Shadow of the King (108 page)

Helen Hollick, 2009

Reading Group Guide

1. Despite the fact that his subjects face great challenges of their own at home,

Arthur decides to leave Britain and take most of his troops with him in

order to defend Gaul against barbarian attacks. Was this the right decision

or was Arthur being irresponsible? Can you think of similar conflicts of

interest—domestic versus international—in contemporary politics? How

do they compare?

2. Arthur has children with multiple women, and his behavior toward each

child is colored by his relationship with the child’s mother. Do you think

it’s fair of Arthur to treat his children differently? How do the children react

to their mothers’ different social statuses and relationships with Arthur?

3. Why do you think Arthur refuses the treaty offered by Sidonius Apollinaris

and instead insists on fighting? What does this decision reveal about

Arthur’s character?

4. Soldiers off at war, whether married or single, sleep with many women in

foreign towns and campsites, while proper women are expected to remain

chaste or faithful to their husbands. How do you feel about this double

standard? What do you think about the explanation that men are expected

to be with other women because it is a physical necessity that is part of

their nature?

5. Ambrosius generally regards his son, Cadwy, without love or respect. At

other times, however, Ambrosius shows signs of compassion and appears

confused and depressed about how to behave as a father. What do you make

of Ambrosius’s inconsistent attitudes toward his son? Could he become a

better father, or is he too selfish or narrow-minded to change his ways?

6 5 6 H e l e n H o l l i c k

6. Throughout the novel, many characters act out of self-interest in pursuit of

greater amounts of power. Do you think it is the case that having
some
power

inevitably creates a desire for
more
power? Can you think of any characters

who do not wish for greater power, or even wish they had less power?

7. There are many references to both pagan gods and the Christian God

throughout the novel. How do the pagan religion and Christianity coexist

in the novel? Do you notice in any of the characters a relationship between

religion and personality traits, locations, or political beliefs? Do you agree

with Gwenhwyfar that a man’s religion is “his own business” (p. 224)? Is

this comment representative of how most characters treat religion?

8. Arthur explains that the loss of Gwenhwyfar is too devastating for him to

return to Britain, and thus he stays in hiding with Morgaine. Gwenhwyfar,

on the other hand, recognizes the political complications she faces as a

widowed queen and prepares accordingly. Who do you respect more:

Arthur for his great passion or Gwenhwyfar for her pragmatism?

9. Even after Gwenhwyfar’s difficult but successful journey to find her

husband, Arthur is reluctant to return with her to Britain. What makes him

change his mind?

10. Ragnall struggles with self-confidence and has trouble believing that Cadwy

truly loves her and does not care about her appearance, despite his repeated

assurances. Can you think of a time when you doubted yourself or had

difficulty believing another person’s praise for you? How did you get past

that mental roadblock?

11. Gwenhwyfar says, “It would seem to me…we all have a darkness shut into

our souls, one we will need explain when we stand in the sunlight of the

next world” (p. 442). What does she mean? In what ways does this belief of

hers inform her behavior? Are there other characters who believe the same

thing based on their behavior?

12. Cadwy laments the British prejudice against Saex citizens, manifested

through heavy taxation and reduction of rights. When Ambrosius suggests

that the Saex ought to return to their homeland, Cadwy observes that many

S h a d o w o f t h e k i n g 6 5 7

Saex citizens in his stronghold are second- or third-generation immigrants

and have lived in Britain their whole lives. In what ways do Cadwy and

Ambrosius treat homeland and ancestry differently? How do you define

where you are from: is it a question of ancestry, geographical birth, or

where you choose to make your home?

13. Several children are described as having inherited certain characteristics and

temperaments from their parents, even when those parents have not been

present in the child’s life. Other children, however, are notable for the ways

in which they differ from their parents. Which characters resemble their

parents and which seem to differ from them? How do the characters—both

parents and children—generally feel about these similarities or differences?

14. Cynric criticizes his father and his men for fighting disgracefully at Caer

Morfa. Do you agree with Cynric that certain standards of conduct must

be met in battle? How does one determine what is appropriate behavior on

a battlefield?

15. Throughout the Pendragon’s Banner trilogy, the author includes several

references to familiar aspects of classic Arthurian legend, including a sword

that grants Arthur status as king and the infamous Round Table. How does

this presentation of King Arthur differ from other versions of his story?

16. Shortly before Arthur’s death, Gwenhwyfar tells him, “As long as there is

someone willing to tell the story and another eager to listen, a man such as

you will be forever remembered” (p. 647). The idea of achieving lasting

fame and even immortality through storytelling is common in ancient myths

and legends. What do you make of storytelling as a means of preservation

and immortality? Do you think contemporary aspirations of fame have

changed from Arthur and Gwenhwyfar’s time?

About the Author

Helen Hollick lives in northeast London on

the edge of Epping Forest with her husband,

adult daughter, and a variety of pets, which include

several horses, cats, and a dog. She has two major

interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age

of Piracy—the early eighteenth century. Her particular

pleasure is researching the facts behind the small glimpses

of history and bringing the characters behind those facts

Kathy Hollick

to full and glorious life. She has an honours diploma in early medieval history,

and may one day, if ever she finds the time, go on to obtain her full degree.

For up-to-date information, you are invited to visit www.helenhollick.net

and www.acorne.blogspot.com.

• Title Page
  
• Copyright
  
• Britain and Gaul Map
  
• Family Tree
  
• Places
  
• Part One
  
• One
  
• Two
  
• Three
  
• Four
  
• Five
  
• Six
  
• Seven
  
• Eight
  
• Nine
  
• Ten
  
• Eleven
  
• Twelve
  
• Thirteen
  
• Fourteen
  
• Fifteen
  
• Sixteen
  
• Seventeen
  
• Eighteen
  
• Nineteen
  
• Twenty
  
• Twenty-One
  
• Twenty-Two
  
• Twenty-Three
  
• Twenty-Four
  
• Twenty-Five
  
• Twenty-Six
  
• Twenty-Seven
  
• Twenty-Eight
  
• Twenty-Nine
  
• Thirty
  
• Thirty-One
  
• Thirty-Two
  
• Thirty-Three
  
• Thirty-Four
  
• Thirty-Five
  
• Thirty-Six
  
• Thirty-Seven
  
• Thirty-Eight
  
• Thirty-Nine
  
• Forty
  
• Part Two
  
• One
  
• Two
  
• Three
  
• Four
  
• Five
  
• Six
  
• Seven
  
• Eight
  
• Nine
  
• Ten
  
• Eleven
  
• Twelve
  
• Thirteen
  
• Fourteen
  
• Fifteen
  
• Sixteen
  
• Seventeen
  
• Eighteen
  
• Nineteen
  
• Twenty
  
• Twenty-One
  
• Twenty-Two
  
• Twenty-Three
  
• Twenty-Four
  
• Twenty-Five
  
• Twenty-Six
  
• Twenty-Seven
  
• Twenty-Eight
  
• Twenty-Nine
  
• Thirty
  
• Thirty-One
  
• Thirty-Two
  
• Thirty-Three
  
• Thirty-Four
  
• Thirty-Five
  
• Thirty-Six
  
• Thirty-Seven
  
• Thirty-Eight
  
• Thirty-Nine
  
• Forty
  
• Forty-One
  
• Forty-Two
  
• Forty-Three
  
• Forty-Four
  
• Forty-Five
  
• Forty-Six
  
• Forty-Seven
  
• Forty-Eight
  
• Forty-Nine
  
• Fifty
  
• Fifty-One
  
• Fifty-Two
  
• Fifty-Three
  
• Fifty-Four
  
• Fifty-Five
  
• Fifty-Six
  
• Fifty-Seven
  
• Fifty-Eight
  
• Fifty-Nine
  
• Sixty
  
• Sixty-One
  
• Sixty-Two
  
• Sixty-Three
  
• Sixty-Four
  
• Sixty-Five
  
• Sixty-Six
  
• Sixty-Seven
  
• Sixty-Eight
  
• Sixty-Nine
  
• Seventy
  
• Seventy-One
  
• Seventy-Two
  
• Seventy-Three
  
• Seventy-Four
  
• Seventy-Five
  
• Seventy-Six
  
• Seventy-Seven
  
• Part Three
  
• One
  
• Two
  
• Three
  
• Four
  
• Five
  
• Six
  
• Seven
  
• Eight
  
• Nine
  
• Ten
  
• Eleven
  
• Twelve
  
• Thirteen
  
• Fourteen
  
• Fifteen
  
• Sixteen
  
• Seventeen
  
• Eighteen
  
• Nineteen
  
• Twenty
  
• Twenty-One
  
• Twenty-Two
  
• Twenty-Three
  
• Twenty-Four
  
• Twenty-Five
  
• Twenty-Six
  
• Twenty-Seven
  
• Twenty-Eight
  
• Twenty-Nine
  
• Thirty
  
• Thirty-One
  
• Thirty-Two
  
• Thirty-Three
  
• Thirty-Four
  
• Thirty-Five
  
• Thirty-Six
  
• Thirty-Seven
  
• Thirty-Eight
  
• Thirty-Nine
  
• Forty
  
• Forty-One
  
• Forty-Two
  
• Forty-Three
  
• Forty-Four
  
• Forty-Five
  
• Forty-Six
  
• Forty-Seven
  
• Forty-Eight
  
• Forty-Nine
  
• Fifty
  
• Fifty-One
  
• Fifty-Two
  
• Fifty-Three
  
• Fifty-Four
  
• Fifty-Five
  
• Fifty-Six
  
• Fifty-Seven
  
• Fifty-Eight
  
• Part Four
  
• One
  
• Two
  
• Three
  
• Four
  
• Five
  
• Author’s Note
  
• Acknowledgments
  
• Reading Group Guide
  
• About the Author