Arthur samples

Arthur samples
Perspective is everything

If you have every witnessed an accident, especially with other people around, you will soon discover that everyone sees and remembers things differently. This is the case with the Arthur samples by Geoffry of Monmouth, Wace, and Layamon. Each author is in agreement when writing about King Arthur, Rome, and the death of Arthur, but each has a unique perspective and adds different details to the story.
An example of this are the descriptions of Arthur's death and the myth of his second coming. Each author states that Arthur was mortally wounded, named his successor and was carried to the island of Avalon to await his return to England in it's hour of need. Both Geoffry of Monmouth and Wace support this rather bland view in their versions, but Layamon is a bit more creative in his rendition. Layamon adds the details of Arthur speaking to his successor, Constantine, asking him to look after his people as the regent, a sort of vice president role, until he can return from the isle of Avalon. Layamon also mentions for the first time the prophet Merlin and his prediction that Arthur would come back to aid England in her hour of need. It is interesting that Layamon call Merlin a prophet rather than a wizard, because according to the History Channel special on Oracles, there is evidence that a prophet by the name of Merlin actually existed in England at one time. At the time he was considered a local hermit and nutcase, but some of his predictions were surprisingly accurate.
IN conclusion, perspective is everything. Each author, or spectator as the case may be, takes the basic information and makes it their own, adding what is important to their time, and situation. This by no means takes away from the story, it merly adds to it.