Thomas Malory: Biography, Creativity

Thomas Malory is an English writer. In the novels of this author, according to historians, the English flavor of the Middle Ages was accurately conveyed. The article gives a brief description of the books that Thomas Malory wrote: "Death of Arthur" and others.

Biography

The author of historical novels about King Arthur belonged to the old aristocratic family. In 1444-1445 Thomas Malory represented his county in the English parliament.

In the autumn of 1462 a campaign took place in Northumberland. During this military event, Earl Warwick joined the Lancaster side. Malory followed suit. Subsequently, his name was included in the list of Lancasters. However, twice, Thomas Malory was expelled from this honorary list.

Information about the life of the hero of this article is not enough. Historians have come to the conclusion that the author of books about King Arthur is a knight from Newbold-Revel who spent more than twenty years in prison. In conclusion, he stayed with small interruptions. After another release, he was again arrested on a new charge.

Creation

Researchers also believe that almost all the works of the English writer were created in prison. His works were arranged in a certain order by Thomas Malory.

Books:

1. "The Tale of King Arthur."
2. "The Tale of King Arthur and the Emperor Lucius."
3. "Death of Arthur."

The other five works are dedicated to other figures of the royal dynasty. From the novels, which, being a prisoner, created by Thomas Malory, only one is based on the English source. When writing the rest, the writer preferred to rely on French knightly novels.

Features of prose

The English writer used the subjects of medieval works. "King Arthur" Thomas Malory wrote in a more modern style. As well as other of their creations. Malory shortened the narrative, divided into small stories.

In his books there are both epic eloquence and the vivacity of the English literary language. This is the significant contribution of Malory to the literature. He gave the well-known stories a more compact form. Features knightly novel - fanciful syntactic style, rhetorical phraseology. Characteristic features of the style of Thomas Malory - straightforwardness, transparency.

The prose writer's work of the fifteenth century before the thirties of the last century was little known even among writers. In 1936, his manuscript was discovered in the scientific library of an English university. Only after this event the critics began to study the creativity of such a mysterious figure in literature as Thomas Malory.

"Death of Arthur": a summary

In the books of Thomas Malory there are Celtic legends, tales of sorcerers and witches. Fairy stories are intertwined with stories from the life of real people.

Heroes of the book "Death of Arthur" - not only members of the royal family. The book tells the story of the life of the sorcerer Merlin, the maidens of the Lake, the blond Isolde and other characters of the medieval epic.

The work begins with a description of the times when Arthur's father was young and in love with Igrein. This woman was the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. In the fate of Arthur played an important role sorcerer Merlin. The wizard helped the future king's father to reach the beloved's hand. The wizard, however, set the condition. Merlin was supposed to take the baby that Igrein would give birth to.

The beginning of the novel "The Death of Arthur" recalls the classic fairytale plot. The king's son was brought up from legal parents. But after death, he occupies the throne, which, undoubtedly, is angered by the ill-wishers of the heir.

Mordred

One day a young king meets a girl who is his sister. Arthur does not know about kinship. The king falls in love with the girl. They have a son, Mordred. The omnipresent Merlin reveals to his pupil the secret of his birth. From the sorcerer, King Arthur hears also a terrible prediction: he and his knights will perish at the hands of Mordred.

Merlin

However, the famous wizard also dies because of passion. Merlin falls in love with one of the virgin maidens of the Lake. The sorcerer vexes the girl, and she has no choice but to deceive him into a magical cave. Entrance inhabitant of reservoirs is covered with a stone. Merlin is dying.

Arthur, meanwhile, fights on fights, performs feats. The book describes the battle between Tristam and Lancelot. Ends with a truce. Then the author narrates about the love of Tristam and the beautiful Isolde.

Lancelot

Where it is a question of the glorious deeds of knights, the Holy Grail must certainly be mentioned. In the book of Thomas Malory, Lancelot must take possession of the cup. However, the holy cup is not so easy to get. Moreover, on the way of Lancelot, sorcerers often oppose him with a potion, the virgins who fall in love with him. As a result of the intrigues of enemies and the persecution of fans, the knight is on the verge of life and death. Lancelot heals thanks to King Peres - the father of his beloved.

The wife of Arthur - Guinevere. The Queen is taken prisoner, from which it is possible to rescue Lancelot. After the liberation of Guinevere becomes the lover of a brave knight. King Arthur, of course, soon learns of treason and orders to punish both. In this case, the hero of the book Malory acts in the spirit of medieval cruelty. He orders to burn the unfaithful wife at the stake.

Lancelot again saves Guineverra from death. He hides it in the castle, but (not without the participation of the pope) between the king and the knight comes a truce. Lancelot returns the queen to her legal wife. Arthur forgives the traitor and goes with his army to France.

During his absence, Mordred seizes power. Upon Arthur's return to Dover, the battle begins. Mordred is dying. Arthur gets deadly wounds. After the death of King Guinevere goes to the monastery, where he also soon dies. From now on the son of Cador is ruling the country - Constantine.