Idylls of the King: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox book
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson's verse narrative ''Idylls of the King'' is inspired by [[King Arthur|Arthurian legends]], especially Thomas Malory's ''[[Le Morte Darthur (Literature)|Le Morte Darthur]]''; however, it also draws extensively on the ''[[Mabinogion]]'' and French traditions. The complete ''Idylls'' consists of 12 poems, plus a dedication to the deceased Prince Albert and an epilogue addressed to [[Queen Vicky|Queen Victoria]]. Tennyson, a longtime enthusiast of the Arthurian tales, worked on the collection for decades: the first four poems appeared in 1859, and the last one in 1885. (In book form, the poems are not in order of writing or publication.)
| title = Idylls of the King
----
| image = Idylls of the King 1 cropped.jpg
=== These poems provide examples of: ===
| caption = Detail from "Yniol Shows Prince Geraint His Ruined Castle", by Gustave Doré
| author = Alfred, Lord Tennyson
| central theme =
| elevator pitch =
| genre =
| publication date = 1859
| source page exists =
| wiki URL =
| wiki name =
}}

⚫
Alfred, Lord Tennyson's verse narrative '''''Idylls of the King''''' is inspired by [[King Arthur|Arthurian legends]], especially Thomas Malory's ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur|Le Morte Darthur]]''; however, it also draws extensively on the ''[[Mabinogion]]'' and French traditions. The complete ''Idylls'' consists of 12 poems, plus a dedication to the deceased Prince Albert and an epilogue addressed to [[Queen Victoria]]. Tennyson, a longtime enthusiast of the Arthurian tales, worked on the collection for decades: the first four poems appeared in 1859, and the last one in 1885. (In book form, the poems are not in order of writing or publication.)

{{tropelist}}
* [[Anyone Can Die]]
* [[Anyone Can Die]]
* [[The Atoner]]: Guinevere and, if you're paying very close attention, Lancelot.
* [[The Atoner]]: Guinevere and, if you're paying very close attention, Lancelot.
* [[Beauty Equals Goodness]]: Thoroughly deconstructed by the end, as physical appearance turns out to be an utterly unreliable way of judging character.
* [[Beauty Equals Goodness]]: Thoroughly deconstructed by the end, as physical appearance turns out to be an utterly unreliable way of judging character.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: The Round Table is destroyed, Arthur is dead and gone and civilization is in ruins. Still, the good Sir Bedivere remains, and the new year is at hand.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: The Round Table is destroyed, Arthur is dead and gone and civilization is in ruins. Still, the good Sir Bedivere remains, and the new year is at hand.
* [[Blood On These Hands]]: Invoked twice during "The Last Tournament".
* [[Blood on These Hands]]: Invoked twice during "The Last Tournament".
* [[Child By Rape]]: Arthur.
* [[Child by Rape]]: Arthur.
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Tennyson eliminates Morgaine/Morgause.
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Tennyson eliminates Morgaine/Morgause.
* [[Cool Sword]]: Excalibur.
* [[Cool Sword]]: Excalibur.
* [[Cradling Your Kill]]: "Balin and Balan".
* [[Cradling Your Kill]]: "Balin and Balan".
* [[Dead Man Writing|Dead Woman Writing]]: Elaine leaves a posthumous message for the court in "Lancelot and Elaine".
* [[Dead Man Writing|Dead Woman Writing]]: Elaine leaves a posthumous message for the court in "Lancelot and Elaine".
* [[Death By Despair]]: Elaine of Astolat.
* [[Death by Despair]]: Elaine of Astolat.
* [[Death Seeker]]: The heartbroken Arthur after he realizes the extent of Guinevere's and Lancelot's treachery.
* [[Death Seeker]]: The heartbroken Arthur after he realizes the extent of Guinevere's and Lancelot's treachery.
* [[Driven to Madness]]: Sir Pelleas, complete with [[Madness Mantra]] ("I have no sword").
* [[Driven to Madness]]: Sir Pelleas, complete with [[Madness Mantra]] ("I have no sword").
* [[Dropped a Bridge On Him]]: Sir Gawain, who dies offstage between "Guinevere" and "The Passing of Arthur."
* [[Dropped a Bridge on Him]]: Sir Gawain, who dies offstage between "Guinevere" and "The Passing of Arthur."
* [[Fisher King]]: As Arthur's power fades and the Round Table slowly disintegrates, the seasons change for the worse.
* [[Fisher King]]: As Arthur's power fades and the Round Table slowly disintegrates, the seasons change for the worse.
* [[God Save Us From the Queen]]: Guinevere's passion for Lancelot destroys the Round Table by undermining everyone else's virtue.
* [[God Save Us From the Queen]]: Guinevere's passion for Lancelot destroys the Round Table by undermining everyone else's virtue.
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* [[Idiot Ball]]: Carried most noticeably by Merlin, who allows himself to be tricked by Vivien, and Tristram, who hangs around with Isolt even after she warns him that Mark could return at any moment.
* [[Idiot Ball]]: Carried most noticeably by Merlin, who allows himself to be tricked by Vivien, and Tristram, who hangs around with Isolt even after she warns him that Mark could return at any moment.
* [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness]]: Galahad.
* [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness]]: Galahad.
* [[Kill Em All]]: The battle at the Red Knight's court on a small scale, followed by Arthur's final battle on a large one.
* [[Kill'Em All]]: The battle at the Red Knight's court on a small scale, followed by Arthur's final battle on a large one.
* [[Knight in Shining Armour]]: Most prominently Arthur, Gareth, and Galahad.
* [[Knight in Shining Armour]]: Most prominently Arthur, Gareth, and Galahad.
* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: Lancelot, especially in "Lancelot and Elaine", "The Holy Grail" and "The Last Tournament."
* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: Lancelot, especially in "Lancelot and Elaine", "The Holy Grail" and "The Last Tournament."
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** More ironically, Guinevere accuses Lancelot of cheating with Elaine of Astolat.
** More ironically, Guinevere accuses Lancelot of cheating with Elaine of Astolat.
* [[Murder the Hypotenuse]]: Tristram neglects to keep track of time during "The Last Tournament"...
* [[Murder the Hypotenuse]]: Tristram neglects to keep track of time during "The Last Tournament"...
{{quote| "Mark's way," said Mark, and clove him thro' the brain.}}
{{quote|"Mark's way," said Mark, and clove him thro' the brain.}}
* [[No Celebrities Were Harmed]]: Tennyson's Arthur is a romanticized version of Prince Albert.
* [[No Celebrities Were Harmed]]: Tennyson's Arthur is a romanticized version of Prince Albert.
* [[Not So Different]]: The Red Knight's point about the relationship between his court and King Arthur's. Given what follows, he appears to be correct.
* [[Not So Different]]: The Red Knight's point about the relationship between his court and King Arthur's. Given what follows, he appears to be correct.
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* [[Smug Snake]]: Modred, Vivien.
* [[Smug Snake]]: Modred, Vivien.
* [[Sole Survivor]]: Sir Bedivere.
* [[Sole Survivor]]: Sir Bedivere.
* [[What Happened to The Mouse]]: Because Tennyson skips large chunks of the legend, some characters simply disappear without a trace (Vivien), or have blink-and-you'll miss-it resolutions to their plot (Lancelot).
* [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]: Because Tennyson skips large chunks of the legend, some characters simply disappear without a trace (Vivien), or have blink-and-you'll miss-it resolutions to their plot (Lancelot).
* [[Your Cheating Heart]]: Lancelot and Guinevere; Tristram and Isolt.
* [[Your Cheating Heart]]: Lancelot and Guinevere; Tristram and Isolt.


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Poetry]]
[[Category:Poetry]]
[[Category:Idylls Of The King]]
[[Category:Matter of Britain]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Literature of the 19th century]]

Latest revision as of 15:13, 7 January 2023

Idylls of the King
Detail from "Yniol Shows Prince Geraint His Ruined Castle", by Gustave Doré
Written by: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Central Theme:
Synopsis:
First published: 1859
v · d · e

Alfred, Lord Tennyson's verse narrative Idylls of the King is inspired by Arthurian legends, especially Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur; however, it also draws extensively on the Mabinogion and French traditions. The complete Idylls consists of 12 poems, plus a dedication to the deceased Prince Albert and an epilogue addressed to Queen Victoria. Tennyson, a longtime enthusiast of the Arthurian tales, worked on the collection for decades: the first four poems appeared in 1859, and the last one in 1885. (In book form, the poems are not in order of writing or publication.)

Tropes used in Idylls of the King include:

"Mark's way," said Mark, and clove him thro' the brain.

  • No Celebrities Were Harmed: Tennyson's Arthur is a romanticized version of Prince Albert.
  • Not So Different: The Red Knight's point about the relationship between his court and King Arthur's. Given what follows, he appears to be correct.
  • One Steve Limit: Unlike the original legends, Tennyson does not deluge us with multiple characters with the same name.
  • Playing Cyrano: Sir Gawain promises to do this for Sir Pelleas in "Pelleas and Ettarre." The execution, however, leaves something to be desired.
  • Public Domain Character: The entire cast of characters.
  • Smug Snake: Modred, Vivien.
  • Sole Survivor: Sir Bedivere.
  • What Happened to the Mouse?: Because Tennyson skips large chunks of the legend, some characters simply disappear without a trace (Vivien), or have blink-and-you'll miss-it resolutions to their plot (Lancelot).
  • Your Cheating Heart: Lancelot and Guinevere; Tristram and Isolt.
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