Synthesis Essay
Two different versions of the Arthurian Legend The Legend of Mordred are told in the texts “Mordred: A Tragedy” by Henry Newbolt and “Mordred: A Tragedy in five acts” by Wilfred Campbell LL. D.. Although they are both versions of the same story, there are differences in theme and literary interests in these re-tellings of the legend. Written in 1895, Newbolt’s version has King Arthur make corrupt decisions because of the guilt he feels concerning his incestuous affair with his sister, even though he is surrounded by people influencing him to do what is noble.. In Campbell’s version there is a darker underlying tone of evil, as all the people Arthur surrounds himself with progressively become evil and turn against him. Newbolt …show more content…
This can be seen in his interpretation of the legend of Mordred as he portrays the characters Mordred, King Arthur, and Sir Lancelot as respectable people in the beginning of the legend. One of the first things Arthur says in Newbolt’s version, when addressing Sir Lancelot, and other knights of the round table is that never had he “beheld so great a press of splendid chivalry gathered within one lists, nor ever known challenge so keen, defence so strenuous,valour and courtesy so justly blent” (Newbolt, Act I Scene I). This shows how Newbolt thinks that people are good because he starts out the story with Arthur joyous, expressing to Lancelot and to his Knights how they are so valorous, chivalrous, and courteous, which is very different from how Campbell started the beginning of the legend in his version. Newbolt continues this idea that people are good and become misguided as he has the character Lancelot, a great noble knight, become distracted by King Arthur’s wife, and commit a sin with her. In the end of Newbolt’s version of the legend, Mordred is disinherited by his father, King Arthur. King Arthur is confronted by Mordred’s knights and Mordred could have let them kill his father, but throws himself between them and yells “Hold!”, saving his life (Newbolt, Act V Scene II). This shows how Newbolt seeks to find the good in the characters, unlike Campbell who searches for the faults and evil within the characters of this Arthurian
Two different versions of the Arthurian Legend The Legend of Mordred are told in the texts “Mordred: A Tragedy” by Henry Newbolt and “Mordred: A Tragedy in five acts” by Wilfred Campbell LL. D.. Although they are both versions of the same story, there are differences in theme and literary interests in these re-tellings of the legend. Written in 1895, Newbolt’s version has King Arthur make corrupt decisions because of the guilt he feels concerning his incestuous affair with his sister, even though he is surrounded by people influencing him to do what is noble.. In Campbell’s version there is a darker underlying tone of evil, as all the people Arthur surrounds himself with progressively become evil and turn against him. Newbolt …show more content…
This can be seen in his interpretation of the legend of Mordred as he portrays the characters Mordred, King Arthur, and Sir Lancelot as respectable people in the beginning of the legend. One of the first things Arthur says in Newbolt’s version, when addressing Sir Lancelot, and other knights of the round table is that never had he “beheld so great a press of splendid chivalry gathered within one lists, nor ever known challenge so keen, defence so strenuous,valour and courtesy so justly blent” (Newbolt, Act I Scene I). This shows how Newbolt thinks that people are good because he starts out the story with Arthur joyous, expressing to Lancelot and to his Knights how they are so valorous, chivalrous, and courteous, which is very different from how Campbell started the beginning of the legend in his version. Newbolt continues this idea that people are good and become misguided as he has the character Lancelot, a great noble knight, become distracted by King Arthur’s wife, and commit a sin with her. In the end of Newbolt’s version of the legend, Mordred is disinherited by his father, King Arthur. King Arthur is confronted by Mordred’s knights and Mordred could have let them kill his father, but throws himself between them and yells “Hold!”, saving his life (Newbolt, Act V Scene II). This shows how Newbolt seeks to find the good in the characters, unlike Campbell who searches for the faults and evil within the characters of this Arthurian