ARTHUR AND THE SWORD
VOCABULARY
1. Dispute- a quarrel, usually continuing over a long period of time
2. Apparently- clearly
3. Malice- desire to cause harm
4. Kept in check-[here] stopped from becoming too powerful
5. Anvil- a metal base on which other metals are hammered into shape
6. A hair’s breadth- a very narrow or small space
7. Jousts- fighting [ as in sport] on horseback , using long spears
8. Tournament- a competition in which a number of games are played
9. Throng- crowd
10. Deftly- skilfully
11. Stoutly- firmly and clearly
12. Strove- tried
Answer the Following
1. Who was Arthur? Who brought him up as a child? How did that happen?
Arthur was King Uther’s son. No one knew of him, for he had been taken away secretly,
while he was still a baby, by a wise old man called Merlin. For fear of the malice of wicked
knights, Arthur had been brought up in the family of a certain Sir Ector, a noble knight and
one who had loved King Uther as well.
2. Why did Merlin ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to send for all the knights?
Once there was a great king in Britain named Uther Pendragon. When he died, a dispute
arose about who should be king next. King Uther had apparently left no son to succeed him
and the different knights who were like princes, wanted the kingdom for himself. Soon,
something had to be done to determine who was to be the king because the knights and
princes could not be kept in check any longer. So Merlin made the Archbishop of
Canterbury send for them all to come to London.
3. ‘……………and prayer was made to God that some sign should be given…….’Who made the
prayer ? What did they pray for? How was their prayer answered?
It was Christmas time, and in the great cathedral a solemn service was held and prayer was
made to God by all the knights that some sign should be given to show who the rightful king
was. When the service was over, there appeared a strange stone in the churchyard, against
the high altar. It was a great white stone, like marble, with something sunk in it that looked
like a steel anvil; and in the anvil was driven a great glistening sword. The sword had letters
of gold written on it, which read–Whosoever pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is
rightly king born of all England!
4. How did the knights react to the first trial?
All the princes and knights came together and each tried to draw out the sword . But, as
before none could even move it. Then came Arthur who pulled it easily from its place.The
knights and princes were terribly angry that a mere boy and from nowhere in particular, had
beaten them and they refused to acknowledge him as king.
5. Who in the end, accepted the result publicly and loudly?
Another day was fixed, for another great trial. Arthur pulled out the sword easily three
times. At last, at the feast of Pentecost, Arthur again pulled out the sword before all the
knights and the common people. The people then realised that Arthur was their rightful king
and bowed down to him.
