The Once and Future King Book 1

Section 1 Chapters 1-4 pg. 9-40

Summary:

Arthur and Kay lose their tutor and a replacement is discussed between Sir Ector and Sir Grummore over drinks. Haying began so the need for a tutor was not urgent, Arthur enjoys haying but Kay does not. After haying the boys decide to go hawking, however the hawk, Cully isn’t in the mood and when released flies up out of reach. The boys wait and watch for a while to see if the hawk will come back down but Kay soon decides to go back home.

Arthur follows the hawk throughout the night and tries to get it to come to him. Eventually Art is shot by arrows and after the initial shock; he meets King Pellimore who is hunting the Questing Beast. Arthur offers Pellimore a good night’s sleep on a feather bed with pillows if King Pellimore can take him to Sir Ector’s castle. However, the King soon sees the beast and takes off after it with a lot of clamoring in the process. Arthur therefore slept in the forest and in the morning, he goes searching for food such as berries. Arthur soon hears a clanking, which he believes to be Sir Pellimore, but is in fact Merlyn.

Merlyn takes Art into his cottage, shows him around, and is introduced to Archimedes a peculiar owl. Merlyn then has breakfast with Arthur and explains to Arthur his second sight. When Archimedes finally talks to Arthur, he offends both the owl and Merlyn by calling the owl Archie but soon all is forgiven. Merlyn tells Arthur that he will take him home and become his tutor. When they reach home, Arthur tells everyone how he and Merlyn recaptured the hawk, Cully and Merlyn attempts to prove to all, that he is indeed a wizard and will tutor the boys. Kay is scrupulous and Merlyn calls him on it but feeling he was too harsh presents Kay with a beautiful hunting knife.

Vocabulary:

Sultry-oppressively hot and damp

Rudiments- basic, raw

Cabalistic- mysterious

Reflection:

I prefer Arthur’s character to Kay’s because he appears to have an innocence about him as well as a pure heart in how he is so determined to bring Cully back. Kay on the other hand is much more into himself and in some ways the easy way out, doesn’t sound like a very knightly way to me. King Pellimore is a peculiar character whom I hope to see him again he reminds me of a five year old set in his ways to complete a task that is seemingly unimportant. The Questing Beast is a different kind of beast that I would not want to run into. One thing I have noticed is that the adults all act a little strange I can’t put my finger on what it is but it is there.

Merlyn’s character is not at all what I expected for I always imagined him to have much more control over his magic than he actually does. I had this impression due to T.A. Barron’s series The Great Tree of Avalon. I love the description of Merlyn’s house it says a lot about his personality and how he is somewhat eccentric. I do find it rather interesting how Merlyn jumps on Kay but then second thought says that it is simply because Merlyn possibly had already met Kay. I can’t imagine being Arthur showing up at Merlyn’s place and then finding out that same day that this magician is going to be his tutor. Merlyn has trouble remembering whether he has had a conversation or not with someone, I can relate to that even though I don’t have Merlyn second sight simply because I can get sidetracked.

Section 2 Chapters 5-8 pg. 40-85

Summary:

Arthur spends some time with the dog boy with no nose and Merlyn begins to tutor him. However before the teaching begins by request of Arthur Merlyn turns both Arthur and himself into fish and Arthur learns to literally swim like a fish. Merlin brings him to meet several fish and the last almost eats Arthur.

Arthur and Kay were practicing their archery and decided to walk around to shoot other objects, eventually they hide while waiting for some rabbits to make an appearance. Kay gets lucky and hits one on the head, this is the first shot between the boys thus they both shoot an arrow up into the air but Arthur’s is taken by a crow and this angers Arthur because it is his favorite arrow and Kay believes the crow to be a witch.

Arthur becomes bored of watching Kay get his lesson in tilting so Merlyn transports them to watch to men go at it these men just so happen to be King Pellimore and Sir Grummore, because Arthur requested to see King Pellimore. So the two knights duke it out in a comical performance complete with many “yes, you did”s and “no you didn’t”s between the two. They end by stunning themselves when walking into stationary objects and Merlyn and Arthur return to the tilting field.

On a wet and rainy day, Arthur while trying to find something to do is dismissed by many. Eventually he turns to Merlyn to see if Merlyn can teach him something or turn him into an animal. After some time in which Merlyn knits his beard into his nightcap Merlyn turns Arthur into a merlin when he is sure that Hob has turned in for the night. That night Arthur is inducted and accepted by the other Hawks after answering some questions, with a little help from Balan a spar-hawk, and facing an ordeal by escaping Cully who is a colonel among the hawks who is not al right in the head. Arthur is congratulated with a song with a verse that says, “Wart the King of Merlins”

Vocabulary: None

Reflection:

Arthur learning to swim with the fishes was cool. It is good though that Merlyn was with Arthur for his first lesson so Arthur knew that there was danger involved in Merlyn’s lessons. I had to reread the passage where Arthur almost is eaten several times just to make sure I read it correctly because I really wasn’t expecting it.

I really enjoyed Arthur’s lesson with the hawks. T.H. White did a good job giving the animals personalities based on their species. I enjoy how Arthur has to learn how to move different based on the animal that Merlin turns him into. King Pellimore was someone I didn’t expect to see again due to his fascination in hunting the Questing Beast. When King Pellimore and Sir Grummore go at it, they act so childish arguing whether or not someone did or didn’t do something. I bet that was a comical skirmish to watch between Sir Grummore and King Pellimore, it knocks down the image of brave knights I had in my head to men that see themselves as something other than what they really are.

It is ironic how Kay is thought to be ranked higher than Arthur as of right now because Arthur becomes the King over Kay.

Section 3 Chapters 9-12 pg 85-120

Summary:

Kay and Arthur get into a fight because Kay believes Arthur to have snuck out last night when he was really with the hawks. Kay gives Arthur a black eye and Arthur gave Kay a bloody nose. Kay is upset because Merlyn only does things for Arthur so Arthur goes to talk to Merlyn. Merlyn tries to explain to Arthur why he can’t do anything for Kay. Eventually though Merlyn uses his second sight to find an adventure for the two boys. Therefore, Arthur and Kay follow the instructions given to Arthur by Merlyn in order to find an adventure. They soon are in the woods and after walking through many glades find a giant of a man.

This man is Little John and leads them to Robin Wood as he is actually known by and the two are asked to help Robin Wood free the prisoners Tuck, the Dog Boy and Wat as well as the dog, Cavall. They were taken prisoners because the fairies have names such as pig and dog; the dog boy called dog to Cavall but since he didn’t point the fairies took them hostage. They are put in a group with Maid Marian and the troop of over 100 head towards the castle of Morgan Le Fay. Morgan Le Fay, according to Robin, is a fairy; not a fairy like in children’s stories but a creature with little good about her, however fairies cannot stand new metals such as iron. The troop moves through the forest with unbelievable grace and silence before reaching the castle. The castle is guarded by a griffin, which is eight times the size of a lion. However, the two boys have little trouble getting to the castle made entirely out of food. Inside they quickly find the prisoners and release them by bringing their iron daggers close to Morgan Le Fay so she disappears and they are sent outside. Just before Morgan Le Fay disappeared though she unchained the Griffin. Since the prisoners, Arthur and Kay were not as quiet as they should have been and the Griffin comes after them. Thus, all of Robin’s men as well as Kay and Arthur begin shooting the beast with arrows. The beast goes after Arthur and as it does Kay hits it with his arrow in the eye and it dies. As presents, Robin allows Kay to have the Griffin’s head and Arthur asks to have Wat to see if Merlyn can restore him to his right mind. Arthur suffers from a broken collarbone and when the boys return the next morning, everyone rejoices for all were worried about their well-being. Kay’s Griffin is given a place to display in the castle and all goes well to bring Wat to his right mind. Wat and the dog boy become best of friends and they rip off the pigs’ noses that Merlyn gave them. Unfortunately, for Arthur though he is locked up so he can heal.

Vocabulary: None

Reflection:

I really like the story of the rabbi and Elijah that Merlyn told Arthur in how sometimes it seems like someone is getting better treatment but really the reason is just hidden. In addition, it is evident that an anachronism was present because Merlin himself says so. I think it is fascinating that T. H. White combines legend of King Arthur with the legend of Robin Hood/Wood. However according to the internet their timelines don’t correspond making them an example of an anachronism. However, the portrayal of Maid Marian being just as capable as the men she is surrounded by. Kay and Arthur appear to doubt her abilities at first but soon come to accept that she is the real deal and good at what she does. The descriptions of everyone moving gracefully through the forest were almost poetic.

I wouldn’t do well living in the same house as Kay. I think this is because both of us have a streak of arrogance and keep harping on our successes to the point where it drives others around us nuts. However, I know that it is a flaw in my personality unlike Kay. It drove me up the wall at how he continue to bring himself up in his achievement in slaying the Griffin when all he really did was get lucky and hit the Griffin in the eye.

Section 4 Chapters 13-16 pg 121-154

Summary:

Arthur out of boredom asks Merlyn to turn him into an ant against his nurse’s wishes. Merlyn manages to cast the spell through the key hole and Arthur soon finds that being an ant was much different than he expected. Ants don’t think ahead was what Arthur found while watching an ant move bodies and the ants vocabulary is quite limited using the two phrases, “Done” and “Not Done” constantly. Arthur being mistaken for another ant is given a job, which is somewhat peculiar for he eats to fill his stomach so that he can later regurgitate it for other ants. Soon though the ants found one colony plan to attack the other for Arthur had put a board across connecting the two. However, before Arthur is put in any real danger Merlyn turns him back into a human.

Sir Ector is perplexed because some of the king’s hounds and huntsman are coming for Boxing Day. Sir Ector puzzles over whether he to do one thing or another though in the end he decides to do it how he had done it before. Christmas, the day before Boxing Day was a splendid occasion with loads of food and good company including King Pellimore. Songs traditionally sung were sung as well as Sir Ector’s annual speech. People danced, played, and had a joyous Christmas.

The next day was Boxing Day and men from all parts of Sir Ector’s manor came. Even Robin Wood comes along. When they do finally catch sight of a boar Sir Grummore is charged but he is al right. William Twyti, the king’s huntsman, goes after the boar through the woods with Arthur and Robin Wood not far behind. They soon arrive near the boar and Twyti is charged and the hounds swarm but Robin Hood kills the beast to prevent it from harming Twyti any more. Soon the rest of the hunting party catches up including King Pellimore. He ends up going further into the woods and finds the Questing Beast lying sickly in the snow. He feels as if he has neglected it and that is why it is close to death. King Pellimore has the Questing Beast brought back to the castle to be nursed back to health.

Vocabulary:

Belligerent- hostile, ready to start a fight, or ready to go to war

Reflection:

The ants described in this section have a strange way of getting things done, the analogy of the man with a sandwich, tea, match, and cigar that was included made it much easier to understand the lack of planning the ants were using to function. I can’t imagine living in a world that lacks vocabulary as theirs. It would most be a handicap in expressing how one thinks or feels.

Sir Ector seemed more like an adult in this section than before; he is actually fretting about how things are going to turn out much like someone preparing to host a party because, “everything has to be just right.” Christmas sounded like a joyous occasion with the singing and laughter, I bet it was fun to attend.

Although I personally would not be interested in Boxing Day I think my brother would be. Also I find Sir Ector’s attempt to mask Robin’s identity to be quite humorous as well as King Pellimore’s seeing right through it while he was worry about his beloved questing beast. King Pellimore’s actions are predictably unpredictable for you know he is just going to do something unexpected the only question is what. Despite my opinion after reading the first section, I now want my own Questing Beast for in a way it seems somewhat friendly and cuddly.

Section 5 Chapters 17-20 pg154-182

Summary:

The Questing Beast is released while King Pellimore counts to one thousand. The beast works quickly to throw King Pellimore off its trail and when he stops counting, he happily bounds after the beast. Merlyn, Arthur and Archimedes discus their favorite types of birds and they decide that that night Archimedes will teach Arthur how to fly.

That night Archimedes brings Arthur a magic mouse that turns him into a bird and Archimedes teaches him how to fly and land before taking him to spend some time with the geese. Arthur meets a young female goose that helps to show and tell him the ways of the geese. Arthur is surprised to find that the geese do not know of war and find the thought of animals within a species fighting each other preposterous. Arthur learns how admirals within the geese are chosen and the geese pass the time while flying from place to place. When Arthur’s adventure as a goose is over he is back in his bedroom and Kay accuses him of honking like a goose.

Six years passes by and Kay is near knighthood and Merlyn grows younger. Arthur is curious to know the rituals performed when one becomes a knight so Merlyn tells him in a manner so that it doesn’t seem quite so glamorous.

Vocabulary:

Myriad- too numerous to count

Reflection:

The way that King Pellimore and his Questing Beast interact is a funny visual. Archimedes gives a beautiful description of a pigeon and to hear his opinions of birds is funny because Arthur believes a bird to act and be one thing where Archimedes sees the same bird in a completely different light. I was confused because I was unsure of whether Arthur was an owl and then a goose of flew with Archimedes as a goose; I think it is the latter. Arthur makes a friend out of one of the geese though I find it interesting that she is offended at the thought of fighting within a species. Arthur’s experiences with the geese seem less like magic and more like a dream because it takes place over an odd period of time and Arthur appears as to have never left the room due to Kay’s commenting on Arthur honking in his sleep.

The descriptions of people six years later show how people change. The change in the sergeant - at – arms is most certainly the most entertaining. Merlyn’s descriptions of the rituals to become a knight show that he is far from a supporter of it and truly has no interest in knighthood.

Section 6 Chapters 21-24 pg 183

Summary:

Arthur is sulky over Kay’s slight change in personality and so he goes to Merlyn. Merlyn decides that it is time for Arthur last lesson with the Badger. Arthur, before making it to where Badger resides, runs into hedgehog. He threatens to eat it but the hedgehog sings the same three songs repeatedly and eventually Arthur finds out the hedgehog was one Merlyn had the first day Arthur net Merlyn.

Arthur then meets with the Badger. Badger decides to read Arthur some of the book he has written although he is overcome with shyness. Badger tells Arthur a story of how the animals and man came. Badger then tells Arthur that he finds man to be a tyrant from which all others flee. Arthur tries to stand up for humans by saying they are not the only ones who wage war. However, Badger asks whether he prefers the warring ants or the geese.

A message is sent out throughout the kingdom that the king has died and the one that can remove a sword that is lodged in an anvil and stone is the next king. All prepare to travel to a tournament and the announcement is made that Merlyn is leaving. Kay is soon knighted and they all head to find lodging near the location of the tournament. The next day when they are at the tournament Kay finds that he has forgotten his sword thus he has Arthur go back to get it. However, the lodgings were locked up so Arthur looks around and sees what he believes to be a war memorial with a sword stuck in a stone and anvil. He tries three times to remove it and finally succeeds with the aid of the lessons of the animals. He then brings the sword back to Kay. Kay knowing the significance of the sword brings the sword to Sir Ector and proclaims that he removed the sword and not Arthur. Thus, they all return to the site and Kay confesses that really it was Arthur that removed it. Thus begins Arthur’s journey to becoming king and he must stick the sword back in the stone and remove it many times. Arthur cries when learning he is king and Sir Ector asks that Sir Kay be made seneschal of the lands. Arthur is given many gifts from many people including Kay’s Griffin and Merlyn tries to make things a bit clearer for King Arthur.

Vocabulary: None

Reflection:

When Arthur visits the Badger, the Badger tells Arthur that humans are one of the only races that fight against each other. I’ve got to wonder if maybe T. H. White addressed this because of his opinions concerning the World War that had ended and the one that was about to begin according to the copyright date. Badger story of how the animals and man can to be made a lot of sense, I like to know (even if it is in a Fiction novel) how other people view things and Badger’s view was indeed interesting. I believe Badger’s lesson is the most important because the Badger emphasizes that war isn’t natural and Badger makes Arthur question this with a question of whether he preferred being with the ants or geese.

Arthur is loyal to Kay and brings back a sword but the nerve of Kay to go tell his father that he himself pulled it out of the stone amazes me. What also amazes me is that Arthur doesn’t say a word, I guess he was holding his tongue because he was Kay’s squire not his brother at the time. When Arthur gets the sword out of the stone, I couldn’t understand how he didn’t know its purpose but then again I can see my brother do the same thing and not brother to read the inscription. Arthur when he pulls the sword out he uses all the lessons he has learned from his forest friends, I think the description of that is very colorful. If I was Arthur, I would have got very sick of constantly pulling that sword out of the stone. I think Arthur may have cried because now things around him were changing drastically and he knew that there was no going back to when he was the one being told what to do. However, by the sounds of it I wouldn’t be too happy to find out that my father was Uther Pendragon, for he doesn’t sound like a very good man. I think it is so cool that one of Merlyn’s hedgehogs gives Arthur a gift.

By the way Arthur’s lesson with the hawks is my favorite although I’m not completely sure why.