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Discuss a book, movie, or TV show that made a strong, almost “magical,” impression
on you at a young age. Explain its impact.
“The Sword in the Stone” from Le Morte D’Arthur
by Sir Thomas Malory, retold by Keith Baines
During the years that followed block into which had been thrust a
the death of King Uther, while Arthur beautiful sword. The block was four
was still a child, the ambitious barons feet square, and the sword passed
fought one another for the throne, and through a steel anvil which had been
the whole of Britain stood in jeopardy. struck in the stone and which projected
Finally the day came when the a foot from it. The anvil had been
Archbishop of Canterbury, on the inscribed with letters of gold:
advice of Merlin, summoned the WHOSO PULLETH OUTE
nobility to London for Christmas THIS SWERD OF THIS STONE AND
morning. In his message the archbishop ANVYLD IS RIGHTWYS KYNGE
promised that the true succession to the BORNE OF ALL BRYTAYGNE
British throne would be miraculously The congregation was awed by
revealed. Many of the nobles purified this miraculous sight, but the
themselves during their journey, in the archbishop forbade anyone to touch the
hope that it would be to them that the sword before Mass had been heard.
succession would fall. After Mass, many of the nobles tried to
The archbishop held his service pull the sword out of the stone, but
in the city’s greatest church (St. none was able to, so a watch of ten
Paul’s), and when matins were done, knights was set over the sword, and a
the congregation filed out to the yard. tournament proclaimed for New Year’s
They were confronted by a marble Day, to provide men of noble blood
with the opportunity of proving their did so, and first Sir Ector and then Sir
right to the succession. Kay tried to remove it, but both were
Sir Ector, who had been living unable to. Then Arthur, for the second
on an estate near London, rode to the time, pulled it out. Sir Ector and Sir
tournament with Arthur and his own Kay both knelt before him.
son Sir Kay, who had been recently “Why,” said Arthur, “do you
knighted. When they arrived at the both kneel before me?”
tournament, Sir Kay found to his “My lord,” Sir Ector replied,
annoyance that his sword was missing “there is only one man living who can
from its sheath, so he begged Arthur to draw the sword from the stone, and he
ride back and fetch it from their is the true-born king of Britain.” Sir
lodging. Ector then told Arthur the story of his
Arthur found the door of the birth and upbringing.
lodging locked and bolted, the landlord “My dear father,” said Arthur,
and his wife having left for the “for so I shall always think of you—if,
tournament. In order not to disappoint as you say, I am to be king, please
his brother, he rode on to St. Paul’s, know that any request you have to
determined to get for him the sword make is already granted.”
which was lodged in the stone. The Sir Ector asked that Sir Kay
yard was empty, the guard also having should be made royal seneschal,2 and
slipped off to see the tournament, so Arthur declared that while they both
Arthur strode up to the sword and, lived it should be so. Then the three of
without troubling to read the them visited the archbishop and told
inscription, tugged it free. He then rode him what had taken place.
straight back to Sir Kay and presented All those dukes and barons with
him with it. ambitions to rule were present at the
Sir Kay recognized the sword tournament on New Year’s Day. But
and, taking it to Sir Ector, said, “Father, when all of them had failed, and Arthur
the succession falls to me, for I have alone had succeeded in drawing the
here the sword that was lodged in the sword from the stone, they protested
stone.” But Sir Ector insisted that they against one so young, and of ignoble
should all ride to the churchyard, and blood, succeeding to the throne.
once there, bound Sir Kay by oath to The secret of Arthur’s birth was
tell how he had come by the sword. Sir known to only a few of the nobles
Kay then admitted that Arthur had surviving from the days of King Uther.
given it to him. Sir Ector turned to The archbishop urged them to make
Arthur and said, “Was the sword not Arthur’s cause their own; but their
guarded?” support proved ineffective. The
“It was not,” Arthur replied. tournament was repeated at
“Would you please thrust it into Candlemas3 and at Easter, with the
the stone again?” said Sir Ector. Arthur same outcome as before.
Finally, at Pentecost, when once begged forgiveness for having delayed
more Arthur alone had been able to his succession for so long. Arthur
remove the sword, the commoners forgave them and then, offering his
arose with a tumultuous cry and sword at the high altar, was dubbed
demanded that Arthur should at once be first knight of the realm. The
made king. The nobles, knowing in coronation took place a few days later,
their hearts that the commoners were when Arthur swore to rule justly, and
right, all knelt before Arthur and the nobles swore him their allegiance.
Name: Date: Period:
preAP English 9: Unit 1—“The Sword in the Stone”
1A. If you were illustrating this part of Arthur’s story, what scene would be your
focus? Explain your reasoning.
1B. What details from the scene would be most important to include? Explain your
reasoning.
2. According to the critic Northrop Frye, “The hero of romance moves in a world in
which the ordinary laws of nature are slightly suspended.” What elements of magic
appear in this tale that move it out of the realm of the ordinary?
3A. In the typical romance, the hero’s origins are mysterious. He is frequently raised
in obscurity before taking his rightful place as leader. How does the story of Arthur
reflect this pattern?
3B. Why do you think people so enjoy these stories of the supposed underdog being
the real hero?
4. In what other ways does Arthur, even as a young boy, resemble the typical romance
hero? How does Sir Kay, his foster brother, show signs that he is definitely not heroic
material?
5. What heroic values does this story teach? Which of these values seem important
today?
