Tennyson's King Arthur
In this extraordinary epic poem, Tennyson has infused the legend of King Arthur with passionate intensity that has up until now been absent. In addition to this, for the first time King Arthur's story becomes something more than a dry retelling of stories and events. Underlying "Idylls of the King" is a vision of tragedy. Tennyson uses various language techniques to portray this vision and to shape an image of Arthur.Tennyson presents Arthur as an admirable, dignified and heroic figure. Tennyson employs the use of iambic pentameter, which achieves a solemn utterance and dignified statements. Descriptive passages of the war, and Arthur's love for his knights and men makes him an admirable and dignified character, "... the stroke that strikes them dead is as my death to me." Descriptive passages and onomatopoeia, "clash...crash..." are used to portray the harshness of Arthur's war, and how this affects him. Arthur's traits and
Yet still thy life is whole, and still I live who love thee. Tennyson makes use of pathetic fallacy, "A bitter wind, clear from the North, and blew the mist aside. ' Dialogue is used to reveal Arthur's traits. " Tennyson also employs the simile 'So like a shattered column lay the King,' to reflect Arthur's strength and stability now shattered. Tennyson also creates a figure that possesses values and morals, a civilized human being. Stark and staggering contrast between the fine days and the dark present, Arthur before and after, makes him an extremely tragic figure, "So like a shattered column lay the King; Not like that Arthur who, with lance in rest, from spur to plume a star of tournament, shot through the lists at Camelot, and charged before the eyes of ladies and of kings. Enjambment and Sibilance is utilised, as to reflect Arthur's flowing, soft and gentle deposition, '. However, through the use of different points of view, for example Sir Bedivere's, Arthur continues to be a vision of majesty and Godliness, "There also will I worship thee as King. 'Take Excalibur, and fling him far into the middle mere,' portrays Arthur's benevolent nature, and his determination to prevent its power from being misused. "Tennyson frequently and elaborately describes Arthur in terms of Christ, thus constructing Arthur as a God like figure.
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