Arthurian Features in That Hideous Strength
Tales change with every teller. Features may be added or subtracted, stories may be broken apart or combined. Often the story-teller will adapt the tale for his own purposes to emphasize some theme of his own. C. S. Lewis uses and modifies older sources in many ways in his novel That Hideous Strength, incorporating themes and portions of Arthurian literature to add color and emphasize the subjects of his plot.
Lewis includes many direct references to older Arthurian literature in his novel. The leader of his group of heroes is the former philogist Ransom, at first known as "Mr. Fisher-King," who has a wounded foot. The name and the wound are obvious reminders of the Fisher-King myth which produces the quest for the Holy Grail in Malory, and the allusion is further supported when for his meal he is served only "a small flacon of red wine, and a roll of bread" (Lewis, p. 149) -- reminders of the Last Supper and the resulting relics that the Fisher-King is associated with. Lewis' tale differs in that the Fisher-King is the same person as the Pendragon. Yet his tale also combines a quest for holy things (eldilic help through Merlin) to heal the sickness of the land with a great, climactic battle against evil, thus merging the two characters' functions as well as their attributes. Also, as in earlier versions of the story, the Pendragon disappears after his final battle is completed, and the crowning conflict itself takes place in a dense fog which obscures everything.
When Merlin arrives, his full name is given as Merlinus Ambrosius, the name he is given in one of his earliest appearances in Arthurian literature, Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Reg...
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...e medieval world may have been closer, in a way, to the truths of the universe than most of us modern, advanced, proud, scientific, atheistic, ambitious people. Science can be a great blessing, but only if it is used correctly and for the good of all humanity and, more importantly, all creation. Though Lewis deals with small, unimportant people -- fellows of small colleges and maids from small towns -- he places them in a setting and situation of Arthurian scope, and thus brings out the great nobility of ordinary man.
Works Cited
Lewis, Clive Staples.
That Hideous Strength. Macmillan Publishing Co.: New York, NY (1946).
Malory, Sir Thomas.
Works. Eugene Vinaver, ed. Second edition. Oxford University Press: New York, NY (1971).
White, T. H.
The Once and Future King. The Berkley Publishing Group: New York, NY (1958).
In The Damnation of Theron Ware, Harold Frederic uses the character of Dr. Ledsmar to represent science and the modern, scientific world-view, as a counter to the other archetypal world-views in the story: that of the Church in the priest Father Forbes, a quasi-pagan Hellenistic attitude of Celia, and the unstable Protestantism of Theron Ware. Like the very unique Father Forbes, an unusual priest indeed, Dr. Ledsmar is characteristic of a certain popular image of science that is frequently found in fiction, the isolated and eccentric crank, an unfeeling and driven by a need to take some kind of truth from Nature by force, with no consideration for the ordinary human wants in life. This poor form of science was unfortunately a part of the establishment during Frederic's time, and no doubt much later as well. But it was not the only kind of science that was practiced, and many at the time understood the difference, though in this novel we only get an image of the most negative kind, in service to Frederic's dramatic and rhetorical purposes.
last, which is four lines. In the first three stanzas, the poem is told in
C.S. Lewis was a brilliant philosopher, theologian, and author. Many things influenced Lewis throughout his life, and inspired him to write over 30 books. Even 50 years after his death, he still continues to change people’s lives. He believed there were many dimensions to fantasy and imagination. He stated that, "Great stories take us outside the prison of our own selves and our presuppositions about reality. Insofar as stories reflect the divine maker in doing this, they help us face the ultimate Other--God himself, distinct as creator from all else, including ourselves." (Morrow). Lewis inspires people to believe in God, be creative, and never lose their imagination.
“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas is a magnificent poem that expresses great power, beauty, and gentleness, in which tone and emotion are exquisitely blended. His poem illustrates various ways to approach death. In expressing this, Thomas believes that one should not be so accepting and giving to death, but advocates living up until the last breathe. Thomas’s message is a plea to his ill, dying father, pleading him not to give in, but to fight death. Thomas further suggests that a great man must not die quietly, but to live fully and experience life to his utmost ability and capability. Not only is this poem about fighting death, but it also identifies how people may not live life to their fullest. This poem will be analyzed in three sections, the first of which acts as an introduction to Thomas’s message. Secondly,
Several of the poems lines revolved around never abandoning a verbal, physical, or mental battle that went against ones beliefs. The villanelle discussed an elderly person nearing death, who seemed to have lost the will to continue his or her battle. All people posses some form of beliefs, which might go against what others find appropriate. However, the poem presented indicated the significance of staying true to ones original thoughts. As the poem further explained the progressing deterioration of one’s life and the importance to persevere, it stated, “Old age should burn and rave at close of day/ rage, rage against the dying of the light.” This statement proved that people should not give in to death easily, but since it is inevitable, he or she should strive to always feel fulfilled. For one to feel content, that person must fight against ending their life without a fair battle. To further express his thoughts, Thomas stated, “Though wise men at their end know dark is right/ because their words had forked no lighting they/ do not go gentle into that good night.” This excerpt indicates that even the most intelligent people are incapable of fulfilling their wishes, leaving them troubled by incompletion. On the whole, to feel satisfied when it is too late to make a difference, one must make each opportunity count when
The villanelle begins with “Do not go gentle into that good night” which repeated throughout the poem to emphasize the theme and purpose of the poem, to inform the reader that one should not let life slip through one’s fingers (Thomas 1). After, the speaker says “Old age should burn and rave at close of day;” which means those who are nearing the end of life should not easily accept their demise and should oppose against nature for more time to live (Harrison) (Thomas 2). In this line, “close of day” is a metaphor for death and is telling the reader that the elders should go against death and be vigorous (Keeling). The stanza concludes with “Rage, rage, against the dying light” where rage is repeated to emphasize the theory of battling intensively to live and against the dying light is portraying light as a symbol of life and t...
In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis employs symbolism, development and morality. He uses symbolism as a driving force throughout the novel. Without the use of characters similar to Christian figures, Lewis’ series would lack a sense of meaning. His use of these figures evokes a sense of wonder in the reader and encourages them to continue reading. Lewis uses development throughout The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a means to create vivid and more impressionable world. He uses morality as a means for rallying the reader behind a character, inspiring them to continue to support them though the story. These three elements work harmoniously to establish a novel that contains literary depth and meaning.
Marie De France’s Lanval is a remarkable short narrative that engages the reader into a world filled with unrealistic elements, but enhances on the true meaning of romance, chivalry and nature during the years that King Arthur reigned. “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” unfortunately does not have an author that can be recognized but this epic poem demonstrates the ghastly adventure of a knight who decides to defend the honor of young King Arthur against a supernatural being in this malicious game of cat and mouse. Both of these pieces of literature have enchanting characteristics that define them as a masterpiece of their era and that’s why they both are easily compared and contrasted. In addition, both Lanval and “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” can be classified as similar through their themes, style and plots, although they are different through their language and diction. Even though both of these literatures can be viewed as similar as well as contrasting, in the end, each of these tales have illuminated the realm of fantasy throughout the court of King Arthur.
Next, Thomas creates the picture using of scenarios using men of different characters to show his father he, too, can find a reason not to give up. Thomas’ two interchangeable rhyming sentences, necessary for this villanelle poem, ending with night and light show the reader “Wise men… know dark is right” (4). Yet, as death approaches “their words had forked no lightning” (5). Therefore, just as they know death is a part of life and they accept this, when it is their turn they choose to put up a fight.
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Lais of Marie de France, the authors use animals as metaphors for human actions, and as characters. By analyzing the use of these animals, we are able to explore the meaning the authors were trying to communicate through specific scenes. The Book of Beasts, a translation by T.H. White (1984 ed.), provides a medieval standpoint when analyzing the use of animals in the Lais and in Gawain.
Lewis’ writings and their relationship to Christianity are perhaps better understood after a basic knowledge of Lewis’ journey to, away from, and then back to his faith. He became a Christian in his early youth but as an adolescent he rejected it. In his autobiography, “Surprised by Joy” Lewis wrote that the strongest argument in support of atheism was this quote from a poem written by Lucretius: “Had God designed the world, it would not be / A world so frail and faulty as we see” (65). As an atheist and a Christian, Lewis always had an analytical way of thinking that contrasted with his imaginative side so well-known for works like “The Chronicles of Narnia.” It might be surprising for fans of Lewis’ fantasy works to learn that Lewis had a great interest in the sciences. He never went too far into the sciences because, as he explained, in all sciences “the lion Mathematics lies in wait for you”...
...c child who is an innocent and has no place in the world of the wicked. His troubled self’s resolution comes at the end after Edmund has spoken to Aslan, the true ruler and god of Narnia. Both Edmunds own initiative and, less directly, religion lead Edmund back to before he was spoiled by the school he went to and the enchantment of the witch’s candy. Lewis therefore is following the Romantic tradition of innocence as a part of childhood since it was not Edmund’s fault he performed the incorrect behavior and was drawn to the side of evil.
He puts together all men from the wise, the old and the wild by stating that they all will eventually face death, and when that time comes he urges them to fight “rage” for longer life, rather than just accepting death. His portrayal differs from Dickenson’s as he presents death by using metaphors and imagery. (Napierkowski p49-60) He describes death as being “that good night” and the use of that metaphor causes death to become something unknown. Thomas suggests that death is like night time, it’s dark and unfamiliar. Thomas is presenting death as something that should be feared and something that we should fight against. His message in the poem is about how precious the gift of life is and he uses imagery with the phrases “old age should burn and rave at close of day. “(752) and “wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight.” (752) Thomas uses those poetic devices to convey anger and how powerless someone feels when being confronted by death. When Thomas reveals his father’s curse at the end of the poem you get a sense of passion that he feels for life and how he desperately wanted to send this powerful emotion to his
... ‘curses’ him or ‘blesses him’ as long as he can elicit a strong emotion from him (“Gentle” 17). In essence he is trying to put off his own pain at dealing with his fathers death and therefore wants his father to hang on as long as possible, by not giving up his life ‘gently’ without a fight.
Blaise Pascal lived during a time when religion and science were clashing and challenging previous discoveries and ideas. Pascal lived from 1623 to 1662 due to his untimely death at the age of thirty nine. The scientific community grew enormously and Pascal was a great contributor to this growth. The growth in the scientific community is known as the Scientific Revolution. He lived in a time where an absolute monarch came into power, King Louis the XIV. Louis XIV was a believer in “one king, one law, and one faith” (Spielvogel, 2012). Pascal saw the destruction of protestant practices in France and the growth and acceptance of scientific discoveries. He used the scientific method to refine previous experiments that were thought to be logical but Pascal proved otherwise and eventually led to Pascal’s Law. He spent his life devoted to two loves: God and science. Within his book, “Pensees,” Pascal argues and shares his thoughts about God, science, and philosophy.