hand came out of a lake and gave him a magic sword. His knights went on long, hard journeys to look for a holy cup, the Grail. Every writer made the story bigger and more beautiful.
1. What did the writer Geoffrey do in the 1100s?
2. Name two famous things that later writers added to the story.
1. He wrote a big book that turned the small old stories into a great tale of Arthur as a strong king. He said it was history, but most of it was not true.
2. Any two of: Camelot, the round table, the knights, Merlin the magician, the sword in the stone, the sword from the lake, the Grail.
The stories give Arthur a sad end. One day, while Arthur was away, a man in his own family took the crown. This man betrayed him. Arthur came back and fought a last, terrible battle. He won, but he was badly hurt. Many of his knights died too.
People carried the hurt king away in a boat to a magic island called Avalon. But the story does not really end. People said that Arthur did not die — he was only sleeping. One day, they said, he will come back to help Britain again. This is why people call him "the once and future king."
So, was King Arthur real? We do not know for sure. Maybe there was a real, brave leader long ago who fought for Britain. But the great king with the magician, the round table and the magic sword is a legend, made by writers over a thousand years. And that is why we still love him: every time people tell the story, they make him their own.
1. How does the story of Arthur end?
2. Was King Arthur real? What is the honest answer?
1. A man in his family betrayed him and took the crown. Arthur fought a last battle, won, but was badly hurt. He was carried to a magic island, and people say he will come back one day.
2. We do not know for sure. Maybe a real brave leader lived long ago, but the famous king with the magician and the magic sword is a legend made by writers over many years.
To tell a story, we use the past simple. We use it for finished things in the past.
Write the past simple of the verb in brackets. Then read the sentence out loud.
1. The Romans (want) to go home.
2. Writers (add) new parts to the story.
3. People (call) him the once and future king.
1. wanted
2. added
3. called
Write the past simple of the verb in brackets. Careful — these verbs change!
1. The Roman army (leave) Britain.
2. Arthur (take) the sword from the stone.
3. He (fight) a last, terrible battle.
4. Geoffrey (write) a big book about Arthur.
1. left
2. took
3. fought
4. wrote
Put each verb in brackets into the past simple. Then read it out loud.
Long ago, the Romans (go) home. Then new people (come) across the sea. A brave leader named Arthur (help) the British people. Later, writers (give) him a magician, a round table and a magic sword. In the end, a man in his family (betray) him.
went · came · helped · gave · betrayed
Regular verbs add -ed (helped, betrayed). Irregular verbs change (went, came, gave).
There is a real podcast about King Arthur. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. About 50 minutes. Open Spotify and search "Short History Of King Arthur" to find the episode.
Open the show on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of King Arthur in your own words. Use these steps to help you: the Romans left Britain → there was no king and many fights → a brave leader named Arthur → writers added Camelot, Merlin and the magic sword → a man in his family betrayed him → the king who will come back.
Try to use the past simple (left, came, fought, gave), and some of the key words (king, sword, knight, castle, battle, crown, magician, legend).
We do not know if King Arthur was real. Does this matter to you? Do you like stories about heroes, even if they are not all true? Why, or why not?
Tell a story of your own. Use the past simple.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: