Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King
Twelve Narrative Poems of Arthurian Legends
Based on Sir Thomas Malory's 15th century Morte d'Arthur, Victorian Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson fleshes out the characters of Arthur, his knights, and Guinevere.
"The Coming of Arthur" and "The Passing of Arthur"
The twelve narrative poems in The Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson were published incrementally in the latter half of the 19th century. Though "The Coming of Arthur" was published in Tennyson's second installment of poems, in this complete edition, it is placed before the other poems. Likewise, "The Passing of Arthur," which incorporates Tennyson's "Morte d'Arthur" from 1842, is placed last, the two acting to frame the ten poems about the Round Table in between.
Stories of Chivalry and the Round Table
Sandwiched between the birth and death of King Arthur are ten poems, all allegorical to some degree. Included are famous stories of Gareth, the kitchen boy-turned hero, Geraint, with his chronic suspicion of his wife's fidelity, and the story of the quest for the Holy Grail, a quest that causes Arthur much grief.
The penultimate poem tells the story of Guinevere and Lancelot nearly being caught together by Mordred, after which Guinevere "escapes" to a nunnery, and Lancelot flees to France. Arthur's death in his final battle comes only after having visited Guinevere in the nunnery and telling her, "I did not come to curse thee, Guinevere," plunging her into torment and self-recrimination.
Engraved on the sword Excalibur are the words "Take me," on one side, and "Cast me away!" on the other. Like the tension between loyalty and betrayal that runs through all twelve poems, these engraved words indicate the passing nature of every manmade kingdom, no matter how grand or well intentioned.
All the tales contain some degree of meditation on loyalty, whether that of friends, subjects, or spouses. Written in iambic pentameter, The Idylls of the King puts a survey of the legendary king and his adventures into fleshy poetry that brings each character into three dimensions.
Tennyson so impressed Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert with Idylls of the King that she named him poet laureate. In return, Tennyson showed his appreciation, dedicating the 1862 edition of Idylls to Albert, who died in 1861. The 1872 edition closed with an epilogue titled "To the Queen."
