Genre
Fantasy
Setting and Context
Set in Britain during the reign of King Arthur
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narration from the perspective of Merlin
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood are neutral.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Merlin, and the antagonist is his loss of foresight and clairvoyance.
Major Conflict
Merlin has to oversee that Arthur’s destiny is fulfilled as the king; however, his powers are fading and incapable of advising or protecting him any further.
Climax
The climax perhaps reaches when Merlin is believed to be dead and is buried in the crystal cave.
Foreshadowing
The arrival of the new apprentice Ninane foreshadows the decline of Merlin’s powers as he teaches his successor.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The narrative alludes to the Biblical story where Pharaoh ordered the killing of children to eliminate the prophesied savior.
Imagery
“The moonlight, growing stronger every moment, showed a stretch of broken pavement furred with weeds. Two sides of the precinct were enclosed by high walls with broken tops; on the other two there had once been large buildings, of which some portions were still roofed. The place, in that light, was still impressive, roofs and pillars showing whole in the moonlight. Only an owl, flying silently from an upper window, showed that the place had long been deserted, and was crumbling back into the hill.”
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The story parallels Merlin and King Arthur demonstrating the king fulfilling his destiny while the wizard is at the apex of his life.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Throne is a metonymy for power.
Personification
“The harp sang to itself as I set it down”
