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84 pages 2 hours read

Howard Pyle

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1903

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Essay Topics

1.

What actions and attitudes characterize Arthur as the perfect example of chivalric knighthood? How might these relate to moral attitudes at the time Pyle wrote the book (1903)?

2.

How do suits of armor, especially helmets and shields, impact the reader’s understanding of identity?

3.

Compare and contrast Pyle’s version of the Arthurian mythology with another adaptation, such as T. H. White’s The Once and Future King. How do the author’s unique choices affect the themes and meaning of the story?

4.

Analyze how different elements of Arthur’s character are revealed in green (undeveloped) spaces versus courtly (urban) spaces. What characteristics are developed or inspired by each environment?

5.

How do knights uphold, or fail to uphold, the code of chivalry recited at the formation of the Round Table? What consequences and rewards does Pyle indicate are related to a knight’s ability to uphold the chivalric code?

6.

How does courtly love function in the novel? Compare and contrast courtly love in The Story of King Arthur and His Knights with infatuation that is created by magic.

7.

How do feasts facilitate plot momentum in the story? Pick at least three instances and analyze the effect of the feasts on narrative structure.

8.

How does Pyle use color throughout the novel? Choose one prominently featured color and discuss its significance to the story. 

9.

How would you describe the relationship between the reader, narrator, and characters in the stories? What is the role of the narrator?

10.

How does Pyle compare and contrast the fay characters with the human characters? Do they have different or similar moral obligations?

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