The Once and Future King Book 2

Section 1 Chapters 1-5 pg 213-244

Summary:

Four brothers are telling stories about their grandparents and how Uther Pendragon raped their grandmother. Thus, the brothers despise the Pendragons, including Arthur. While Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth are telling stories, their mother, sister to Morgan Le Fay, was trying to find the bone in a black cat that would make her invisible. She soon however gets bored and abandons her project. The brothers are determined to get revenge on the Pendragons.

Merlyn and Arthur discuss the recent battle. Merlyn helps Arthur to see that there is more that there is more that Arthur must be aware of than if it was a good battle or not. Arthur does however, concludes that might doesn’t necessarily make right.

Merlyn, Arthur and Kay are out riding while Merlyn explains the history of peoples and why there are feuds. This helps Arthur evaluate his next move. Merlyn explains to Arthur that the only good reason for war is if someone arracks you first. Arthur and Kay however attempt to debate this. Merlyn tells Arthur and Kay about their adversary, King Lot.

Saint Toirdealbhach tells the four boys a story of King Conor and each takes something different away from the story. Then King Pellimore and friends arrive to the Gaelic lands but the knights are unaware that England and Orkney are at war.

Vocabulary: None

Reflection:

Arthur belongs to one messed up family that brings a completely new meaning to evil step/half sisters. One thing about T. H. White’s style of writing that never ceases to surprise me is how what at the time appears to be a small glimpse into one of Arthur’s experiences comes back into play. Such as, I never expected to hear Morgan Le Fay’s name again let alone find that Arthur is related to her.

The four brothers, Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth are really all each other has because their mother is on interesting character who in my opinion needs a lot of help. She is trying to find the invisibility bone in a black cat, which she really doesn’t care about, rather than interacting with her children.

I was pleasantly surprised to see King Pellimore and Sir Grummore reappear once again. I keep thinking that their purpose in the story has been served but I am continually shown otherwise. The way that the women of the community are supposedly talking about their new visitors is a little strange especially Queen Morgause.

I like the conclusion that Arthur came to concerning might and right and how they should coexist. I also think that Merlyn’s comment about there only being one good reason to start a war is a different way of looking at it. When Kay and Arthur try to find a hole in Merlyn thought concerning war it reminded me of how I try to find hole is things that have no holes, especially in science.

Section 2 Chapters 6-10 pg 244-287

Summary:

Lot’s army is advancing and Arthur meets with Merlyn and Kay to tell hem of his new theory regarding chivalry. Arthur comes to a conclusion that Merlyn has waited for Arthur to reach for years. It concerns Might and Right and how Merlyn helps Arthur in battle to attempt to make right. Arthur wants those under him to use their might for right

King Pellimore has gotten himself into an interesting situation in which he followed the Questing Beast to a place where he met and fell in love with the Queen of Flanders’ daughter. However, he left when a magical barge in a way beckoned them to board and it sailed away taking them to where they are now. Queen Morgause suggests to the three knights that they should go hunting for a unicorn and she would act as the virgin for bait. The boys decide that they will go on a unicorn hunt of their own to make their mother proud. They have Meg, a kitchen maid, be used, as bait entirely against her will. She begs to be released but she does serve as the lure for the unicorn. Eventually a unicorn comes to the girl while they are all waiting in the woods and all are overcome with its beauty until Agravaine attacks and kills it. Thus, they attempt to bring it home with much struggle even though they are actually quite said that such a majestic animal had to die. They prop it up so their mom will see it when she returns however, she doesn’t even notice it and she beats them when she realizes what they had done.

Kay tells Arthur that he will probably have a dilemma in that many knights will wish to sit at the top of Arthur’s table. However, the idea of a round table comes about from this conversation. Merlyn tells Arthur that he could try to persuade King Leodegrance for the table because Arthur will eventually marry his daughter.

Sir Grummore and Sir Palomides are concerned with how King Pellimore is acting. They decide to build their Questing Beast so King Pellimore will stop thinking about the Queen of Flanders’ daughter. They practice the noises and walk of the Questing Beast. While the knights' and King’s minds are focused elsewhere, Queen Morgause becomes more of a mother to her boys and forgives them for the unicorn incident. Gawain and Agravaine get into an argument and come close to killing each other.

The artificial Questing Beast is perfected and Sir Grummore and Sir Palomides attempt to get Pellimore outside so he will hunt it. While waiting Pellimore becomes soaked due to the rain. Before the knights near King Pellimore’s location, they come across the real Questing Beast that appears to have a crush on them. King Pellimore while standing in the rain mulls over his relationship with the Queen of Flanders’ daughter.

The night before battle Merlyn speaks with Arthur and tries to remember the warning he needs to give Arthur. Merlyn also tells Arthur to try to avoid ones kismet is futile. In addition, Merlyn informs Arthur that both of them will return hundreds of years into the future.

Vocabulary: None

Reflection:

Queen Morgause is a strange individual who changes with the weather. On minute, she hates everything about her children then the next she is telling them how good they are. If you ask me, she is sending them very mixed messages.

In a warped way, I think it was sweet of the boys to try to catch a unicorn for their mother. Although somewhat cruel, I think that they genuinely wanted to do it to please their mother; it is just because of their bizarre upbringing that they believe it to be okay. I certainly found it interesting that the unicorn’s was said to be called a rhinoceros in other places. In addition, I can’t imagine doing something that I believed would make my mother incredibly happy only to find that it upset her to the point where I would be punished.

It was interesting at the conversation revolving the round table and how Merlyn even seemed to get excited about such a unique table.

I love King Pellimore and the Questing Beast because both have personalities that make me laugh. The Questing Beast strangely enough reminds me of my dog and how you never know exactly what she’ll do next. The fact that Sir Grummore and Palomides made their own Questing Beast is simply hilarious especially because the real Questing Beast develops a romantic interest in them.

Section 3 Chapters 11-14 pg 287-312

Summary:

King Pellimore spots Sir Palomides and Sir Grummore the morning after the search for the Questing Beast and finds that they are dressed like the Questing Beast. The knights inform King Pellimore of the Questing Beast’s behavior the night before and suggest that Pellimore kill or at the very least stun it. In the end, King Pellimore ends up holding the Questing Beast’s tail while the other two run for the castle. The drawbridge is closed and the Questing Beast waits outside for its “mate” to return. King Pellimore and Piggy (the Queen of Flanders’ daughter) are seen coming toward the castle and they explain to the knights how this came about. Piggy shoos the Questing Beast away and the knights are all welcomed as part of the community in the North.

The battle between King Arthur and Lot begins and Arthur wins thanks to Allies from France that came with reinforcements. At night, the battle is put on hold but in the morning Arthur quickly strikes to win the battle.

The Questing Beast is still convinced that her mate is being kept inside the castle. Merlyn while passing by suggests to them that they explain what was going on to the Questing Beast. When that doesn’t work, Merlyn suggests that they psychoanalyse her and although this works to a degree, she now loves Sir Palomides and vows to stay near him.

King Pellimore and Piggy are getting married at a double wedding. King Arthur makes sure that everything is there for he holds a certain respect for King Pellimore. Queen Morgause and sons also attend the wedding. With her Morgause brings a Spancel, which is human flesh cut it a certain manner. She brings it in order to make King Arthur fall in love with her. She succeeds in her plan and has a son Mordred with Arthur her half brother.

Vocabulary: None

Reflection:

Leave it to King Pellimore to forget to include an address when sending a letter. I do however give Piggy credit for coming after him anyway. I like her she seems to be her own person and have at least half a mind considering she tried to get the Questing Beast to go away (I would have kept it). There truly are multiple stories occurring at once for they overlap from time to time but generally remain separate.

White provides quite a description of the battle. I liked that somehow in his writing that chapter he made it both concise yet detailed, I wish I knew how he did it.

The Questing Beast is such a cool creature and its new fascination with Sir Palomides is quite funny. I think that Queen Morgause’s magical tool is disturbing especially in the way it is obtained. I believe she would know her relation to Arthur but I don’t know still knowing that certainly makes some things clearer in Malory’s book. Things such as why Mordred tried to usurp Arthur’s throne.

I think there is irony in that Merlyn not being able to warn Arthur demonstrates Merlyn’s point earlier on that you can’t avoid your fate.