Doublement
Not the gum, but recurrence of events within a society marked by stasis. Trapped within the limited circumstances available within such a cultural construct as the idealized iteration of the monarchical political system, recurrence is inevitable. Hence, King Horn gets exiled from his own country only to undergo a repetition of this state of affairs by later being exiled from the adopted country of his betrothed. Doublement is French term with applications describing a literary thematic imprint upon the fundamental generic necessities of the romantic adventure to which it belongs; most of what takes places in King Horn will repeat endlessly in one fashion or another throughout any tale also fitting into the genre.
Inheritance as Fundamental to the Social Economy
Practically the entire narrative of King Horn revolves around the struggles and battles he faces while in exile has tries to get back home. The driving force behind this goal is to establish his identity and collect on his rightful claim to land ownership and the wealth, influence and power it implies through possession. This effort to get home is not a case of Dorothy being homesick for what she never realized she would miss; the essential impetus toward reclaiming his identity is economic.
Coming of Age
King Horn also stands as a coming of age story that details the maturation of its hero as a result of exile and return. The protagonist is only fifteen years old at the time of exile and is notable described in language seemingly more suited to a young woman. Lacking the opportunity for experience that might have thickened his resume, his singular accomplishment early in life seems to be limited to literally being the fairest in all the land.
