IDYLLS OF THE KING (3 OF 4)
Scripture: Matthew 11:2-15
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Idylls of the King (3 of 4)
Series: Season of Advent
Patrick Edwards
Matthew 11:2-15
Introduction: Two weeks ago we talked about T.H. White's take on the legend of King Arthur in The Once and Future King. We talked about how ultimately White's Arthur fails to bring about the kingdom of peace he has so desperately yearn for, but in his death, he is optimistic, knowing that one day he'll return and hopefully succeed in the future where he has failed in the past. Of course, White's rendition of the Arthurian legend is but one of many. This morning, I'd like to draw your attention to another.
Idylls of the King is a collection of twelve poems covering the reign of King Arthur, written by Lord Byron Tennyson during the mid-nineteenth century at the height of Victorian Britain. While Tennyson's story follows the same basic plot line of White's and others, Tennyson's take on the story reveals to us more about the Victorian era than about English legend and history. Tennyson's Arthur is the embodiment of Victorian ideals; he is the ''stainless gentleman'' and king. But he fails to uphold those ideals in Camelot and his failure and death almost seems to be an indictment against Victorian beliefs and their inability to bring about a better world. In other words, while T.H. White's The Once and Future King ends on a note of optimism, in my opinion Tennyson's Idylls of the King ends in doubt and skepticism.
Right? I mean it's one thing to have a savior-like figure and king in whom you place your trust and hopes for a better world, but heroes fail us. They are mortal men who are flawed themselves. Ultimately, they will disappoint us. I have to admit this is one of the reasons I don't really enjoy reading Arthurian stories, because you know how they are going to end. As much as you may hope that Arthur will succeed and everyone will live happily ever after, you know they won't. Arthur is isn't the once and future King we need.
We find John the Baptist, this morn ...
Series: Season of Advent
Patrick Edwards
Matthew 11:2-15
Introduction: Two weeks ago we talked about T.H. White's take on the legend of King Arthur in The Once and Future King. We talked about how ultimately White's Arthur fails to bring about the kingdom of peace he has so desperately yearn for, but in his death, he is optimistic, knowing that one day he'll return and hopefully succeed in the future where he has failed in the past. Of course, White's rendition of the Arthurian legend is but one of many. This morning, I'd like to draw your attention to another.
Idylls of the King is a collection of twelve poems covering the reign of King Arthur, written by Lord Byron Tennyson during the mid-nineteenth century at the height of Victorian Britain. While Tennyson's story follows the same basic plot line of White's and others, Tennyson's take on the story reveals to us more about the Victorian era than about English legend and history. Tennyson's Arthur is the embodiment of Victorian ideals; he is the ''stainless gentleman'' and king. But he fails to uphold those ideals in Camelot and his failure and death almost seems to be an indictment against Victorian beliefs and their inability to bring about a better world. In other words, while T.H. White's The Once and Future King ends on a note of optimism, in my opinion Tennyson's Idylls of the King ends in doubt and skepticism.
Right? I mean it's one thing to have a savior-like figure and king in whom you place your trust and hopes for a better world, but heroes fail us. They are mortal men who are flawed themselves. Ultimately, they will disappoint us. I have to admit this is one of the reasons I don't really enjoy reading Arthurian stories, because you know how they are going to end. As much as you may hope that Arthur will succeed and everyone will live happily ever after, you know they won't. Arthur is isn't the once and future King we need.
We find John the Baptist, this morn ...
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