Реферат: Synopsis For The Once And Future King

them… visor shutting in the process, and exclaimed ‘Oh, dear!’” (16). Pellinore appears

throughout the novel at the traditional medieval events and plays a key role in Wart’s

education. Sirol Hugh-Jones credits White with saying that he has “developed a love

affair with King Pellinore the only addition to Malory” (ix). White creates the character

of King Pellinore to exhibit the farce of medieval custom, much as Miguel de Cervantes

does with Don Quixote, as well as creating comic relief. White tries to eliminate the

problem of strict reverence by adding characters such as Pellinore.

In addition to new characters, White adds new adventures as well. In Arthurian novels of

the past, Wart’s education was not a prominent event. However, as C. M. Adderly writes

that “education is the theme which most clearly gives The Once and Future King its

structure” (55). Wart’s education gives White’s novel an overlay in theme of the

advancement of the human nature. Merlyn tells Wart that “the best thing for being sad is

to learn something” (185).

“The best thing for being sad,” replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow,

“is to learn something. That’s the only thing that never fails. You may grow

old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to

the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the

world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled

in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then to learn.

Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the

mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or

distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you.

Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”

White puts a great deal of emphasis on the education of Wart because it is through this

that the character of Arthur, along with his personality, morals, and virtue are defined.

This stress of education in The Once and Future King is unique, and sets it apart from the

traditional Arthurian legend.

The Once and Future King also varies from the traditional tale by probing deeper into the

story, beyond the tradition, adding new perspectives and outlooks. Before, the legend of