Small World Part Two p. 80-113

1. Why does Lodge introduce so many characters and what might they represent?

He introduces all these characters to illustrate a point. It solidifies the comparison between the knights of Chrétien’s stories and the professors of Lodge’s story. Each person he mentions evidently quests for something. The majority are looking for a name for themselves and a higher position in the academic world of literature. This is much like the quests and feats the knights embark upon to attain renown and praise. Each character illustrates a knight on their own adventure for their own glorification. Through these acts it embodies the corruptness tagged to the knights of Chrétien. To further this acclamation we see Lodge point out the flaws and weaknesses of each character; may it be sexual frustration, desire, or even aging impotence. Each character presents their quest and each character embodies the idea of a knight in Chrétien’s tale.

2. Compare Arthur Kingfisher to Chrétien’s Fisher King.

At first glance we see a man seemingly far from the noble picture of the Fisher King. As lodge divulges we see a man teeming with great success in the literary world of academics. Someone much like the Fisher King had great success and control over his life in his heyday. As lodge divulges we learn of Arthur’s impotence and inability to form a new original idea. Of course he believes them both to be connected. We see a man crippled by stress and age; a man whose mind is barren much like the country or kingdom the Fisher King ruled over.