The Quest for King Arthur

By Ellyn Sanna

There is something about this story
that’s deeper than what meets the eye.
—Yolanda Jane

The Hero King—the noble Warrior—is one of the ancient archetypes that live within us all—and in the Western world, we often know this archetype as King Arthur. Arthur's story is full of other archetypes as well: the Magic Sword, the Witch, the Queen, the Magician, the Grail. All these have timeless meanings. Each offers us insights into our own unique quests for purpose in our lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anamchara Books
• Release date: Jun 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781937211608

Ellyn Sanna

Ellyn Sanna is the author of more than thirty books. She is also the executive editor at Harding House Publishing Service, where she has helped to create hundreds of educational books for young adults. She and her family (along with assorted animals) make their home in upstate New York.

Book preview

Introduction

Ancient Archetypes

Psychologist Carl Jung defined the images within our collective unconscious as archetypes—primal patterns that furnish our deepest thoughts and dreams with shapes and stories. As human beings, we all share this common furniture in our psychological homes. At the same time, our individual lives add to these shapes unique details and colors.

The Hero King, the noble Warrior, is one of these ancient archetypes that live within us all—and in the Western world, we often know the Warrior King as Arthur. His story is full of other archetypes as well: the Magic Sword, the Witch, the Queen, the Magician, the Grail, the Quest. All these have timeless meanings. Each offers us insights into our own unique stories.

***

King Arthur is an archetype,

just as Christ is an archetype.

Does that mean that neither were historically real?

Of course not!

Our hearts know they are MORE real,

real at the deepest level

of our best dreams

and wildest hopes.

Their history is objective AND subjective.

It is both theirs and ours.

—Lionel James

I

The Story That Never Dies:

The Arthur of History and Literature

There is something about this story that’s deeper than what meets the eye.

Storytellers have dressed it up in countless ways,

and yet at its bones,

the story never changes.

—Yolanda Jane

Arthur’s story has inspired storytellers over the centuries—and it continues to inspire them. From Broadway to Disney, from children’s books to epic fantasies, King Arthur and his knights live and breathe in countless ways. We’re all as familiar with Arthur as if he were a distant relative, a friend of a friend, someone whose story we’ve grown up knowing. And there’s something about his story that never ceases to fascinate us.

***

If you asked a bunch of six-year-olds,

Who was Churchill?

and