based on Malory?

Wilde woman · 02-06-2009, 04:59 AM

I've not yet had the chance to read Idylls of the King, but I'd like to know how much Arthurian lore Tennyson took from Malory? Did he borrow from the earlier French romances as well?

Virgil · 02-06-2009, 10:04 AM

Well, the Arthurian legends are outside of Mallory as well. Mallory wasn't the first. I would say there are differences between Mallory's and Tennyson's handling of the characters and stories. I would definitely recommend Mallory's over Tennyson's. Mallory's handling of the prose of his day is outstanding. But get yourself an edition that uses modern spelling or it will take you a long time to read it. As to Tennyson, other than some wonderful poetics in places, I do not find the characters to have any psychological depth. For me Tennyson is at his best in his lyric poetry. His In Memoriam is the best extened length Engish poem of the 19th century.

Wilde woman · 02-06-2009, 06:55 PM

Hi Virgil,
Thanks. I'm actually working my way through Malory and it is taking quite a while. I'm stuck on the book of Tristan, but what I really want to get to is the conflict between Arthur and Mordred. I've a ways to go. And yes, thank you, I'm quite aware that Malory was far from the first writer to wax poetic on the Arthurian theme. I find the earlier stuff much more interesting than Malory. Just curious, what do you find so compelling about Malory? I won't pretend to be an expert on him, IMO I find his prose somewhat dull. I've studied some of the early Welsh, Irish, and French Arthurian works and find them much more interesting than Malory's take, so far.

Virgil · 02-06-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilde woman

Hi Virgil,
Thanks. I'm actually working my way through Malory and it is taking quite a while. I'm stuck on the book of Tristan, but what I really want to get to is the conflict between Arthur and Mordred. I've a ways to go.

Why don't you skip ahead? There aren't narrative ties between the main sections, just thematic ones.

Quote:

And yes, thank you, I'm quite aware that Malory was far from the first writer to wax poetic on the Arthurian theme. I find the earlier stuff much more interesting than Malory. Just curious, what do you find so compelling about Malory?

I think there is psychological insight into the characters, but most of all I think his prose style is splendid. Now, it's 15th century style, but once you get that I found that the rhythm of his prose was as good as anyone, certainly of those of his day. I do also think that as a whole Malroy's Le Morte has thematic unity, which is different from the previous collections of Arthurian tales.

Quote:

I won't pretend to be an expert on him, IMO I find his prose somewhat dull. I've studied some of the early Welsh, Irish, and French Arthurian works and find them much more interesting than Malory's take, so far.

Hmm, I guess we just disagree on that.

02-06-2009, 04:59 AM	#1
Wilde woman Annoying alliterator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 310	based on Malory? I've not yet had the chance to read Idylls of the King, but I'd like to know how much Arthurian lore Tennyson took from Malory? Did he borrow from the earlier French romances as well?

02-06-2009, 10:04 AM	#2
Virgil Vincit Qui Se Vincit Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New York Posts: 18,350 Blog Entries: 94	Well, the Arthurian legends are outside of Mallory as well. Mallory wasn't the first. I would say there are differences between Mallory's and Tennyson's handling of the characters and stories. I would definitely recommend Mallory's over Tennyson's. Mallory's handling of the prose of his day is outstanding. But get yourself an edition that uses modern spelling or it will take you a long time to read it. As to Tennyson, other than some wonderful poetics in places, I do not find the characters to have any psychological depth. For me Tennyson is at his best in his lyric poetry. His In Memoriam is the best extened length Engish poem of the 19th century. __________________ LET THERE BE LIGHT "That day I shall always recollect with grief; with reverence also, for the gods so willed it." - Virgil, The Aeneid (V, 49) Distracted from distraction by distraction

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02-06-2009, 06:55 PM	#3
Wilde woman Annoying alliterator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 310	Hi Virgil, Thanks. I'm actually working my way through Malory and it is taking quite a while. I'm stuck on the book of Tristan, but what I really want to get to is the conflict between Arthur and Mordred. I've a ways to go. And yes, thank you, I'm quite aware that Malory was far from the first writer to wax poetic on the Arthurian theme. I find the earlier stuff much more interesting than Malory. Just curious, what do you find so compelling about Malory? I won't pretend to be an expert on him, IMO I find his prose somewhat dull. I've studied some of the early Welsh, Irish, and French Arthurian works and find them much more interesting than Malory's take, so far.