Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Study Guide

Dir. Terry Gilliam

Themes:

• chivalry/heroism 
• violence 
• reality/fantasy 
• futility 
• the absurd 
• religion/Christianity

Political commentary:

• monarchy 
• communism (the anarcho-syndicalist commune) 
• xenophobia 
• nationalism/patriotism

Medieval realities:

• Black Plague 
• Inquisition 
• asceticism 
• arranged marriages 
• science and magic

Note Python’s story-telling technique. Modern day reality frequently intrudes into Arthur’s realm, calling into question the very reality of the medieval world. Further some of the characters in Arthur’s story question the reality of his situation: he is not really riding a horse, point out the guards; anyone can own a grail according to the French and the seductresses at castle Anthrax. All of these disconnects with reality beg the question: is King Arthur the great hero of myth and legend, or is he just a homicidal loony?

Logic Exercise: The Witch Scene

Inductive Logic (evidence gathering)

List the evidence that the villagers and Bedevere cite as proof she is a witch:

1. “She is dressed like one.”
2.  “She has got a wart.”
3.  “She turned me into a newt.”
4.  As it turns out, she does weigh as much as a duck.

Deductive Logic (Hypothetical Syllogisms)

You burn witches. [Premise]

You burn wood. [Premise]

Therefore witches are made of wood. [Conclusion]

Wood floats. [Premise]

Ducks float. [Premise]

Therefore, if a woman (AW) weighs as much as a duck, then AW is made of wood. [Conclusion]

If AW weighs as much as a duck, then AW is made of wood. [Premise]

If AW is made of wood, then AW is a witch. [Premise]

Therefore, if AW weighs just as much as a duck, then AW is a witch. [Conclusion]

If AW weighs just as much as a duck, then AW is a witch. [Conclusion from above, now a premise]

AW weighs just as much as a duck. [Premise]

So, AW is a witch. [Conclusion]