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King Arthur is the legendary hero of the Britons from the book “History of the Kings of Britain,” a cycle-forming character in British epics and chivalric novels. Geoffrey of Monmouth endowed his literary character, King Arthur, with an abundance of contradictory traits, a vivid and memorable personality. Thanks to his diligence and writing skills, the author breathed life into the central character’s image, making him a classic, genuinely legendary character, recognizable at any time or country.
In “History of the Kings of Britain,” Geoffrey of Monmouth assumes the role of a dispassionate narrator, portraying the events around the hero as an outside observer. In this case, the narrator’s image is outlined: “Arthur, therefore, the better to keep up his munificence, resolved to make use of his courage, and to fall upon the Saxons (Geoffrey, Thompson, and Giles 149).” The author consistently describes King Arthur through his actions, characters, appearance, the environment around him, and his relationships with others. The external events described by the author serve as a kind of frame for the inner spiritual world of the hero. The writer built the work on British history so that with the help of actions and deeds, the personality, nature of the main character, as well as his inclinations and preferences, are revealed. Geoffrey hints at certain features of the legendary hero’s personality, and thus the reader can see Arthur from different points of view and positions. Hence, the external characteristic serves as a means of objectification of the image character and an expression of the author’s subjective attitude towards him.
The work is replete with different writing techniques that help to comprehensively reveal the inner world of the central character of the story, his way of thinking, and his understanding of the world. For instance, Arthur is separated from the essence of the work and lives an independent life in the public’s mind, not subject to the author’s will. Geoffrey created the idealized image of the British hero of a particular time and era, the role model for the people – it is a kind of allegory, a representation of a particular case in a broader sense. With the help of descriptions of exploits and good deeds, the hero becomes a kind of symbol of a certain type of attitude and behavior while maintaining his uniqueness. The image of Arthur appears not only as the embodiment of a writer’s concept, idea but as something whole within the framework of a different, broader artistic integrity.
Through the metaphors, Geoffrey creates in the hero a strong-minded young man who knows how to control himself and is not afraid to take responsibility. Arthur was able to take the sword out of the stone, listening to the inner self. He became a king by taking possession of himself, by accepting this sword of truth. This sword is also a symbol of taking full liability as the master of the body, mind and spirit, and the created reality. As king, Arthur united the country, thereby uniting the continents in his inner world, bringing together every part of the soul, and having come to peace of mind and harmony.
Summing up, Geoffrey of Monmouth is portraying King Arthur in his book “The History of the Kings of Britain” as a unique personality, a just ruler, and a brave, strong man. An outstanding, eminent personality is revealed thanks to the author’s techniques and methods. He describes Arthur through the prism of the events that happen to the hero. Geoffrey does it competently and skillfully with such literary aspects, for example, metaphor and allegory. Hence, with the help of creativity, skills, and abilities, Geoffrey managed to create a legendary image, known not only within England but also around the globe.
Reference
Geoffrey of Monmouth, Thompson, Aaron, and John Giles. 1999. History of the Kings of Britain. Toronto: York University. Web.
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