Merlin In Mary Stewart's Hollow Hills

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

‘Oh Merlin, I would not lose you!’ ‘Nay, it is my fate,’ answered Merlin. ‘It is to the glory of Logres . . . And for you: now you must show your worth and stand alone!’ Then Merlin went on his way deeper and deeper into the forests, following the Lady Nimue; and they came to the land of Gwynedd where Pant was king, and lodged in his castle. . .

Both of these people he serves before adopting his real position under Arthur. Almost ironically, his first task in this position is to make it so that Arthur is an illegitimate son as well. Although Merlin is recognized by his father, and has a strong de facto claim to the throne, he not only has no desire to take the throne, he also has been chosen for his assignment as sourcerer. While Merlin himself gave up his claims to the throne, he spends the next portion of his life solidifying Arthur’s claims, until he is recognized as

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.

The short hairs on the back of Percival’s neck stood up. He spun around to look at the woods, and there stood Merlin, partially obscured by a tree, but his hands glowed an unnatural blue and his eyes blazed the color of gold coins. Merlin’s lips moved, but Percival was not close enough to hear the

Here we first meet the character Merlinus ("Merdinus," a more exact Latinization of the original Welsh, was impractical because of its similarity to the Latin or French word for excrement, surely an inappropriate name for a great hero). (Bruce) Yet the Merlin of this story is not the great magician of later works. In his tale, Geoffrey uses not the Latin word "magus," which would imply that Merlin was some sort of sorcerer, but rather the word "vates," commonly indicating a poet or, often, a prophet or seer. (Tatlock) Merlin does exhibit many features of a mystic in Geoffrey's Historia: he uses clairvoyance in the familiar case, borrowed from Nennius, of Vortigern's vanishing tower; he foretells Vortigern's death and prophesies to Aurelius and Uther of Arthur's coming reign, also making several predictions about political events occuring just prior to the publication of the Historia; and he interprets to Uther Pendragon a portent of the death of the king Aurelius Ambrosius. (Bruce) Clairvoyance, prophecy, and the interpretation of dreams are all rather shamanistic actions that would fit Merlin's Welsh character as a druid.

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, Arthurs advisor, prophet and magician and the best friend of King Arthur. He is also a man of mystery. He wore many hats since he was a wizard or sorcerer. He was a young boy with no father. He was full on knowledge since he had learned a lot about life a young age because he had no parents his appearance was like an old wise man who would give anyone his wisdom for successive British kings. He was also very much attracted towards women since he was full of lust for beautiful bodies who held him in fear and contempt. Merlin also knew how to talk to animals when He had fled into the forests which is one of the reasons he was known as the wild man of the woods. He was the last of his kind druid the Celtic shaman, priest of nature and

(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

Throughout the book, Merlin had multiple encounters when he couldn’t control his Sight. One of which was when Ambrosius had took in Merlin for information and asked if Merlin could see his future, Merlin explained that the Sight only comes when the gods wants Merlin to know something. This creates a problem since Merlin is unable to help the man he wants to help. Merlin solves this problem by helping Ambrosius with tactical problems, problems he can solve by using his brain. Through this, Merlin learns that his sight is, for right now, under the control of god.

As one might understand, Merlin has not been able to have his fair share of romances. Living life backwards has many drawbacks, one of which is the lack of a good relationship. Though Merlin knows that experience is the best teacher, he has not had a romantic experience, so Nimue makes him a bit nervous. And when Merlin is a bit nervous, he tends to mumble his words. However, he is sure he can wow Nimue with his top notch wizardry. He has been to

Merlin is an old and perspicacious thpugh at times he could be a little absent minded. He wnats to challenge Wart onhis awareness about important issues so he can achieve his goal on preparing into becoming the Great king Arthur and i order tto do this merlyn wants wart to have different life experiences and learn from different points of view. "You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, ypu may lie awake inthe middle of the night listening ti the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about ypu devastated by evil lunatics, or knoe your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then, which is to learn." Merlyn is the supernatural guide to Wart and has one ulltimate goal for him. To prepare him for his role as king arthur.

Every time he had set foot in the Great Hall it was under the summons of the High King Uther. Tonight was no exception. Before the door had always been closed with guards placed on each side to prevent unknown visitors from intruding on Uther’s clandestine business; thus he was surprised that tonight only two guards stood by the doors, which were swung open. Cautiously, Merlin peered into the room, as always, he did his best to appear invisible as his eyes searched the room for any familiar faces.

Stewart uses a silent Ygraine, no magic from Merlin, and a King who wins over his wife with a deal between the two families. The Prose Merlin includes an obsessive Uther trying to be with an opinionated, married woman with help from the sorcerer and Ulfin to get only one night with the woman of his dreams. Lastly, Tennyson has more focus on Ygerne because the King passes away earlier than the rest of the works and Merlin is not as involved with the first steps of the relationship. Each source is from a different time period and brings a unique aspect to the popular Arthurian story

“Freya, you must tell me! On the eve of your wedding, tell me the one thing about Merlin that drives you mad,” said Guinevere. “He can’t be perfect.”