Question
The Round Table talk was mostly long-winded speeches—narrative accounts of various adventures. These were not missions to avenge injuries or to settle old disputes. They were simply duels between people who had never even met each other before. I had always imagined that was the sort of thing that children do. But here were these big oafs sticking to it and taking pride in it, clear into adulthood. Yet there was something very lovable about these great simple-hearted creatures. They possessed little in the way of brains. But you didn't mind it after a while, because you soon saw that brains were not needed in a society like that.
Adapted from Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
The previous text suggested that the order symbolized honor and high moral standards. How does this fantasy novel build on or challenge that idea?
it suggest that effect of the dust bowl felt inescapable
it shows ways that people entertained themselves during the dust bowl
it explains how farming practices improved during the dust bowl
Adapted from Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
The previous text suggested that the order symbolized honor and high moral standards. How does this fantasy novel build on or challenge that idea?
it suggest that effect of the dust bowl felt inescapable
it shows ways that people entertained themselves during the dust bowl
it explains how farming practices improved during the dust bowl
Answers
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GPT-4o mini
The passage from Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" presents a humorous critique of the ideals of chivalry and honor associated with the Knights of the Round Table. While the knights may symbolize high moral standards, the narrator’s observations reveal the absurdity of their pursuits—engaging in duels for the sake of honor without any real purpose or prior grievance. This challenges the romanticized notion of knighthood by contrasting it with the more frivolous behavior of adults who engage in childlike rivalries.
The idea that "brains were not needed" in this society further underscores the notion that the values upheld by the order may not correspond with wisdom or practicality. Instead of being noble in a profound sense, the knights' activities come across as misguided and trivial, suggesting that the ideals of honor can sometimes lead to foolishness rather than true virtue.
Through this lens, the novel builds on the idea that the concepts of honor and high moral standards—often associated with chivalry—can be deeply flawed or even foolish when devoid of true meaning and purpose. The reader is invited to reflect on whether the pursuit of honor is worth the often petty conflicts it generates. This perspective on the Round Table ultimately serves as a critique of romantic ideals and a commentary on human nature in a whimsical, yet thought-provoking manner.
In summary, rather than portraying the Round Table as a bastion of noble ideals, Twain's narrative challenges the very foundation of those ideals by revealing the trivialities and absurdities of the knights' actions. It suggests that honor, when pursued for its own sake, can result in a lack of depth and sincerity.
The idea that "brains were not needed" in this society further underscores the notion that the values upheld by the order may not correspond with wisdom or practicality. Instead of being noble in a profound sense, the knights' activities come across as misguided and trivial, suggesting that the ideals of honor can sometimes lead to foolishness rather than true virtue.
Through this lens, the novel builds on the idea that the concepts of honor and high moral standards—often associated with chivalry—can be deeply flawed or even foolish when devoid of true meaning and purpose. The reader is invited to reflect on whether the pursuit of honor is worth the often petty conflicts it generates. This perspective on the Round Table ultimately serves as a critique of romantic ideals and a commentary on human nature in a whimsical, yet thought-provoking manner.
In summary, rather than portraying the Round Table as a bastion of noble ideals, Twain's narrative challenges the very foundation of those ideals by revealing the trivialities and absurdities of the knights' actions. It suggests that honor, when pursued for its own sake, can result in a lack of depth and sincerity.