Реферат: Synopsis For The Once And Future King

Anachronism

It is the contemporary tone in The Once and Future King, which gives the novel its

present-day feeling. This helps the reader to relate to the story, rather than placing it in

strictly within the context of the Arthurian period. For example, early in the novel Eton

College is referred to, which White then points out “was not founded until 1440,” but the

place was nevertheless “of the same sort”(4). Another example of anachronism can be

found during a discussion between Merlyn and Wart, when Merlyn exclaims “Castor and

Pollux blow me to Bermuda!” (86). During the days of Arthur, Bermuda was an unknown

place, and would not be discovered until the fifteenth century. Though these references

have no true significance to the plot of the story, White uses anachronism as a device to

aid the reader in association with the context. And, as in other of White’s novels, “the

author’s presence is apparent” (Fries 260), giving the feeling of an oral storytelling. These

“almost too frequent historical tangents are designed to underline the anachronism of the

teller” (Fries 260).

White also uses anachronism to convey a more penetrating idea; relating the life of Arthur

to modern society. White’s novel constitutes his search for answers to the problems of the

modern world. When Merlyn and Wart are discussing knighthood, Wart expresses his

desire to “encounter all the evil in the world… so that if I conquered there would be none

left.” Merlyn then insightfully replies that “that would be extremely presumptuous”, and

he “would be conquered for it” (184). In this, White is conveying the notion that society

cannot be governed by might alone. Stephen Dunn exposes the concept that “White’s

world… is still the world as we, unfortunately, know it” (367). This is made evident by

Merlyn’s relations of contemporary British fox hunting to medieval war. Merlyn educates

Wart to expose him to faults present in society so that he may correct them when he

becomes king. These faults are still present in today’s society, which is precisely the point

White is making.

T. H. White also conquers the task of avoiding a monotonous recreation of the Arthurian

legend by adding new and unique characters and stories in his novel. The addition of

King Pellinore for example is unique to The Once and Future King. When White first