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@hampizza Yes, I believe Jane was positively affected by her friends. For example, Helen Burns was a great influence on Jane in her childhood. I believe women were angry at their subordinate treatment because they felt unfairly treated by societal expectations.
@adriennedwyer Charlotte Bronte’s feminist views can be seen throughout the novel through her expression through Jane’s dialogue. She also emphasizes the female role in the novel.
The contrast of female characters in the novel emphasize Jane’s characteristics and give insight to Jane’s nature. By the use of other female characters, the reader can better notice certain characteristics of Jane because they are highlighted by the others similar or opposing characteristics. An example of this is Helen Burns, who serves as a foil for Jane. While Helen is more calm and tolerant, Jane is impulsive and strong-willed. Helen also believes in a forgiving and just God while Jane belives God is vengeful and will smite others. Without the use of other female charaters, the characteristics of Jane may not be as prominent to the reader. We are able to know more about the female characters in this novel because the author herself is female. Therefore, we are given more insight to their thoughts and actions. What views do you think Charlotte Bronte had about gender equality while writing this novel?
@kantakato1 One example would be science. Science is a logical way to explain occurances happening today.
@loganoviatt I believe the Greeks chose human figures as gods rather than animal figures in order for humans to better understand and relate to the actions of these gods.
I chose ++ Myths offer role models. In particular, children pattern themselves after heroes; comic books and Saturday-morning cartoons depict many archetypal characters, such as Superman and Wonder Woman. Adults, too, can find role models, in the stories of deities’ strength, persistence, and courage.
Role models have and will always exist in the lives of people. They influence the lives of their followers and set an example for others. Mythology provides role models for its audience because of its ability to relate to those of all ages. Men, women, and children are represented in Mythological stories, where the effects of their good and bad decisions are shown. Furthermore, the reader is able to learn from the characters of Mythology and learn from their actions as well. Mythology provides role models for its readers by representing characters who are heroic and exemplary. Who are some characters who prove to be good examples to its readers?
@amelia152016 While Gareth appears that he would be more compassionate and loyal as a friend than Lancelot, Lancelot’s friendship with Arthur is crucial for the outcome of the novel. In addition, in many instances Lancelot even saves both Arthur and Guenever. While he is dishonest to Arthur, Lancelot still cares for him deeply as a friend.
@taylornicholas13 The experiences Merlyn gives Arthur is able to guide Arthur in the decisions he makes later as king. Because Merlyn has traveled back in time, he is able to advise Arthur in the decisions that will effect his future. Without Merlyn’s guidance, I believe Arthur’s rule would be even more destructive than it is already disclosed.
This quote from The Goshawk expounds on the importance of doing what one is destined to do. Although it is first believed that Arthur is destined to become a squire for Kay, it is disclosed that his true destiny lies in his role of king. It is stated that one’s talents would be wasted if he spent his life shooting rabbits rather than people. If Arthur’s life were to be spent in servanthood, his true fate in kingship would never occur, thus wasting his full potential. However, by pulling the sword from the stone in Chapter 23 of Book I, Arthur’s true destiny to be king is revealed. Only then is he able to fulfill his fate. Do you think Arthur’s destiny would be different if Merlyn had told him about his future as king before Arthur could discover it for himself? In what ways did Arthur’s adventures with Merlyn help him later as king?
@taylornicholas13 I believe Guenever, Arthur, and Elaine are able to see past Lancelot’s uglyness because of his character. Lancelot is described to be a chivalrous and honorable man, thus allowing them to look past his looks and see his true self.
@davidanthony01 One mistake I believe Lancelot wishes he could he could retrieve is being tricked by Elaine into sleeping with her. Lancelot appears to be primarily in love with Guenever, and originally sleeps with Elaine under the impression that she is Guenever. When Lancelot does not come back to Elaine, it shows that he never truly cared for her like he does for Guenever.
In Book 3, it is revealed that Lancelot struggles with difficult temptations. While he lives his life to a standard of morality and righteousness, he struggles to fight his love for Guenever, Arthur’s wife, and becomes faced between following morality or his feelings towards her. Unable to continue to resist temptation, Lancelot ultimately sleeps with Guenever. In the end, I do not believe Lancelot discovers his true purpose. He becomes so blinded by his lusts that he fails to remain faithful to the fundamental beliefs he grew up on. Despite his ability to still perform miracles, Lancelot feels that he can no longer save himself because of his mistakes, and becomes lost in his identity. Like Lancelot, people in today’s society can easily be misled into temptations. What do you think would be different if Lancelot had not slept with Guenever? What were the causes of his “ill-fate”?
@amelia152016 I do not believe White should have made the book more light. In my opinion, his incorporation of humor was the perfect balance to keep the novel lighthearted, while still keeping an aspect of longing from the reader.
@adriennedwyer White’s incorporation of humor aids in the reader’s entertainment as well as adds versatility to the tone of the novel. It is what keeps the story light rather than somber.
By T.H. White’s use of humor, he is able to portray a more lighthearted and amusing tone in Book I. White also uses humor to help the reader relate to and understand characters on a more casual basis. Merlyn is viewed as wise and knowledgable, however a more silly and whimsical part of him is revealed when he is first introduced to the novel. When Arthur meets Merlyn for the first time, he tries to make a pencil and piece of paper appear but fails despite his repeated tries. Merlyn then becomes so frustrated that he flies “into a passion in which he said ‘by-our-lady’ quite often” (28). Although Merlyn is known to be a “great magician”, it is ironic that he has not yet honed the skill of conjuring office supplies. The use of humor also adds a sense of lightheartedness to grim circumstances within Book II. Within the sorrowful events of this book, White includes a humorous story about King Pellinore, Sir Grummor, and Palamides. In Chapter 9 of Book II, Sir Grummor and Sir Palomides dress up as the Questing Beast and inform King Pellinore they have spotted “the beast” on the island. However, this plan backfires on them, and the actual Questing Beast mistakes them for one of her own. She then falls in love and chases them all the way to the Morgause’s castle. While White uses humor to, in a sense, “lighten the mood”, the use of his humor is also what makes his novel so relatable and enjoyable for its readers. In what ways does humor take place in our own society? Does that humor positively or negatively effect our relationships with each other?
@Peytonpointer In order for Arthur to become king, Merlyn must allow Kay to believe he will become king in order for the events to play out accordingly. For instance, if Kay had not made Arthur retrieve his sword, Arthur may not have come across the sword in the stone in the first place. Also, if Kay had previously known that Arthur would become king, his jealousy may have kept Arthur from learning crucial things he would need to know in the future.
@angelicacastaneda The tone of the novel changes drastically from Book I to Book II. However, this change is crucial for the foundation of Book II. In the first book, White uses a lighthearted tone to introduce the reader to the personality of the characters and familiarity of the setting so that one can receive an understanding of the character’s emotions and decisions in the dreariness of Book II.
The relationships between Kay and Arthur, as well as Agravaine, Gawaine, Gaheris, and Gareth are disclosed to be similar and different in many instances throughout the novel. Kay and Arthur are revealed to contain a strong bond with each other, and despite their rivalries, still display love for one another. For example, Kay becomes jealous of Arthur because of the adventures he is given by Merlyn, so the two begin in a physical fight resulting in a black eye and bloody nose. However, regardless of this incident, Arthur still requests from Merlyn an adventure given to his brother. Similarly, the Orkney brothers have many quarrels among themselves, however they display much more violence than Kay and Arthur. When Gawaine becomes furious with Agravaine, the feud leads up to Agravaine’s pulling of a knife and Gawaine then almost killing him. Despite their violent tendencies, these brothers still have a bond with each other. For instance, in the beginning of Book II, the boys whisper to each other stories about their grandmother. Both of these sets of brothers have strong connections to each other. However, while Kay and Arthur have more of a jovial rivalry, the Orkney brothers contain a more violent and resentful conflict with each other. Both sets of boys grow up with very dissimilar parental figures in their lives. Kay and Arthur’s father is loving towards them and cares for their education and well being. In Chapter 1 of Book I, he even states his decision to find a new tutor for his boys. Conversely, the Orkney boys’ mother is revealed to be incredibly negligent towards them. Her lack of investment in her sons’ lives negatively affects their conception of care and tenderness, which may be the explanation for their violent natures. The character of both of these parental figures appear to greatly influence the morals and personalities of their children. In addition, the presence of magic is influential in both of these sets of brothers’ lives. However, while Kay and Arthur’s experiences with magic teach them beneficial life lessons, the Orkney brothers live under the influence of dark magic, in which their mother practices. Using his magic, Merlyn gives Arthur lessons on government that later benefits his role as king. On the contrary, Morgause uses dark magic to do evil, which later becomes the initiation for the downfall of King Arthur’s reign. Morgause’s use of magic to seduce men is well noticed by her sons, and taints their view magic as a use of deceit rather than beneficial. In both of these sets of brothers, magic plays a major role in affecting their everyday lives. T.H. White constantly switches between England and Orkney in Book II so the reader can see the comparison between the two families. He also does this in order to foreshadow that the two families would later be linked by Mordred, the son of Arthur and his half-sister, Morgause. While Arthur is unaware of Morgause being his half-sister, she uses magic to make him sleep with her, thus conceiving a son. Mordred is the link between the two families. Arthur is constantly faced with the battle between might and right. How did his perspective on this topic effect some of his major decisions in the novel? Was this one of the reasons for his downfall?
