Arthurian Legends Synthesis: The Sword And The Stone

Arthurian Legends Synthesis: Young King Arthur As history shows, and literature tells, time has an unequivocal effect on people’s entertainment and storytelling; such effects bestow a reflection upon how humanity’s values, intrigue, and way of life change throughout the ages. This philosophy can be found evident in one of the most well known arthurian legends. Set in medieval england, young King Arthur’s tale is most well known as The Sword and the Stone. The legend is centered around a young boy named Arthur, who is revealed to initially be the unofficial son of the previous reigning king; Uther Pendragon. As according to a deal that Uther had made with a sorcerer named Merlin, Uther would concede the son that he had with Queen Igraine

At one of the oldest literary pieces based on Arthurian Legend, Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, serves as a well known benchmark for the subject. Book one of this epic establishes context for Arthur’s story, including exposition about his lineage from King Uther, the previous king of Britain. The text goes into great detail about the plot and events that partake in the story with as expected, heavy use of Middle English style language. This can be easily noticed in the quote, “Alas, said Arthur, my own dear father and brother, why kneel ye to me? Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so; I was never your father nor of your blood, but I wot well ye are of an higher blood than I weened ye were” (Malory 6). Thomas Malory’s text also makes clear the significance of Arthur’s triumph in wielding Excalibur and obtaining his right to the throne. This is displayed when Sir Ector says “if ever it be God's will that I be king as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail you; God forbid I should fail you Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more of you, but that ye will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal of all your lands” (Malory