Idylls of the King (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Arthurian romance
- Time of Work: Fifth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Poetry, Narrative poetry, Arthurian romance
- Subjects: Magic or magicians, England or English people, Kings, queens, or royalty, Middle Ages, Great Britain, Knights or knighthood, Chivalry, Fifth century
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
King Arthur, of Camelot. His birth is shrouded in great mystery, and he is reared by Merlin the magician. He receives his magic sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake and marries Guinevere. With his Round Table knights, he drives out the enemy and unifies his kingdom. He rules wisely and is successful until his Round Table fellowship diminishes in the knights’ quest for the Holy Grail. Exposure of Guinevere’s infidelity with Lancelot proves thoroughly demoralizing, and in a traitorous revolt, Arthur is mortally wounded. After his last remaining...
[The entire page is 1353 words long]
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