Реферат: Synopsis For The Once And Future King
A further note on the time-period and anachronisms in
T. H. White s The Once and Future King
The action in TOAFK takes place between the beginning of the thirteenth century and the
end of the fifteenth: from about 1200 until possibly 1485. While the young Arthur is at
the Castle Sauvage, Sir Ector receives a letter from Uther Pendragon dated “12 Uther.”
At this time, Arthur and Kay are probably about twelve years old: they have been on an
adventure with Robin Hood, are old enough to resent the attentions of the Old Nurse, and
still delight in throwing snowballs; the possibility is that Arthur’s birthdate is about the
same year as Uther’s ascension to the throne. When Uther’s death is announced, King
Pellinore comments, “Uther the Conqueror, 1066 to 1216.” This would seem to be about
four years later than the time when Sir Ector receives Uther’s letter, and would make
Arthur’s age around sixteen, roughly in coincidence with the traditional age of fifteen.
White’s forward limit of the fifteenth century is reached in memorable fashion when the
Bishop of Rochester expresses horror at the thought of Mordred using cannon against his
father, and King Arthur speaks to his page “Tom of Newbold Revell.” Set against the
actual events of these centuries, Uther (who is portrayed as a Norman) by virtue of his
appellation “the Conqueror” and the date of 1066 for his birth is made to be a kind of
William the Conqueror (Norman, 1066-1087). The remaining years of Uther’s reign seem
to cover the actual reigns of William II (William Rufus, Norman, 1087-1100), Henry I
(Norman, 1100-1135), Stephen (Norman, 1135-1154), Henry II (Plantagenet, 1154-1189),
Richard I (Plantagenet, 1189-1199), and John (Plantagenet, 1199-1216).
The condition of England when Arthur ascends to the throne is pretty much in keeping
with the way it was when John the Bad died: “Look at the barns burnt,” Merlyn tells the
Wart, and dead men’s legs sticking out of ponds, and horses with swelled bellies by the
roadside, and mills falling down, and money buried, and nobody daring to walk abroad
with gold or ornaments on their clothes. That is chivalry nowadays. That is the Uther
Pendragon touch.
This picture of England in chaos before Arthur is recalled later in terrifying detail: “When