Supernatural Aid In Campbell's A Once And Future King

The honor code that can be found in the Mabinogi, The Tain, and Gantz’s Early Irish Myths and Sagas drives the characters towards the ideal Celtic hero. The following of the honor code could be better seen as a way of serving the identity and reputation of the hero rather than a deeper code of morality as it might suggest. The gae bolga, Efnisien, Mider’s love for Etain, and Rhiannon’s magic bag are all instruments of unworldly power, making the impossible possible for each of the heroes. It is because of these supernatural influences that the heroes are both blessed and cursed by their own powers. The compliance to the honor code plays less a role in truly enabling the hero and

The story of King Arthur is widely known, either his beginnings told in The Sword in the Stone or how he led the Knights of the Round Table. While there are many version of his story T. H. White’s written version and Disney’s animated version of The Sword in the Stone are two of the most recognized versions. Most movies have the ability to embody the original intent of the book they were based upon. Disney’s movie version of T. H. White’s rendition of The Sword in the Stone, however, while portraying the correct story, does not truly convey enough elements of White’s version to be effective in telling the original story. The characterization and Merlyn’s ‘lessons’ within the movie inhibit the film from being an effective portrayal of the

There are a number of many different archetypes found in works of fiction and nonfiction that bestow upon the hero his true role in a work of literature. In the Middle English, chivalric romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain’s role as the hero emboldens as the story describes more and more archetypes of the quest. The monomyth can be described as the three step process that the hero takes in completing the quest motif. The basic template is supported by “separation, initiation, and return: which might be named the nuclear unit of the monomyth” (Campbell 28). Each of these three categories contain other subcategories, which help understand the different archetypical situation within the work itself. An understanding of three key archetypes -the magic weapon, the boon, and the unhealable wound- reveal the essence of Gawain’s role within the archetypal quest motif.

The “hero’s journey”, coined by Joseph Campbell, is a pattern in the plot structure of literature, myths, and oral tradition in which the hero is consistently faced with similar obstacles and achieves many of the same goals. The first part of the hero’s journey is “The Call.” The hero is usually living a very comfortable and easy life, unaware of the journey ahead. The hero is then faced with a situation or dilemma which eventually causes them to seek change. The hero, at this point, tends to refuse the call to adventure in fear of the unknown. Once the hero has been given the strength to push past the unknown, they have entered the threshold. The hero will experience many challenges and temptations where the hero is tested, eventually reaching “The Abyss,” the most difficult challenge. The hero is then transformed by these trials and returns home to every-day life and begins to contribute to their society. The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the protagonist, Janie, experiences the hero’s journey first-hand through overcoming obstacles and transforming herself. In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the heroine Janie overcomes many obstacles and is therefore transformed into a self reliant woman.

Even in the middle ages of literature, a story such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight had many aspects of Joseph Campbell’s view of the hero’s journey. In the story of our character Sir Gawain accepts a “Call to adventure” (Campbell 45) and goes on a quest that will go through many of the archetypes. Likewise, there lies one character, The Green Knight, that can be many of the archetypal characters in the cycle of the hero’s journey. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight dramatically demonstrates how a single character can play many archetypal roles.

An archetypal analysis of Gawain’s quest reveals some significant changes that occur in the hero’s character. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an Arthurian legend, our protagonist, Gawain, must interact with various character and experience different situations in ways that weave our tale together, alter Gawain’s character, and add meaning behind our story. Gawain must travel from his home of Camelot in order to preserve The Round Table’s honor by fulfilling a challenge proposed to him, In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the author utilizes situational archetypes to further our hero, Gawain, along the story. “The Call to Adventure” (Campbell 45) brought forth by the Green Knight pushes Gawain from his familiar community of Camelot out into the world of adventure. Gawain is no longer allowed to live in his peaceful world, but

The Hero’s quest is one of literatures greatest devices. It is the foundation that our myths and legends are built upon, allowing them to soar to even greater heights of imagination. Yet, in a world where Herakles no longer labors or Arthur’s knights no longer quest for treasures, where does the hero’s quest fit into more modern settings? In the novels that we have examined, two stand out as having addressed the hero’s journey and its place within our modern times. Goodbye, Columbus by Phillip Roth, and Ms. Hempel Chronicles by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum both have protagonists that traverse various stages of the hero cycle in their own unique way.

The next step that lies on the hero’s path is the “Road of Trials”. “Once having traversed the threshold, the hero moves in a dream landscape of curiously fluid, ambiguous forms, where he must survive a succession of trials. […] The hero is covertly aided by the advice, amulets, and secret agents of the supernatural helper whom he met before his entrance into this region” (Campbell 89). These “Trials” or series of tests are the actual adventures which the hero encounters before reaching his ultimate destination/goal and are considered by readers/listeners as the most popular part of the hero’s path. These series of challenges help the hero to further develop his skills and character. On these “Roads” he must fight against familiar foes and/or

Arthurian legend, with its round table, wizard, unfaithful queen, gallant knight, vengeful son, and well-intentioned king, has long been retold. While most authors employed the legend as a tapestry to depict religious themes, The Once and Future King uniquely utilizes the tale to provide a political critique of the author’s modern day society. Terence Hanbury White embraced Malory’s version by creating four sequential books eventually published together under the title The Once and Future King. Shifting away from the heavily Christian-oriented tale, White uses the story of King Arthur as platform to express his opinions on his own world during the mid-1900’s. Focusing on the increasingly divided, violent attitudes of his generation, White imposes an alternative vision of the utility of war. As he converges on and diverges from pacifistic sentiment, White’s first book, The Sword and the Stone and fourth book, The Candle in the Wind illustrate political critique of both old and new society.

In a mythical journey our hero’s goal is to find success, completeness, power, or extraordinary knowledge which would bring him or her establishment and community unity. Often we see power, completeness,

Throughout time, the archetype of the heroes journey has been present in various forms of literature, myths and legends. All of these heroes embark on the same journey of separation, initiation, transformation and return. In William Shakespeare’s King Lear and The Legend of the Fisher King, both Kings are arrogant and proud, causing them to make mistakes which lead them to be separated from their familiar world. For example, King Lear is separated from family bonds and the Fisher King is separated from companionships. Next, the Kings are initiated into physical, mental and spiritual suffering, by undergoing tests and trials to prove their titles as kings, struggling to search for their true destiny.

Many stories have a special character that appears to a hero, which then that person assists the said hero in his or her journey of adventure. In the two stories, “The Once and Only King,” and “Le Morte d’ Arthur,” we have two examples of a supernatural aid. Merlin and Merlyn both appear into the story to assist other characters, but the real question is which one of the two fit the definition of Campbell’s supernatural aid the best?

In this essay, one can analyze the mythical tale of King Arthur written by Thomas Mallory, Le Morte D’Arthur, and translated via classroom textbook by Donna Rosenberg. If you love the mystical realm or enjoy nobility and what they do behind closed doors, then read Le Morte D’Arthur. Or, if you love conflict that is between the desires of the flesh, but also desires and responsibility of being King of Britain, then you may find the legend of King Arthur just your cup of tea to read.

A hero is only as strong as the author makes him. Even through weakness and despair, the heroes we create and idolize overcome their fear and the situation they were previously stuck in. This pushes even imaginary characters to become role models as we fantasize of being as strong willed and courageous as our heroes. Although, these heroes are still human and often still require aid. Throughout these two stories, Merlin and Merlyn both offer an supporting aid, one normal, one supernatural. Both characters take an extra step in helping Arthur, the hero. Earning them both recognition and making them respectable characters.

The Arthurian Legend is essentially a guidebook filled with wonder, a moral code, examples of the spiritual battle of our human nature. In this way, Arthur’s idealism inspires generations to come to learn from his mistakes and to have the courage to make changes one deems necessary that fit in line with one’s spiritual belief system, connecting oneself to others as we go along. Arthur gives us a vision of best