"The Once and Future King" by T. H. White Quiz

Answer: four

They are titled "The Sword in the Stone", "The Queen of Air and Darkness", "The Ill-made Knight", and "The Candle in the Wind". A fifth book, "The Book of Merlin", was excluded at the time of the original publication.

"The Sword in the Stone" was made into an animated version by Disney. The musical "Camelot" is based on the high points of "The Ill-made Knight" and "The Candle in the Wind".

Answer: Wart

White says Wart was his nickname because it rhymed somewhat with Art, which was short for his name. He is not called Arthur until the very end of "The Sword in the Stone." Even Merlin calls him Arthur after he becomes king.

Answer: All of these

Merlin is Arthur's kindly and slightly befuddled teacher. While able to do magic, he is hardly a dark or ominous figure. His only goal is to give Arthur the knowledge he will need to rule England as a great king. He leaves Arthur's life when he is bewitched by the spirit Nemue.

Answer: Turning him into various animals

Among the animals into which the Wart is turned, as part of his education, are a falcon, a fish, a hedgehog, and a snow goose. From these lessons he learns about use of power, both physical and political, and use of force.

Answer: Sleeping with his half-sister and producing a son

Arthur's half-sister, Morgause, casts a spell on him and seduces him at the end of "The Queen of Air and Darkness". White feels that even though Arthur was not in control of his will, having been bewitched, the sin of incest was enough for Fate to doom him and his legacy.

Answer: He was ugly as an African ape

White says "He was ugly as an African ape." Lancelot sees his appearance as appropriate because while everyone else sees him as a man of virtue and purity, and thinks of him as the greatest knight in the world, he knows in his heart he has betrayed his best friend by sleeping with his wife. He feels his ugly appearance reflects his hidden sin and the lies that live in his heart.

Answer: Healed a badly wounded knight

This is a very moving episode in the life of Lancelot; it never fails to give me goosebumps when I read it. Lancelot knows he has betrayed his best friend, committed adultery, murdered, and failed God. He begs not to be humiliated by failing to heal the knight before the court and Table.

His humiliation comes from God showing Lancelot that He (God) has control at all times, not man. White writes that Lancelot knew "the miracle was that he had been allowed to do a miracle."

Answer: Galahad

Galahad was born to Elaine after she duped Lancelot into thinking he was sleeping with Guenevere (and also giving up his virginity). Galahad becomes the best knight in the world, besting even his father, by being pure of heart and holy.

Answer: Mordred

Mordred was born to Morguase, as a result of her mystical seduction of Arthur. Arthur is both his father and his uncle. Mordred comes to Camelot with the goal of causing it to collapse. Arthur allows it to happen out of his love of the law. He offers Mordred love and acceptance. Mordred wants nothing more than power and chaos.

When he accuses Guenevere of adultery and Lancelot of treason, a war results between Lancelot and Arthur, thus ending the glorious dream of Camelot.

Answer: Le Morte D'Arthur

White explains that Mallory calls his very long book "The Death of Arthur" because death and downfall is the only result that can come from his having slept with his half-sister. Mallory wrote his account of Arthur while in prison for rape.