King Arthur’s Last Request

The legendary British warrior makes ready for his final journey, leaving Sir Bedivere with one last duty to perform.

1884

Holyhead mountain on Anglesey in Wales, shrouded in mist yet sparkling in sunshine.

Introduction

‘The Passing of Arthur’ is the last of twelve poems forming ‘The Idylls of the King’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Mortally wounded in his victory over Mordred, Arthur now prepares to depart for the Isle of Avilion (Avalon), and has some last words of counsel for Sir Bedivere, the only surviving Knight of the Round Table.

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809-1892

“I HAVE liv’d my life, and that which I have done
May He within himself make pure! but thou,
If thou shouldst never see my face again,
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.

“For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

“But now farewell. I am going a long way
With these thou seëst — if indeed I go
(For all my mind is clouded with a doubt) —
To the island-valley of Avilion;
Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies
Deep-meadow’d, happy, fair with orchard lawns
And bowery hollows crown’d with summer sea,
Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.”

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809-1892

Extracted from ‘The Passing of Arthur’, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892).

Précis

At the close of Tennyson’s poem about the legendary King Arthur, the King is preparing to sail to the island of Avilion, where he hopes to be healed of a mortal wound. As he parts from the loyal Sir Bedivere, he asks the knight to pray for him, reminding him that prayer is what raises man above the animals.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What did Arthur ask Sir Bedivere to do for him?

Suggestion

To pray for him day and night.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Mordred and Arthur fought the Battle of Camlann. Mordred mortally wounded Arthur. Arthur was taken to Avalon to recover.

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