The Prydain Chronicles
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The Chronicles of Prydain is a five-volume series of children's fantasy novels by author Lloyd Alexander. The stories detail the adventures of a young man named Taran, who is awarded the honor of Assistant Pig-Keeper but dreams of being a grand hero, and his companions Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam the wandering bard and king, a feral yet gentle creature called Gurgi, and a dwarf named Doli. Since a recurring facet of the series is the progression from youth to maturity, particularly prominent in Taran Wanderer,[1] the series could be considered a bildungsroman.
Thematically the novels siphon from the wells of Welsh mythology, particularly that of the Mabinogion.[2] The novels are not, however, retellings of those myths — a point Alexander himself makes in an author's note for The Book of Three — stories have been conflated, and characters have been changed in both role and motive, so a student of Welsh culture should be prepared as Arawn becomes the books' dark archenemy and Gwydion's negative traits are replaced with unclouded heroism.
Appropriately, the author's note also reveals the geography is ultimately derived from Wales, though Alexander notes that Prydain is separate from Wales both in physical geography and history.
Having garnered both a Newbery Medal (for The High King) and a Newbery Honor (for The Black Cauldron), the chronicles are recognized as a valuable contribution to the canon of classic children's literature. For many years since their publication The Chronicles of Prydain have held their own in sales and readership and may be comparable to other famous children's fantasy series such as The Chronicles of Narnia.
The Black Cauldron, an animated film based on the books, was released by the Walt Disney Company in 1985.[3]
Contents |
[edit] The Chronicles of Prydain
- 1 The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain (1973) (prequel)
A Collection of background short stories, such as Dallben's heritage, the sword Dyrnwyn, and Eilonwy's mother. (Intended to make the most sense after reading the novels.)
An assistant pig-keeper, Taran, and his companions race to defeat the war lord of Arawn.
- 3 The Black Cauldron (1965) — a 1966 Newbery Honor book[4]
Taran and the companions struggle to destroy an evil enchanted cauldron.
Eilonwy is kidnapped and Taran leads a band to rescue her.
- 5 Taran Wanderer (1967)
Taran, with his companion Gurgi, begins a bittersweet search for his parentage.
- 6 The High King (1968) - Winner of the 1969 Newbery Medal[5]
Taran and the companions wage a final battle against Arawn.
[edit] Characters
Characters are categorized under the novel in which they are first introduced.
[edit] The Book of Three
- Taran of Caer Dallben
- Princess Eilonwy
- Fflewddur Fflam
- Gurgi
- Doli the dwarf
- Hen Wen
- Dallben
- Lord Gwydion
- Coll
- The Horned King
- High King Math, son of Mathonwy
- King Eiddileg of the Fair Folk
- Arawn Deathlord
- Queen Achren
- Medwyn
[edit] The Black Cauldron
- King Smoit
- King Morgant, son of Madoc
- Kaw
- Prince Ellidyr, son of Pen-Llarcau
- Gwystyl, a Fair Folk
- Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch
- Adaon, son of Taliesin
The Black Crochan is the formal name of the Black Cauldron, an iron kettle which is a significant plot device in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy novel series The Chronicles of Prydain.
The original purpose of the Cauldron is never made entirely clear, but it is known that once it was the property of the three enchantresses, Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch. As they explain to Taran, the protagonist of the series, they were the ones who gave it to Arawn Death-Lord, when he was a young man. At what price he purchased the kettle from them, the reader never learns.
Once he has the kettle in his possession, Arawn uses it to make an army of deathless warriors known as the Cauldron-Born. He takes the bodies of dead warriors from their graves and throws them into the cauldron, which reanimates them. Not being truly alive, they cannot be killed by ordinary means, and they are forced to blindly obey their master.
In the novel named for the Cauldron, Taran and his companions form a great alliance to find and destroy the Cauldron once and for all. They discover that the enchantresses have taken it back from Arawn, and after some negotiations, the friends are able to purchase it in exchange for a brooch which had belonged to their fallen comrade, Adaon. As part of the bargain, the enchantresses explain how to destroy the Cauldron -- a living man must sacrifice his own life and throw himself into the Cauldron.
Ellidyr, Prince of Pen-Llarcau and one of the allies in the quest, takes a mortal wound during the final battle. Realizing this is his only chance to redeem himself for all the wrongs he has done the companions, and knowing that his life is already forfeit, he flings himself inside the kettle and causes it to shatter. This selfless act does not destroy the Cauldron-Born who already exist, but at least Arawn is unable to add to their number.
In the fifth book in the series, The High King, Taran inadvertently discovers that there is one thing which can destroy the Cauldron-Born forever -- the magical sword Dyrnwyn. He plunges it into the heart of the warrior bearing down upon him and, in so doing, kills not only his own adversary but all of the other Cauldron-Born in one fell swoop.
Like many other elements of the Prydain Chronicles, the Black Crochan is based on elements of Welsh mythology, specifically events recounted in The Mabinogion.
[edit] The Castle of Llyr
- Prince Rhun
- Glew
- King Rhuddlum
- Queen Teleria
- Llyan
- Magg
[edit] Taran Wanderer
- Lord Goryon
- Lord Gast
- Llassar, Son of Drudwas
- Drudwas, Son of Pebyr
- Morda, a sorcerer
- Annlaw Clay-Shaper
- Hevydd the Smith
- Dwyvach the Weaver-Woman
- Dorath, a bandit
- Gloff, a bandit
- Llonio, Son of Llonwen
- Craddoc, a Shepherd
[edit] The High King
- King Pryderi, son of Pwyll
- Taliesin, the chief bard
[edit] Notes
- ^ Alexander, Lloyd (1999). "Author's note". Taran Wanderer. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0-8050-6134-7
- ^ Alexander, Lloyd (1999). "Author's note". The Book of Three. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0-8050-6132-0
- ^ Scholastic Inc. Lloyd Alexander's Interview Transcript Retrieved Aug. 27, 2006. "...I have to say, there is no resemblance between the movie and the book."
- ^ American Library Association, "Newbery Medal & Honor Books, 1922-Present" undated, URL retrieved 3 September 2007
- ^ American Library Association, "Newbery Medal Winners, 1922 - Present" undated, URL retrieved 3 September 2007
[edit] External links
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