Merlin
Merlin is a magician and prophet in the legends of King Arthur. In the most common version, he helps bring about Arthur’s birth and guides his rise to the throne. His wisdom shapes the kingdom, but cannot protect him from his own downfall.
Key stories of Merlin
Arthur’s birth
Merlin uses magic to help Uther Pendragon approach Igraine in the appearance of her husband. He arranges for their child, Arthur, to be raised away from the royal court.
In Le Morte Darthur, Merlin enables Uther’s disguise and later takes the infant Arthur to be brought up by Sir Ector.
In Le Morte Darthur by Thomas Malory
The sword in the stone
Merlin helps prepare the test that reveals Arthur as the rightful king. Arthur’s success gives the unknown young man a claim to the throne.
In Le Morte Darthur, Merlin advises the Archbishop of Canterbury to gather the nobles at Christmas. A sword appears in an anvil on a stone, and Arthur later draws it out when seeking a sword for Kay.
In Le Morte Darthur by Thomas Malory
Merlin’s imprisonment
In the most common version, a woman to whom Merlin teaches magic uses it to imprison him. Her name and the place of his confinement vary between tellings.
In Idylls of the King, Vivien persuades Merlin to reveal a charm, then uses it to leave him trapped within a hollow oak.
In Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
How to recognise Merlin in stories
- Look for a prophet or magician guiding the young Arthur.
- Notice disguises, hidden identities, and warnings about the future.
- Watch for the wise adviser whose own magic becomes his trap.
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Is Merlin the same person in every Arthurian story?
No, Merlin’s history and character change between tellings. He may appear chiefly as a prophet, a magician, or Arthur’s adviser. His final confinement also varies: in Idylls of the King, Vivien traps him in an oak, while other accounts use a cave or stone enclosure.
Does Merlin give Arthur Excalibur?
Merlin helps Arthur obtain Excalibur in some familiar accounts, but he is not usually its giver. In Le Morte Darthur, he takes Arthur to the lake where a mysterious arm holds up the sword, and the Lady of the Lake arranges for Arthur to receive it.
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