The Tables have Turned(Late)

"As the primaries approached, Arthur had studied the commercials of other canidates very carefully. His decison was to try and find a different angle" (David, 188).

This quote is from a scene that stuck out to me a lot from this reading. I found it cool how we are so used to Arthur being the top guy(king) and being in charge that I liked this perspective as Arthur is no longer in that position. In the story we see him running to be the next Mayor and this quote shows he is working to be the top guy in charge, against competitors who are equal to him.

Character Switch

"I love my parents and all, but why did they have to name me after someone so pathetic? The only thing my namesake and I had remotely in common was a mutual love of floating... although I preferred to do mine on a raft in a pool, whereas Elaine of Astolat favored floating to her death in a boat..." (133)

With the "floating" comparison starting from the very first chapter, I thought for sure some tragedy would befall Ellie by the end of the book. However, she persisted in not being like Elaine of Astolat. She became a hero of sorts and flipped which character she represented in the Arthur parallel. Even though Ellie doubted that any of it was true, she stayed loyal to her friend. Which is more than can be said for other Arthurian characters.

The story was cute, if teenagery, and the author brought some hope to an otherwise tragic story.

Lancelot's Purpose

In the Mists of Avalon Lancelot states, "maybe when I go back to the real world, the Saxons will all have been vanquished... and gone" Morgaine replies with "And you will weep because there is no longer any reason for your life?" (155). I thought this quote was interesting because it reduces Lancelot's sole purpose to fighting. Do you think that this reduction of Lancelot is accurate?

Magic of Avalon

"'The mist and the reeds and the cry of water birds...and then the barge, like magic, gliding from the silent shore...I know there is nothing for me here, and yet, somehow, I always return..'" (Bradley)

This quote stood out to me because I related it right to Lancelot and how he also seemed to have to soul purpose of being in Camelot, yet he always found himself there in our readings.

King Arthur was Spittin'

"Yes, I've heard that. People don't trust the government enough. It's odd, though. If they don't trust the government, how is it they know that they can speak against it with impunity? They must trust it on some level. Besides, the entire matter is nonsense, if you ask me, which, I suppose, you have. If the government goes bad, handguns won't save you. Better to work together to support a good government than arm oneself against a bad one." (David, 177). 

I chose this quote because as I was finished reading this part I said, out loud, "damn, Arthur!" This guy is spitting serious facts. Throughout this entire story, I could really see that my beliefs lined up with Arthur Penn's. Perhaps that's why I liked his character so much.

*Also, as a second thought: why does this Arthur character remind me so much of Oliver Queen from Arrow??? And why do they lowkey look alike???

This Was Hilarious

"You...could tell us...but you won't? Were you a Don or something?"
"No, no,  I've always been an Arthur." (p. 173)

I have to be honest: Knight Life was a breath of fresh air. It was easier to read and understand. And both the situation and the writing were so awkward that it was funny. I was actually laughing out loud at certain events in the excerpt. The reason why I chose this quote is because it is an example of the strange hilarity of this book. Arthur reminds me so much of Captain America when he has to figure out how to live in 2012 while mentally he's still in the 1940s. He's a man who has come to "save the world" so to speak, but is so far removed from the current day, that he has a hard time operating in society. Arthur is the exact same way, but worse because he's coming from an age where knights were still a thing. This feeling of being out of place is reflected in the writing style. The book might not have been the best written thing, but boy was it funny to read. 

She seems normal, so what happens?

In the Mists of Avalon Bradley wrote about Morgaine "She picked up his hand to return the gesture, and suddenly dropped it as if it had burned her; to him it was only a game, perhaps, but it could never be so to her. She turned away, hiding her burning face in the grass. Power from the earth seemed to flow up through her, filling her withe the strength of the very Goddess herself" (152).

I thought it was so interesting how Morgaine is portrayed as having human emotions like everyone else. I feel like in most stories Morgaine is described as being this all-powerful person who seems invincible. It was refreshing to see Morgaine be portrayed with more human emotions. It makes me wonder how she ends up the way she does.

reason the the madness

"Were it well to obey then, if a king demand
An act unprofitable, against himself?
The King is sick, and knows not what he does."

This is from the scene where Sir Bedivere was given the order by Arthur to throw the sword, this quote is showing why he wasn't throwing the sword, he realizes Arthur is not thinking straight and believes not throwing it would be best. 

Just.... Why?

Honestly I have so many questions about this reading but the two that stick out the most to me are: Why was Arthur okay with, and honestly kind of supportive, of Lancelot having an affair with Guinevere? And Secondly, If he knew Mordred was going to try to kill him and was plotting against him, why did he listen to him so much? Wouldn't it have just been easier if he had banished him or something?

What will happen to the triangle?

"...That two knights with malice in their hearts first plotted the downfall of Sir Lancelot and Queen Gwynevere; and by those plots brought about the destruction of King Arthur's Court."  I know...I know the first sentence of the reading...really?  Just let me explain.  This is the first time I have read the beginning of a reading that we have been assigned and been genuinely excited to find out what happens!  The author did a very good job of really drawing in the audience with the use of this very first sentence.  What will happen to Arthur's Court?  How will this effect the relationship triangle of Arthur, Lancelot, and Gwynevere?  All questions that the reader can ask his or herself after reading only the first sentence of this chapter.

The End of the World huh?

"But now the Round Table is dissolved
Which was an image of the mighty world,
And I, the last, go forth companionless
And the days darken around me, and the years,
Among new men, strange faces, other minds." (233-237)

This quote might be somewhat insignificant, but it struck me as the line that really put the nail in Arthur's coffin. Bedivere mentioned the end of the world, but it's not the kind where the actual planet explodes or catches on fire. Rather the world as he knows it is going to change. From this point forward, everything is going to change. Everything.

Defining Justice

"The only way I can keep clear of force is by justice. Far from being willing to execute his enemies, a real king must be willing to execute his friends... It is a king's business to prevent bloodshed if he can, not to provoke it" (White 550-1).

Arthur has kept to his initial ideas when he first thought of the Round Table, but it's also forcing him to execute the people he loves. True justice wouldn't play favorites. Though he is doing his best to prevent bloodshed, Lancelot's rebellion against Arthur's justice creates it. And everyone is miserable.

Arthur in Deep Thought

"'I have been thinking,' said Arthur, 'about Might and Right. I don't think things ought to be done because you are able to do them. I think they should be done because you ought to do them. After all, a penny is a penny in any case, however much Might is exerted on either side, to prove that it is or is not. Is that plain?'" (White 246).

This part of the story stood out to me because Arthur brings up some interesting thoughts in a meeting. While Arthur begins to get deep into thought, he also is calling out Merlyn, which made me laugh.

Did.. did I enjoy this reading?

"Once and Future King" is definitely written in a style I as a reader am more familiar with and therefore enjoy much more. (Of course, it was written mid 20th century, so it is much more modern than the other works). I really did enjoy this story more; there was actual character development! And also some great quotes. Below are several quotes I quite enjoyed from "Once and Future King":

"He had fair hair and a stupid face, or at any rate there was a lack of cunning in it" (221)

- LOL. Reminds me of the Camelot episode we watched; that Arthur definitely meets these descriptions

"It is nothing. I am due to fall in love with a girl named Nimue in a short time, and then she learns my spells and locks me in a cave for several centuries. It is one of those things which are going to happen" (224)

- This quote seems so self-aware at the arbitrary nature events that happen in these stories and I LOVE it.

"Then we must have a round table, with no top" (265)

- I love to see the origins of such iconic aspects of the Arthur's story developed in a comical, almost again arbitrary way; it makes the story more relatable in the sense? and makes me feel closer to Arthur actually. I enjoyed this whole conversation about the logistics of the round table.


"Remind me to warn you about Guinevere another time" (266)

-Oof

"There is a thing about time and space which the philosopher Einstein is going to find out" (286)

-This right here is pretty funny. White took advantage of the fact that he is writing about Merlyn a while in the 'future', so he can actually make Merlin refer to things that will happen.

"This idea was in the hearts of the young men who knelt before the God-distributing bishops-- knowing that the odds were three to one, and that their own warm bodies might be cold at sunset" (298)

-It is this type of writing that really makes this story so much more enjoyable for me; slightly poetic, referring back to the beginning of the chapter with the bishops, contemplating real-life worries, thus humbling the story itself.. Good job White. This is good stuff.

I really enjoyed this reading, so my question is, did you (the class) also
enjoy it more? Why or why not? I am very curious about how every one else felt about it compared to the others we have read.

Sir Lancelot Holmes

"My fair lady, I have never worn a token at a tournament! You ask me to do what I have not done for anyone before.  But as he spoke, it occurred to Sir Launcelot that because he had never been known to wear a token, this would be the best possible means of insuring his disguise" (Cannon, 459).

I understand that the only reason Lancelot accepted the token was so that the other knights would not recognize him, but I am confused as to why he wants to be disguised in the first place.  He is a well known and respected knight, so he does not need to gain more respect from others by beating them without them knowing who he is.  I also found it interesting how the author spelled his name differently than I am used to seeing it.

Why take the fight?

"My good cousin, you make too much of it! I have only my own pride to thank for my wound, for had I disclosed myself to you, it would never had happened. But do not worry; I shall soon recover, so now let us talk of other matters." - Sir Launcelot (Cannon,466)

Sir Bors finds Launcelot to apologize for wounding him in the tournament, but Launcelot does not blame Bors, he blames himself for even joining the tournament. This has me thinking why Launcelot fought in the first place. Throughout the whole story, the other knights are praising the capabilities of Launcelot. What was his intent behind joining the tournament? Was he trying to prove something?

Heard you, Gawain

"Sir, I find it somewhat strange, since you indeed are Gawain, A man always genuinely geared doing the good, that you don't pursue the practices of polite society; If somebody teaches you something, you seem to toss it away; Certainly you've already let slide my lesson of yesterday." (Lines 1481-1485)

This exchange between Gawain and the host's wife highlights the tension between them. This was her attempt to get what she wants, by challenging Gawain and saying he cannot be the real Gawain because of him not being "gracious"

Can I Interest You In Some Soccer

"The fair head flips from its foundation to the floor, And the crowd begins to kick it as it caroms their way. " (Wilhelm, 422)

I chose this quote because they make it seem that kicking the head is a normal thing to do when someone’s head falls off. It seems like this is viewed as an event that you and your wife would attend on a Friday or Saturday night. It is also making it seem that it’s an accomplishment to get to kick the head while in the crowd.

Lancelot kinda shady

"And I swear that you lie," said Lancelot, "and I further swear that he never slept with her or touched her. And if it please God, may He show His righteousness by taking vengeance on whichever of us has lied." (Troyes 160)

Illustrated by Alfred Lord Tennyson

By the People, For the people?

"Meanwhile, aside from the chronicles, which were written by men of the church, which were often Germanic rather then Celtic in their sympathies, the myth of Arthur grew where he properly belonged: among the common people who had been displaced in Wales and Cornwall and who were looking desperately for a messianic figure of salvation."(7)

This quote is significant to me because it shows how Arthur was truly developed by the people. There were a couple of different historical authors mentioned in the article, but mainly Arthur's legend grew among the people that Arthur himself supposedly defended and protected. To me it makes sense that Arthur's fame would grow among the people who he would later become an inspiration too.