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King Arthur Legend Themes

Decent Essays

Three major themes that are present in the King Arthur legend, have transcended throughout hundreds of years of existence because of their ability to relate to everyday universal experiences. The reason that the King Arthur legend is so transparent through multiple generations and time periods is because of its simple themes that are an integral parts of the human experience. The King Arthur legend uses themes of redemption, the unknown, and morals to connect readers from multiple generations and cultures.
When directly looking at King Arthur stories, one can see a theme of redemption which makes these legends so enjoyable. The idea that a peasant boy with next to nothing can rise up in status and become a king of an entire nation is what makes this legend so appealing. After Sir Kay failed to pull out the sword Arthur, "put out his right hand softly and drew it out as gently as from a scabbard" …show more content…

Life's unknown is the reason that causes people to go outside their comfort zones, explore, and advance. A general shared human experience is the desire of knowledge and understanding. Questions that investigate the meaning and purpose of life are constantly asked. Advancement and the quest for the unknown is what drives human creation and invention. The King Arthur stories include a sort of unknown that causes the reader to be pulled deeper into the plot. The mysterious lady of the lake gives Arthur a sword, "Just then Arthur saw that in the center of the lake the surface was broken by an arm, clothed in white samite, and that the hand grasped a finely jeweled sword and scabbard" (Lady and the Lake, 41). Events that are not explained in the story make the reader think more deeply about the story itself. The genus of this type of storytelling is to make the reader subconsciously work out the plot and events of the story, making the story more enjoyable for the

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