Idylls Of The King example essay topic

The two texts, related to the Arthurian mythology, appear as not having much in common, if were to compare their informational properties. "Idylls of the King" is clearly a poetic piece, while "The Death of King Arthur " is a fine example of medieval prose. Nevertheless, one of the things that they have in common, is an unusual amount of tropology, found in almost every sentence. Back in Medieval times, the English language used to be more rich, from the linguistic point of view. This is one of the reasons why both text sound like a grandiloquent rant.

But in the times they were written, it was absolutely normal to use metaphorical language, in everyday conversations. Even though that both texts are comparatively short, one gets to experience a strange feeling of having obtained more information, than they could possibly contain, after the reading. This is due to the fact that "Idylls of the King" and "The Death of King Arthur" is much more than just an artistic interpretation of historical events, they represent author's philosophy. Usually, we think of metaphors as the mean to rich en the language, while in fact, they convey a message of its own. Being able to metaphorically describe the event is the most important precondition of being able to operate with the abstract categories, which in its turn, is the precondition of philosophy and science.

Let us prove this statement, by comparing metaphorical elements of two texts. In "Idylls of the King" Sir Belvidere makes the following statement: "When every morning brought noble chance, And every chance brought out a noble knight" This i a very artistically refined way to say that the nobility, as metaphysical category, is continuous and uninterrupted, just as change of seasons, just as supper session of day and night. In my opinion, this statement is a very fine example of a stylistic finesse. Because it is true and pleasing to the ears. Even though that "The Death of King Arthur" is written in prosaic language, and there seem to be no room for the poetical elements, we, nevertheless find them plenty: " Sir Lancelot, flower of the knighthood: I, Sir Gawain, son of King Lot of Orkney and of King Arthur's sister, send you my greetings!" . We might think that it is not very necessary to use metaphors in the strictly informational account of king's death.

Yet, what would serve better emphasis ing the fact that Sir Launselot is the best of the best, than referring to him as the "flower of the knighthood"? Therefore, the metaphors in "The Death of King Arthur" do not only serve a decorative purpose. They help us to to get a clearer picture of the drama. The same can be said about the "Idyll's" tropology. Entitling expressions of nature with psychological properties of an individual has always been a trademark of European existential mode.