Introduction
The “Once and Future King” written by T. H. White is considered to be a perfect reflection of the historical events disclosing legends of previous generations. This book should be regarded as a national treasure reminding us peculiarities of ancient times and the heroic victories of former kings. I have selected this book for an outside reading because I consider it to be quite emotional and deeply involving. This piece of work is generally recognized as a real masterpiece of the literature world. It tells a lot about the history of previous generations and underlines the main features of ancient times. Frankly speaking, this work is very thought-provoking and emotional. It is not easy to understand the deepest sense and character of the author’s feelings reflected in the book.
The brief basic plot of the novel
The book “Once and Future King” requires attentive reading and deep understanding. Young people who are eager to feel the character of that time can learn a lot from this piece of writing. It is important to stress that the author wanted to create a masterpiece for future generations in order not only to enjoy reading but study history transferring the readers to the world of kings and queens.
It should be mentioned that the book under analysis is considered to be a tragedy. Originally it was called “the Death of Arthur” because it reflects the heroic but tragic destiny of the powerful king. The strength of the book lies in its historical value and teaching character. It allows comparing and contrasting different epochs and generations; to understand the strong character of those who lived in ancient times. (Montgomery, 2003)
To tell the truth this book is quite complex but it should be compulsory read by any student to become wiser and more experience. It cannot leave anyone being indifferent because its emotionality makes the reader be part of the whole epoch; a student reading the book will get new skills and experience of being part of the history. The reader will dive into the depth of heroic actions of king Arthur and will be able to understand the mood of the author in the character of writing.
The book under consideration was studied by many authors and its famous legends were the background for a lot of historical books and stories. I recommend reading this work to everyone because it can help to learn the stream of events and be a part of ancient civilizations.
To my way of thinking this book should be part of the curriculum because it is quite useful for becoming new knowledge not only in the sphere of literature but also in the sphere of history. The knowledge of the legends is very important for everyone beginning with a young age. The stories of King Arthur are to be read by all means, and this book should be part of the curriculum system.
The significance of this book for students can be compared with one more work called “Paradise Lost” written by John Milton. It should be underlined that though both books have different styles and themes, they both are epic with the idea to transfer ancient time atmosphere to future generations. These books are aimed at showing what human mistakes can result in. White wanted to highlight legendary historical events while Milton disclosed biblical themes in his book, but it is important to stress that both books are of great value for inner moral and skills development. (Rosen, 2008)
Conclusion
To sum everything up it should be stressed that “Once and Future King” written by T. H. White is known worldwide. Not in vain this story was adapted and the modern generation can enjoy films and theatrical performances disclosing the sense of the book. For example, Walt Disney contributed to the adaptation of the masterpiece and created a movie devoted to the legends of King Arthur. Thus, I consider that the story “Once and Future King” should be part of the outside reading at any institution.
References
White, T. Once and Future King. Pp. 832. 1996.
Montgomery, W. Camelot Comes Alive. Washington, 2003.
Rosen, Jonathan. Return to Paradise. New York, 2008.