Post a question under the comments here for our discussion of Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King”
Your question is due Wednesday, Feb. 27 by 11:59Â
February 15, 2008...4:03 pm
Questions for Discussion
Jump to Comments
-
Recent Comments
Megan on The Sandman Chronicles Kavin Ni on The Sandman Chronicles Lisa Brownlow on 11 April Review Kavin Ni on 11 April Review Kulbinder on 11 April Review
11 Comments
February 26, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I was wondering about queen Guinevere as I read the story. Was she always portrayed as a jealous and short tempered woman in Arthurian stories?If not, what is the purpose of portraying her this way in this particular version, vilifying her?
February 27, 2008 at 1:30 am
Given that Elaine fell madly in love with Lancelot after a first impression, can her feelings really be considered as “love”? (Or is it merely superficial fanaticism?)
February 27, 2008 at 5:33 pm
What is the story suggesting about King Arthur while it focuses on the characters of Guanavier, Lancelot, and Elaine? How do the characters compare? (Arthur vs Lancelot, Guanavier vs Elaine)
February 27, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Guinevere and Lancelot were both important people to Arthur. Even though Arthur said he loved Guinevere, his forgiveness would make her live in regret and shame, which would not make her feel any better. On the other hand, Arthur goes on war with Lancelot. Would this lessen Lancelot’s guilt since he was taking responsibility for the consequences? Why did Arthur forgive Guinevere and not Lancelot?
February 27, 2008 at 8:45 pm
During today’s lecture, the professor spoke of how “silly” the first part of ‘Lancelot and Elaine’ was. Why does Tennyson portray Elaine like this? — I may have just missed the answer in the lecture…
February 27, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Moving beyond the element of love, what else creates Elaine’s Character. Can the reader go deeper?
February 27, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Guinevere seems to still feel a bit of contempt for Arthur, even at the convent. Why does she still grovel?
February 27, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Why did Guinevere grovel at Arthur’s feet if she was, moments earlier, still contemptuously comparing him to Lancelot?
February 27, 2008 at 9:51 pm
How does Elaine die? Could her fate be partially because of her own naivety and how sheltered her upbringing was? Was the fact that she basically lived in a fantasy world in a way a catalyst for her final fate?
February 27, 2008 at 10:07 pm
When reading “Lancelot and Elaine” I became confused when Lancelot gave Elaine the diamond that he won in the tournament. Why was he leading her on if he is really after Guinevere? What part does Elaine play besides the naive lovesick girl?
February 27, 2008 at 11:43 pm
why did Tennyson choose to change Guinevere’s fate as he did? the contrast between Malory’s version (sentenced to be burned at the stake, then rescued by Lancelot) and Tennyson’s is pretty extreme. what were his intentions with this drastically different adaptation? which is the more “flattering” portrayal of her?