Once and Future
“The Arthurian legend is arguably as popular now as it was
in Malory’s
day, which is saying a lot. I often ask the students in my Arthurian literature
course to try and name a heroic figure from a literary tradition who is as well
known the world over as King Arthur is. They try. Some offer up Homer’s
Odysseus. They get points for a reference back to the Classical age, but nope.
Odysseus doesn’t cut it. Others go the opposite direction and try the realm of
the modern comic book, so they suggest Superman or maybe even Batman. Again,
nope.
“The closest we can get really is Jesus Christ. Indeed, the Arthurian
legend’s popularity arguably stems in no small part from the fact that Arthur
can be considered in many ways a Christ-type figure. He arrives to save his
people in the darkest hour. Under his rule, a new civilization is born. And
when he dies, his death is not actually final in most versions of his story. It’s
foretold that he will come again in order to save his people in their hour of
need. He is rex quondam rexque futurus, the once and future king.”
Prof. Dorsey Armstrong, PhD
Prof. Dorsey Armstrong, PhD
I tried to read the Malory, but the chapter titles give away the story, e.g. "Ch XXXVI: How Sir Alisander won the prize at a tournament, and of Morgan le Fay: and how he fought with Sir Malgrin, and slew him." It was easier just to read the table of contents.
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