Medieval Life & Society:
* Chivalry & Knights: The film often depicts knights as bumbling, cowardly, and incompetent, contrasting the traditional image of noble warriors.
* The Church: The film satirizes the power and hypocrisy of the Church, with scenes like the "God's Own Country" and the "Witch Trial" mocking religious dogma and persecution.
* Social Hierarchy: The film mocks the strict social hierarchy of the time, with scenes like the "French Taunter" highlighting the absurdity of class distinctions.
* The Court: King Arthur's court is portrayed as a chaotic and inefficient institution, with the King himself often appearing oblivious to the absurdity around him.
Mythology & Folklore:
* King Arthur & the Round Table: The film subverts the legendary figures of King Arthur and his knights, presenting them as flawed and ridiculous.
* The Holy Grail: The search for the Holy Grail becomes a nonsensical journey with many absurd encounters, ultimately revealing that the Grail is actually a simple, everyday object.
* Medieval Monsters: The film parodies the mythical creatures of the time, such as the killer rabbit, the French taunter, and the Black Knight, all serving as exaggerated representations of the dangers of the era.
Historical Events:
* The Crusades: The film satirizes the historical events of the Crusades, highlighting their brutality and the religious motivations behind them.
* Medieval Warfare: The film mocks the tactics and strategies of medieval warfare, portraying battles as comical and absurd.
Other Targets:
* Politics & Government: The film satirizes the incompetence and absurdity of political systems, particularly through the character of King Arthur and the council of "knights" advising him.
* British Culture: The film subtly mocks aspects of British culture and stereotypes, such as the "French taunter" and the "coconut shell horse."
* Filmmaking Conventions: The film subverts traditional filmmaking conventions, utilizing absurd humor, visual gags, and surrealism to poke fun at the filmmaking process itself.
In short, Monty Python's "Search for the Holy Grail" mocks a wide range of targets, using wit, absurdity, and satire to create a hilarious and insightful critique of medieval life, mythology, and human nature.