The Good King Arthur

Question

adapted from Myths and Legends of all Nations
by Logan Marshall

The boy Arthur was the son of King Uther Pendragon, but Uther had given him into the care of the enchanter Merlin, who had carried him to the castle of Sir Hector.
Merlin was a very wise man, and when King Uther died several years later, the noblemen asked his advice in choosing a new king.
The enchanter only replied that he should gather everyone together in St. Stephen's Church in London on Christmas Day.
As directed, the knights assembled into the churchyard; there they beheld a large block of stone, upon which rested a heavy anvil. The blade of a jeweled sword was sunk deeply into the anvil.
One of them discovered an inscription upon the hilt, which said that none but the man who could draw out the sword should ever rule in Uther's place. One by one they tried, but the sword was firmly imbedded.
Years later, Sir Hector traveled to London with his foster son, Arthur, and his own son, Sir Kay, who was to take part in his first tournament; however, Sir Kay had forgotten his sword.
"I will fetch it for you," cried the young Arthur, anxious to be of service.
He found Sir Kay's apartment locked, but he was determined to get a sword for his brother, and remembering the huge anvil he had seen in the churchyard, he hurried toward it. Grasping the hilt of the projecting sword, he drew it out easily.
"The king!" the people cried; for they knew that at last they had found a worthy successor to the good King Uther.

Passage 2

Excalibur
adapted from Marble Isle: Legends of the Round Table, and Other Poems
by Sallie Bridges

The flower of island chivalry
Had come from far and near,
To try their skill at tournament
The first day of the year.

5 Sir Kaye look'd down, and paled to see
No weapon at his side.
Then back his comrade spurr'd his steed,
Across the meadows wide.

Quoth Arthur then, with sudden wrath,
10 "From yonder mystic stone
I'll pluck the sword, that good Sir Kaye
May wield it as his own!"

So, lighting down from off his horse,
Towards the empty tent
15 In which was kept Excalibur
His eager footsteps bent.

He grasp'd the handle in his hand,
Its point leap'd sharp and free.
"My brother shall not go unarm'd
20 To battle now! cried he.
1
Select the correct text in the passage.
Which detail in "The Good King Arthur" shows a different key scene than "Excalibur"?
The Good King Arthur
adapted from Myths and Legends of all Nations
by Logan Marshall

The boy Arthur was the son of King Uther Pendragon, but Uther had given him into the care of the enchanter Merlin, who had carried him to the castle of Sir Hector.
Merlin was a very wise man, and when King Uther died several years later, the noblemen asked his advice in choosing a new king.
The enchanter only replied that he should gather everyone together in St. Stephen's Church in London on Christmas Day.
As directed, the knights assembled into the churchyard; there they beheld a large block of stone, upon which rested a heavy anvil. The blade of a jeweled sword was sunk deeply into the anvil.
One of them discovered an inscription upon the hilt, which said that none but the man who could draw out the sword should ever rule in Uther's place. One by one they tried, but the sword was firmly imbedded.
Years later, Sir Hector traveled to London with his foster son, Arthur, and his own son, Sir Kay, who was to take part in his first tournament; however, Sir Kay had forgotten his sword.
"I will fetch it for you," cried the young Arthur, anxious to be of service.
He found Sir Kay's apartment locked, but he was determined to get a sword for his brother, and remembering the huge anvil he had seen in the churchyard, he hurried toward it. Grasping the hilt of the projecting sword, he drew it out easily.
"The king!" the people cried; for they knew that at last they had found a worthy successor to the good King Uther.

Answer 1

The key scene in "The Good King Arthur" that shows a different detail than in "Excalibur" relates to Arthur's motivation for retrieving the sword. In "The Good King Arthur," Arthur is motivated by a desire to be of service to his brother, Sir Kay, who has forgotten his sword: "I will fetch it for you," cried the young Arthur, anxious to be of service.

In contrast, in "Excalibur," Arthur's motivation is characterized by a sudden sense of determination and wrath to provide his brother with a weapon for the tournament, indicated by his declaration: “From yonder mystic stone / I’ll pluck the sword, that good Sir Kay / May wield it as his own!”

This difference highlights that while both passages depict Arthur drawing the sword, the reasons for doing so are portrayed differently, showcasing Arthur’s selfless service in one version and a more assertive, competitive spirit in the other.