The Crystal
Cave
by Mary Stewart
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Below is a summary of the legend surrounding King Arthur, the once and future king.
Included are study guides for each of the "books" within The Crystal Cave. Copy the
study guides to help connect characters and action through the book. The questions
are in order, so pre-read the quesstions and then search for the answers. At the end of
each book, there will be a quiz.
The Arthurian Legend
For hundreds of years, scholars have sought to prove that the legend of King
Arthur is more than a legend, that he, in fact, did exist. Psychologically, the reason for
this obsessive search for Kind Arthur may be because the stories written about him are
larger than life. He becomes a real person to the reader, not just a character. One
wants to believe that a leader with his virtues and ideals did exist. Perhaps it is the
feeling that if such a ruler could come once to the world, he could come again. In the
present world of reported corruption in government, we, as a people, search for a
hero. Arthur is that hero. His story is steeped in romance and magic, power and
chivalry, fallibility and perfection. The geographic settings, in some instances, still exist
today. Therefore, we want to believe.
If Arthur did really exist, historians place his reign approximately 500 A.D.
Therefore, proof would be largely speculative or circumstantial at best. Of course,
there would be considerable prestige in claiming to uncover the truth about Arthur. In
1191, monks of Glastonbury dug secretly in the fire stricken remains of their abbey and
“discovered” the remains of a large man buried there. This they claimed was Arthur,
and they produced a forged inscription to prove it. Later they supposedly found a body
of a woman nearby, whom they claimed was Guinevere, as well as Arthur’s legendary
sword Excalibur.
According to writings by Gildas in the 540’s, there is evidence that military
leaders bearing the same names as characters in the Arthurian legends did exist. It
seems likely that a British leader named Vortigern (the Great King) ruled somewhere in
the 430’s. Hengist led a revolt against him around 446. Other sources reveal that
there was a Roman leader named Ambrosius. However, simply the existence of these
leaders in name does not meat that Arthur existed. In fact, if there is proof, at least
superficially, these men existed, why is proof about Arthur, who was supposedly the
great king of all time, so sketchy? Often writers simply take historical facts and spin
them throughout fiction. Even the name of Camelot, Arthur’s castle, is probably the
invention of a 12th century French poet.
However, two texts, the Annals of Wales and Nennius’s History of the Britons,
arte thought by some historians to contain hard core truth regarding Arthur. It is likely
that both texts draw their “truth’ from writings fully 300 tears after the reign of Arthur.
By that time, the stories of Arthur had already become folk legend, so we still cannot
tell whether these writings are authentic history or fascinating romance.
After the fall of Rome, Celtic Britain sank into its Dark Age. Then, faced with
the rising aggressive power of the Anglo-Saxon Imperialists, the British need a hero. It
didn’t matter whether he ever existed in the flesh; the hope of his return was enough
“But many men sat that there is written on his tomb this verse: ‘Here lies
Arthur: once and future king.’”
From In Search of the Dark Ages
By Michael Wood
Study Guide for The Crystal Cave
“The Dove”
Chapter 1
1.
2.
3.
What is Camlach’s and the grandfather’s opinion of Merlin?
What is Merlin’s impression of Camlach?
Where did Merlin like to go? Why?
Chapter 2
1.
2.
What can be deduced from Merlin’s knowledge regarding King Gorlan?
What is the significance of the apricot scene?
Chapter 3
1.
What is Cerdic’s advice to Merlin regarding his name?
Chapter 4
1.
2.
What does Dinias do (and Cerdic in Ch. 3) which proves that they believe
Merlin has powers?
How is Merlin really getting his power?
Chapter 5
1.
What happens when the mysterious man lights a candle in the cave?
Chapter 6
1.
What does Galapas profess to be?
Chapter 7
1.
2.
3.
How long has it been since Merlin first met Galapas?
What is the Sight?
What is Merlin’s first Sight?
Chapter 8
1.
2.
Why is there chaos in the castle?
What does Merlin ask his grandfather for permission to do?
1.
2.
Chapter 9
What does Merlin discover in the mine?
What does Merlin take as his own?
Chapter 10
1.
2.
3.
4.
Merlin is being watched by whom?
About what “art” does Merlin find it difficult to write?
What does Merlin “see” in the crystal cave?
Merlin cries at the end “for the second time in his life.” What was the first
time?
Chapter 11
1.
Where and with whom does Merlin end up going?
Chapter 12
1.
Who are Hanno and Marric?
Why is this “book” called THE DOVE? What age is Merlin at the end? What change in
Merlin’s character do you expect in a book called THE FALCON?
Questions I Have…
Study guide “The Falcon’
Chapter 1
1. How does Merlin intend to escape from the ship?
Chapter 2
1. After disembarking, to what two places does Merlin go?
Chapter 3
1. Describe Merlin’s strange vision?
2. Was it real or the Sight?
Chapter 4
1. What two important people does Merlin meet?
Chapter 5
1. Why is it strategically important for Ambrosius and Uther to become the ruling
factions?
2. How is Merlin treated at Ambrosius’s castle?
3. How does Ambrosius react to Merlin’s vision?
Chapter 6
1. What was the “dream” that Merlin had seen, according to Ambrosius?
2. How large has Ambrosius’s army grown?
3. How were his men preparing for their invasion of Greater Britain?
4. Who is Belasius, and how is he different from Galapas and Demetrius?
Chapter 7
1. What happens to Merlin and Aster in the woods?
Chapter 8
1. Whom does Merlin discover in the woods?
2. What builds excitement in this chapter?
Chapter 9
1. What secret does Merlin discover?
Chapter10
1. Who died at the hands of Belasius and his cohorts? Why?
2. What does Merlin realize about himself?
3. Merlin encounters whom on his way back to the castle?
Chapter 11
1. What suddenly changes Uther’s anger to a rather bitter laugh?
2. Who knows where Merlin has been?
3. Why does Merlin show no fear?
4. What does Merlin finally realize about himself that Cadal and the others must have
known?
5. How would others have known before Merlin?
Chapter 12
1. What does Merlin tell Ambrosius about the evening?
2. Why does Ambrosius say he left Niniane?
3. How does Merlin feel about Ambrosius?
General
Study Guide “The Wolf”
Chapter 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
As this book opens, how many years have passed?
What knowledge does Merlin glean from Tremorinus?
Most likely, what are the standing stones to which Merlin refers?
Politically, what has happened in Greater Britain?
Why is Ambrosius sending Merlin to Maridunum?
***Take note of the mention of Gorlois.
Chapter 2
1. What two pieces of information is Merlin seeking?
Chapter 3
1. What has happened to Galapas’s cave during Merlin’s absence?
Chapter 4
1. Whom does Merlin encounter in his grandfather’s old garden?
Chapter 5
1. How does Merlin ply Dinias for news?
2. What vision does Merlin remember?
Chapter 6
1. Where does “Blackbeard” take Merlin?
Chapter 7
1. Why is Vortigern referred to as a “wolf”?
2. What is Vortigern’s purpose in bringing Merlin and Niniane to his castle?
Chapter 8
1. What does Niniane tell Vortigern about Merlin’s parentage?
2. What message is Merlin surreptitiously able to convey to his mother?
Chapter 9
1. What does Vortigern intend to do with Merlin?
2. How does Merlin escape imminent death?
Chapter 10
1. What illusion does Merlin create to impress the High King? Is this power or luck,
according to Merlin?
2. What seems to be happening to Merlin at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 11
1. What really happened to Merlin?
2. What does Merlin learn that he prophesied?
3. What does Merlin plan to do to help Ambrosius?
Chapter 12
1. What luck brings the red and white dragons?
2. Merlin meets whom at the end of this chapter?
Study Guide “The Red Dragon”
Chapter 1
1. Specifically, how did Ambrosius defeat the White Dragon?
Chapter 2
1. What do we learn (parenthetically) has happened to Dinias?
Chapter 3
1. Niniane warns Merlin to “beware of arrogance.” What did she think Merlin meant
when he said, “I have said so, so it must be true”? What did he really mean?
2. How does Merlin feel about Keridwen?
Chapter 4
1. Who are the Boar of Cornwall and Ambrosius planning to battle?
2. Merlin “sees” what about his mother?
Chapter 5
1. How is Uther’s attitude changed toward Merlin? Why did it change?
Chapter 6
1. Who is the most powerful at the secret ceremony?
2. How is Ambrosius different in his conquering of cities from other conquerors?
3. What does Merlin feel he must do?
Chapter 7
1. What is the Giant’s Dance?
2. When Merlin’s heart pounds at the nunnery gate, why does he say “I had told
myself a lie”?
3. Where does Merlin take up residence?
Chapter 8
1. When Keridwen and Merlin meet in the wooded valley, what is the “curse” that she
puts on him?
Chapter 9
1. Where does Ambrosius plan to send Merlin? Why?
2. What other task does Ambrosius assign to Merlin?
3. What is another of Merlin’s visions? Is he really referring to Ambrosius?
Chapter 10
1. What is Merlin taking back to Britain?
2. How did they move the king-stone?
3. What critical event takes place?
Study Guide: The Coming of the Bear
Chapter 1
1. Who fought with Uther to defeat the Saxons?
2. Who planned the surprise attack?
Chapter 2
1. How is Uther’s belief in Merlin different from Ambrosius’s?
2. What did Merlin do to prove true his prophesy “I will deck his grave with nothing
less than the light itself”?
Chapter 3
1. Who comes to take Merlin to Uther’s coronation?
2. What scandal does Merlin learn about Uther?
3. If the scandal is true, what would this mean politically to Uther?
Chapter 4
1. What does Uther want from Merlin?
2. What is Merlin’s demand of Uther in return for doing as Uther asks?
3. Why does Gorlois come to Merlin?
Chapter 5
1. What are Ygraine’s feelings toward Uther?
2. What is Merlin’s part in the plan?
Chapter 6
1. What is the remaining segment in Merlin’s plan?
2. What wisdom does Merlin impart to Cadal?
Chapter 7
1. Describe Uther’s disguises.
Chapter 8
1. What actually was the scene of Marcia carrying a baby?
Chapter 9
1. What important fact do we learn?
2. What does Merlin have to do that is totally out of character?
Chapter 10
1. What does Uther think of Merlin’s sorcery?
2. What will Merlin do with the child?
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