Poet and Inkling scholar, Rev. Dr. Malcolm Guite, shares the first book in his retelling of the King Arthur story, Galahad and the Grail.
(Once again David didn’t select the right microphone, so his audio quality isn’t as great as we’d like – thank goodness we came here to listen to Rev. Guite!)
Show Notes
01. “The Epic of Malcolm Guite”
Malcolm first outlines some of the great epic poems, most of which have no room for improvement, for example:
Then he began to give a history and context for the Arthurian story:
The Disney adaptation was based on:
02. “The story and sources of Arthur”
Malcolm helpfully mentions poets and writers who saw the importance of grail tales:
- Chevalier knights v. Saxons
- Marie de France
- Chrétien de Troyes
- Le Morte D’Arthur by Thomas Mallory
- Merlin (Robert de Boron poem)
JK Rowling modeled Harry’s story heavily from what happens to young Arthur as a child:
Then Malcolm discussed in more detail the climate which has led to him today writing these epic poems:
- Glastonbury Thorn (Weary Old Hill)
- The Grail Castle
- Dolorous Stroke
- The Wasteland by TS Eliot
- From Ritual to Romance: The Classic Study of the Arthurian Legend and the Roots of Religion by Jessie Weston
- Arthurian Torso by CS Lewis
- That Hideous Strength by CS Lewis
A decent Arthur story for kids and teens:
Please enjoy a snippet of Rev. Guite’s beautiful work:
You may yet walk through Merlin’s isle
By oak and ash and thorn
The ancient hills do not forget
And you might wake their wisdom yet
Who knows what wonders might be met
On this midsummer morn.’So I have taken up the tale
To tell it full and free
The tale that makes my heart rejoice
I tell it, for I have no choice
I tell it till another voice
Takes up the tale from me.–Take Up the Tale by Malcolm Guite
