Merlin: A Fictional Narrative

We first see Merlin awaiting a scrawny, young fellow about twelve years old; Arthur. Being the clumsy little thing he apparently is, Arthur found himself being chased by an angry Kay who wanted his arrow when it flew into a dark forest by Arthur's fault. When Merlin is proving his magic abilities to Arthur, they transform into many types of animals where Arthur becomes worried and fragile. Through this, it is understood that Arthur is clumsy, scrawny, and rather weak. However, Geoffrey of Monmouth states that Arthur was fifteen years of age when found and he was of outstanding courage and generosity, and his inborn goodness gave him such grace that he was loved by almost all the people. Perhaps for a more understood plot, Arthur’s character did not match the more reliable account of Arthur's

Instead of pondering Mithian’s offer of sex, Arthur’s thoughts turned to Guinevere, as they often did during times of stress and tumult. A part of him hated her for not being there with him right now, while another part was satisfied with her banishment.

Yes, that is easy to figure out, the author tells us, but it is how she does it that is remarkable. She changes the view of the story, by centering it on Merlin. The book doesn’t start with the birth of Arthur, no instead it starts with the birth of Merlin. We follow Merlin’s life, not Arthur’s. We watch as this boy becomes a man and build an emotional connection with him. Just as two friends become closer when they learn about the other’s past, so too do we become closer and closer to Merlin. Each turn of the page reveals a new segment of his life, deepening the bond more and more like a hammer swing against a

The legend of King Arthur has inspired, and continues to inspire, many retellings of the well known stories and cast of characters. Ranging from film to literature to art, these retellings often include depictions of two key characters in the legend: King Arthur and and the wizard Merlin. Disney’s The Sword and the Stone (1963) and the British Broadcasting Corporation program Merlin (2008-2012) both showcase the relationship between Merlin and Arthur in the development of Arthur, but they differ in approach; in the animated version, Merlin assumes the role of a mentor while the television program depicts Merlin as a friend to Arthur.

It was about six in the morning on Saturday, and Arthur heaved himself out of bed, then, still half-asleep, flung himself into a warm shower. By the time he hopped out and toweled himself off, Merlin was already in front of Arthur’s flat, leaning on his horn.

Young ones have heard little stories of the legend of how the knights fight bravely for the ones whom they love, heroes slaying the big dangerous dragon, A kingdom called Camelot, run by King Arthur and a wise wizard Merlin being by the king's side.The legend is a great example of a hero lost their way of destiny and power, due to the child being kidnapped at birth. Which lead to growing up a hard worker and independent child. Although young Arthur got the opportunity to be apart of a mystical sword that was only be taken out by only its true identity, the path of becoming the next air of Camelot, Arthur was determine to pull it out and be the next

Each and every day that Guinevere didn’t come to Arthur, the king worried. What started out as a smoldering flame of concern had now erupted into a full-fledged fire torturing his mind and soul.

Therein lies the “cornerstone” for this whole legend. The prophesies of this all knowing man named Merlin continue to be a very important part of giving Arthur his supernatural heir that allows people to look at him as though he is more than just a man throughout Arthur’s whole life. Other things such as magic, ancient (magical) artifacts, and other occult practices being used by those who surround him also play a role in giving Arthur his reputation of being more than a man. A few of these artifacts are extremely well known.

    In all the long history of literature, some fictional characters have loomed above others, written about again and again by various authors of various eras. Arthurian literature is one area of fiction that has always been popular for writers to recreate in new versions, and one of the most intriguing characters of all Arthurian literature is Merlin, the magician/ prophet who aids Arthur early in his reign. As the Arthurian saga develops, so does Merlin, changing from an aloof, druidical character into a more human, magical being, though always retaining some traces of his Welsh origins.

Moving on, though Geoffrey’s description of Merlin’s resident forest is picturesque, it must be noted that the forest in Arthurian tradition held “demonic elements, the ancestral spirits, and the forces of nature...” The Medieval society existed in a microcosm – anything outside the boundaries of said society existed the dark and unknown – this was the land of monsters. In the Vita, this is where Merlin chooses to reside, and in Robert’s Merlin, Merlin becomes one of these spirits himself: “[Gawain] continued the quest for Merlin, going all through the realm of Logres and at length to Little Britain. As he was riding through the forest at Broceliande, he heard Merlin speaking, but could not see him. / Merlin said that he could never come

King Uther, whom Merlin serves, falls in love with Igraine, the wife of a neighboring duke, but the duke refuses to allow Uther to have her, and Igraine is too loyal a woman to willingly commit adultery. So, Merlin devises a plan, telling Uther, "this night ye shall lie with Igraine . . . and ye shall be like the duke her husband, Ulfias will be like Sir Brastias . . . and I will be like Sir Jordanus" (Le Morte, 5). Merlin had disguised the men so well that they took on the appearance of other people, enough that Igraine believed Uthor was her husband. Merlin's greatest feats usually involve shapeshifting and disguise, as well as perhaps prophecy. After Merlin comes to Arthur in the guise of a child, and then an old man, to tell him about his parentage, he says, "But I ever ought to be heavy, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in the earth quick, and ye shall die a worshipful death" (Le Morte, 23). This foreshadows Merlin's death at the hands of his protégé Nineve, and Arthur's death at the end of the book, and illustrates that Merlin has some knowledge of the events in the future. He demonstrates this once again after subduing Sir Pellinore, when he tells Arthur, "And he shall tell you the name of your own son begotten of your sister that shall be the destruction of all this realm" (Le Morte, 29). Through his powers of foresight, Merlin can pinpoint what will bring about the end of Camelot. Gandalf, although immortal and powerful, rarely shows these powers of foresight. The future in Lord of the Rings is something that cannot be known, only fought

Merlin first becomes known first as the prophet for British King Vortigern. Vortigern wished to build a tower, but every time he would try, it would collapse. He brought in architect after architect, who failed and failed. Merlin told Vortigern that the tower will not stand because there are two dragons fighting beneath the ground in which the tower is being built. The two dragons fighting symbolize the war between the Saxons and the Britians.

(160). At the beginning of the story, Merlin didn’t even want to be in the same room as her. Now that he has come as far as talking to her, it is a sure sign of

In the meantime, Morgause, Arthur’s half-sister and mother to his first born son through incest, plots against Arthur to take the throne. Merlin “sights” that Morgause and Lot, King of Lothian, are plotting to take the throne away from Arthur. Merlin is seeking more understanding of this plan and fined a way to defuse it. These are not Arthur’s only worries. This in where the tale of Guinevere and the heart ache she brings come in.

As an example, when he saw Guinevere for the first time he was star struck by her beauty. He did not stop at dreams as most did; Arthur made plans and found ways to fight for her honor and ultimately saved her and her father’s kingdom from the incoming invasion. Through these actions Arthur won Guinevere’s heart and eventually her hand in marriage. On the contrary, Guinevere’s father perceived the incoming invasion and instead of preparing with the resources left, he stayed in his chamber and wept. This early acceptance of defeat would have cost him his life, as well as all those in his realm, if Arthur had not come to defend the city.