Read the following excerpt from eNotes about the Kennedy presidency and the connection to Camelot.
The term “Camelot” was applied to the presidency of John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) by his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (1929-1994). Camelot refers to the seat of the court of the legendary King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; it has come to mean a place or time of idyllic happiness. (Arthur was a British king; the Round Table was the name for his knights.) Shortly after John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, the former first lady was talking with a journalist. She described the years of her husband’s presidency (1960-63) as an American Camelot, a period of hope and optimism in U. S. history, and asked that his memory be preserved. She had shown fortitude (ability to deal with adversity or pain) and grace as she guided her family and the country through the president’s funeral and was one of America’s most beloved first ladies (eNotes).
Your task is to do a little more research about this Camelot connection. Then write an essay that compares the Kennedy presidency to Camelot, and/or the legends of King Arthur and his court. Be sure to include examples from the texts that you read in this unit. You may use other Arthurian texts as well. Remember to make sure they are cited correctly.
Essay Requirements:
- At least 500 words
- At least 3 examples from Arthurian literature to support your opinion
- At least 2 quotes from other sources to support your opinion
- MLA formatted in-text citations for sources used (for literature and outside sources)
- MLA formatted works cited page
- A strong introduction and conclusion
- Use 3rd person (he, she, him, her, they, them). Do not use the first person in your paper (“I” or “my”).
From Georgia Virtual Learning