In the story “Sword in the Stone” the Wart learns some valuable life educating lessons that will help him in the long run. When Sir Ector, and his friend, Sir Grummore Grummursum are at the drinking port they decide they should go on a quest to find a tutor for his sons, the Wart and Kay. A new tutor was needed since their old tutor went crazy. It was a busy time of the year and Sir Ector did not have the time to find a tutor. After a day of difficult working in the hay fields the Wart and Kay decide to go hawking. Their hawk flies away hoping it will find a rabbit and sadly it flies into the forest and sits in a tree. Kay gets aggravated and storms off while the Wart decides to recapture it. He stops under a tree where it had landed and the Wart gets shot at by an arrow. He runs through the forest and finds a knight named King Pellinore. King Pellinore is on a quest for the questing beast which is a magical animal. King Pellinore hears the beast and dashes off to find it leaving the Wart behind. The Wart was alone and fell asleep under a nearby tree.
When Wart wakes up he finds himself in the middle of nowhere. He notices that he is close to a forest cottage. He meets a magician named Merlyn. He ends up becoming Wart’s new tutor. Wart invites Merlyn to Sir Ector’s castle. When they arrive at the castle, Merlyn demonstrates his magical powers to Sir Ector.
When it comes time for the Wart’s first tutoring session, they go to a bridge and the Wart starts to talk to Merlyn. The Wart told Merlyn that he would like to be a fish so he could swim freely in the water. On page 45 it states that the Wart said “ I wish I was a fish”. Then by the Wart’s surprise, Merlyn granted that wish by turning the Wart into a fish. Merlyn and the W...
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... Well, I can only teach you two things-to dig, and love your home. These are the true end of philosophy”. He also taught him that all creatures started out as embryos and were then classified by their characteristics. Becoming a man was the last choice and God placed the man to have dominion over the animals.
When the Wart pulled the sword from the stone and became king, he is now known as King Arthur. During his many transformations he learns many lessons that will benefit him and the people he will rule. He learns that absolute power is not good. He can be understanding and open-minded. The power of being king should not control you so much that you forget that you have a responsibility. You have freedoms that should help him to make ethical, wise decisions as a king. His responsibility as a king is not to overpower the people but to lead them successfully.
Darryl’s life is worth fighting for. “You can’t buy what I’ve got.” ‘The Castle’ directed by Rob Sitch, about one man, his family and neighbours on the verge of being homeless. Darryl Kerrigan, the “backbone of the family” won’t stand for that. Of course no one can buy what he has. He’s spent almost his entire lifetime building what he has, why should he give it up? Darryl’s way of life is simple yet filled with family values. 3 Highview Crescent is the home to Darryl, his wife Sal and their 3 children: Wayne, Steve, Tracy and Dale. (Wayne currently being in jail.) The house is made up of love, and simple family values. Darryl’s also added bits and pieces to it. He’s added on so much to the house, his own personal touch. His neighbours, also in the same bout are almost family to the Kerrigans. Jack and Farouk are another reason why Darryl’s ready to take matters into his own hands.
The Hobbit This hobbit was a hobbit, and his name was Baggins. Baggins had lived in the neighborhood of ”The Hill” some time, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most or them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected. You could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him. This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbors’ respect, but he gained- well, you will see what he gained in the end.
Pressfield, Steven. Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae. New York: Bantam, 1998. Print
Many people wish to be an animal if only for a day, just to see what it is like to be that animal. The obvious problem is that nobody knows how to turn himself into an animal. However, in T.H. White's Once and Future King, Wart has the opportunity to experience life as an animal because his tutor, Merlyn the magician, transforms him into many different animals. Of all the adventures, the most significant transformation to Wart's kingship occurs when he becomes a badger because the badger teaches Wart valuable lessons about human behavior.
David W. Blight's book Beyond the Battlefield: Race, Memory and the American Civil War, is an intriguing look back into the Civil War era which is very heavily studied but misunderstood according to Blight. Blight focuses on how memory shapes history Blight feels, while the Civil War accomplished it goal of abolishing slavery, it fell short of its ultimate potential to pave the way for equality. Blight attempts to prove that the Civil War does little to bring equality to blacks. This book is a composite of twelve essays which are spilt into three parts. The Preludes describe blacks during the era before the Civil War and their struggle to over come slavery and describes the causes, course and consequences of the war. Problems in Civil War memory describes black history and deals with how during and after the war Americans seemed to forget the true meaning of the war which was race. And the postludes describes some for the leaders of black society and how they are attempting to keep the memory and the real meaning of the Civil War alive and explains the purpose of studying historical memory.
“History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples’ environments, not because of biological differences among people themselves.”(Diamond 25) This statement is the thesis for Jared Diamond’s book Guns Germs and Steel the Fates of Human Societies.
Who was King Arthur? Most people would tell of a great King; a devoted circle of heroic knights; mighty castles and mightier deeds; a time of chivalry and courtly love; of Lancelot and Guinevere; of triumph and death. Historians and archaeologists, especially Leslie Alcock, point to shadowy evidence of a man who is not a king, but a commander of an army, who lived during the late fifth to early sixth century who may perhaps be the basis for Arthur. By looking at the context in which the stories of King Arthur survived, and the evidence pertaining to his castle Camelot and the Battle of Badon Hill, we can begin to see that Arthur is probably not a king as the legend holds.
King Arthur’s forgetful nature illustrates the fallacy of the feudal system which Mari de France refers to. Joseph and Francis Gies comment on this as they describe “[the real destroyer was not gunpowder but central government” (219). The political system in place proved ineffective as it favored certain elites. The nobility prospered while the commoners perished in anguish which is clearly presented in Lanval. Lanval fails to thrive while his comrades continue to gain wealth. Lanval’s distress stems from King Arthur which reflects the ineffective political system. Kings stabilize society as they dominate much of the politics and decisions made, yet kings frequently “forget” about the lower classes. Mari de France references this as two separate kings fail to reward Lanval. Lanval received “nothing from [his father]” (Mari de France 31) nor did Lanval receive “ample patronage” (Marie de France 13) from King Arthur. Those unfortunately in the third estate lack any political influence. Therefore, commoners have little control over the quality of their life. King Arthur, as any king should, must ensure the prosperity of his subjects especially the most loyal. Kings cannot deviate from this as the feudal system will not support this. France and Joseph Gies refer to this in their book Life in a Medieval Castle. France and Joseph Gies discuss the daily lives of the king and the subjects. The
King Arthur shows to be a very provident king who treats his people with a large amount
From the beginning of his life as a warrior to the end as a king, he gains and develops glory, responsibility and courage, all vital to his reign as a successful king.
Battle royal is a story reflecting the post civil war era. With so many privileges and opportunities for Blacks, the future seemed promising but the "Black Codes" limited all of the so called opportunities presented to blacks. It was worst enough to have these "Black Codes" implemented in the southern states, but there were also groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, which enforced the "Black Codes" and were bent on oppressing the blacks. The story seems to be set in the late 1800's. This was a time when blacks wanted to be treated equally but were too scared to speak out because their family's welfare might be at risk if they did. In the short story Battle royal, tells his family his way to social equality. While the grandson does things a little differently.
In E.B. White?s The Ring of Time, the author gives a narrative account of his trip to a circus rehearsal where he describes a fascinating scene of a young girl practicing a horse act for an upcoming show. As a writer, he feels it is his obligation to record the events he is witnessing, and convey this to his readers without leaving anything out. However difficult this may be, the beautiful and fleeting moment is something he wishes to ultimately capture. When he arrives on the scene, White senses something magical about the surroundings of this circus as it undergoes a rehearsal, but he is primarily fixed on a young woman who passes by him. The young ?cleverly proportioned, deeply browned by the sun, dusty, eager, and almost naked'; girl is the one thi...
... do desire to learn, sir; and I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare. For truly, sir, for your kindness I owe you a good turn." (4.2.56-59). Lastly, he learns what type of life he was living as he passes through the jail, seeing all of his old business acquaintances. The decision he made to start a new life put himself on the opposite side of the bars of his old friends. Pompey realizes that his old life would do nothing but drag him down. The rest of the story sees him faithfully carry out his duty.
John Steinbeck's The Pearl tells the story of a pearl diver named Kino. Kino lives a simple life, and adores his family. At the beginning of the story Steinbeck shows how content Kino’s family is. Everything seems to be going perfect for Kino and his family that is until the discovery of the most wonderful pearl in the world changes his life forever. As the story advances Kino’s newborn, Coyotito gets bitten by a scorpion. Kino’s wife, Juana insists that they take Coyotito to the town’s doctor. Inevitably the doctor refuses to help Coyotito because Kino is unable to make a payment.
It can be said that Richard Sheridan was a man who was far ahead of his time, not only in ideals but in humor as well. The way that Sheridan chose to expose his insight on the world that lay before him was through the literary medium, The Rivals. In it, Sheridan uses various allegorical characters to display faults that he observes in human nature as a product of 18th century society. Some of the traits that Sheridan is attempting to illustrate to his readers are ignorance in women, neuroticism and captious attitudes in couples, and pride. Sheridan creates a satirical masterpiece in his play and clearly displays some of the many absurd characteristics that were prevalent among the individuals that made up his own culture.