Reminds Me of HP ~ Sir Bedivere and the Sword
This time let's look at Snape as a character from Arthurian Legend. We know that JKR drew on the tales of King Arthur for several character names including Arthur Weasley of course, his daughter Ginevra (Guinivere) and even Ron, taken from the name of Arthur's "spear" called Rhongomyniad.
And for those who would say that James was braver than Snape, please realize that although James aspired as a boy to wield the Sword of Gryffindor, the only people we ever see using it in any way are Harry, Ron, Neville, and yes, Severus Snape. Those are the "worthy" Gryffindor types, and that's why in the end, James is not "the bravest man" Harry ever knew, but Snape was.
JKR said she could not bear to kill Arthur off in the books, but she did have him attacked by a giant snake in OotP so that his safety was in doubt. The character she eventually killed off with the snake was Severus Snape, but before he dies, he does something quite interesting with the Sword of Gryffindor that is a direct reference to the legends of Arthur.
Sir Bedivere Throws Excalibur into the Water
Where it is Caught by the Lady of the Lake
I love all the Snakey-Slytherin Designs on These Swords!
Read Much More Under the Cut...
And in the following version there is also an "adder" type snake that creeps out in battle to kill a knight:
From Sacred Texts: The End of it All
. . . So King Arthur leaped on his horse, and Sir Mordred on his, and they went back to their own armies, and thus began the fight, and never was there seen one more doleful in any Christian land. For all day long there was rushing and riding, spearing and striking, and many a grim word was there spoken, and many a deadly stroke given. And at the end full an hundred thousand dead men lay upon the down, and King Arthur had but two Knights left living, Sir Lucan and his brother, Sir Bedivere. 'Alas! that I should have lived to see this day,' cried the King, 'for now I am come to mine end; but would to God that I knew where were that traitor Sir Mordred that hath caused all this mischief.' Then suddenly he saw Sir Mordred leaning on his sword among a great heap of dead men.
'Give me my spear,' said King Arthur unto Sir Lucan.
'Sir, let him be,' answered Sir Lucan. 'Remember your dream, and leave off by this. For, blessed be God, you have won the field, and we three be alive, and of the others none is alive save Sir Mordred himself. If you leave off now, the day of destiny is past.'
'Tide me death, tide me life,' said the King, 'he shall not escape my hands, for a better chance I shall never have,' and he took his spear in both hands and ran towards Sir Mordred, crying 'Traitor! now is your death day come,' and smote him under the shield, so that the spear went through his body. And when Sir Mordred felt he had his death wound, he raised himself up and struck King Arthur such a blow that the sword clave his helmet, and then fell stark dead on the earth again. When Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere saw that sight they carried the King to a little chapel, but they hoped not to leave him there long, for Sir Lucan had noted that many people were stealing out to rob the slain of the ornaments on their armour. And those that were not dead already they slew.
'Would that I could quit this place to go to some large town,' said the King, when he had heard this, 'but I cannot stand, my head works so. Ah, Lancelot, sorely have I missed thee.' At that Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere tried to lift him, but Sir Lucan had been grievously wounded in the fight, and the blood burst forth again as he lifted Arthur, and he died and fell at the feet of the King.
'Alas!' said the King, 'he has died for my sake, and he had more need of help than I. But he would not complain, his heart was so set to help me. And I should sorrow yet more if I were still to live long, but my time flieth fast. Therefore, Sir Bedivere, cease moaning and weeping, and take Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou hast seen.'
'My lord,' answered Sir Bedivere, 'your commandment shall be done,' and he departed. But when he looked at that noble sword, and beheld the jewels and gold that covered the pommel and hilt, he said to himself, 'If I throw this rich sword into the water no good will come of it, but only harm and loss'; so he hid Excalibur under a tree, and returned unto the King and told him his bidding was done. 'What did you see there?' asked the King.
'Sir,' answered Sir Bedivere, 'I saw nothing but the winds and waves.'
'You have not dealt truly with me,' said the King.
'Go back, and do my command; spare not, but throw it in.' But again Sir Bedivere's heart failed him, and he hid the sword, and returned to tell the King he had seen nothing but the wan water.
'Ah, traitor!' cried King Arthur, 'this is twice you have betrayed me. If you do not now fulfil my bidding, with mine own hands will I slay you, for you would gladly see me dead for the sake of my sword.' Then Sir Bedivere was shamed at having disobeyed the King, and drew forth the sword from its hiding place, and carried it to the water side, and with a mighty swing threw it far into the water. And as it flew through the air, an arm and hand lifted itself out of the water, and caught the hilt, and brandished the sword thrice, and vanished with it beneath the water. So Sir Bedivere came again unto the King, and told him what he saw.
'Alas!' said the King, 'help me hence, for I have tarried overlong,' and Sir Bedivere took him on his back, and bare him to the water side. And when they stood by the bank, a little barge containing many fair ladies and a Queen, all in black hoods, drew near, and they wept and shrieked when they beheld King Arthur.
'Now put me into the barge,' said the King, and Sir Bedivere laid him softly down, and the ladies made great mourning and the barge rowed from the land.
'Ah, my lord Arthur!' cried Sir Bedivere, 'what shall become of me now you go from me, and I am left here alone with my enemies?'
'Comfort yourself,' replied the King, 'and do as well as you may, for I go unto the valley of Avilion, to be healed of my grievous wound. And if you never more hear of me, pray for my soul.' But Sir Bedivere watched the barge till it was beyond his sight, then he rode all night till he came to a hermitage.
In this case, when Albus (not Arthur) dies, he tells Severus through his painting in the Headmaster's Office that Severus needs to take the Sword of Gryffindor to Harry, but to not make it too easy to retrieve it because it can only be won through valor. This is a direct parallel to Arthurian legend and the Death of Arthur, when the dying king told Sir Bedivere to take his sword Excalibur and throw it into the lake - a Viking tradition for a dying hero. In the story, the hand of the magical "Lady of the Lake" rises out of the water to catch the sword when Bedivere threw it in. There are many variations and names connected to this story as well - in the movie Excalibur the knight is named "Percival" - and of course Ron has a brother named Percy. In some non-English versions of HP, Snape's name is "Perselus," and of course his name is an anagram for "Perseus Evans."
In the Arthurian stories, Bedivere is weak and cannot complete his task. In OUR story, the plan is Snape's from the beginning and he doesn't hesitate. Amazingly enough, the boy who actually uses the sword to destroy the horcrux is the boy for whom the song "Weasley is our King" was written - Ron, the "spear" of Arthur.
Harry is led to the sword by the Silver Doe, and white deer are also part of Arthurian Legends. In fact, Harry's dream of following a "bright" creature through a dark wood in PoA foreshadows "The Silver Doe" and echoes this dream that King Arthur had as a boy. JKR just changes it from a "Hart" (stag) to a Doe - which interestingly represents Snape's "heart."
Sacred Texts: The Questing Beast
He thought that the land was over-run with gryphons and serpents which burnt and slew his people, and be made war on the monsters, and was sorely wounded, though at last he killed them all. When he awoke the remembrance of his dream was heavy upon him, and to shake it off he summoned his Knights to hunt with him, and they rode fast till they reached a forest. Soon they spied a hart before them, which the King claimed as his game, and he spurred his horse and rode after him. But the hart ran fast and the King could not get near it, and the chase lasted so long that the King himself grew heavy and his horse fell dead under him. Then he sat under a tree and rested, till he heard the baying of hounds, and fancied he counted as many as thirty of them. He raised his head to look, and, coming towards him, saw a beast so strange that its like was not to be found throughout his kingdom. It went straight to the well and drank, making as it did so the noise of many hounds baying, and when it had drunk its fill the beast went its way.
While the King was wondering what sort of a beast this could be, a Knight rode by, who, seeing a man lying under a tree, stopped and said to him: 'Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if a strange beast has passed this way?'
'Yes, truly,' answered Arthur,' and by now it must be two miles distant. What do you want with it?'
'Oh sir, I have followed that beast from far,' replied he, 'and have ridden my horse to death. If only I could find another I would still go after it.' As he spoke a squire came up leading a fresh horse for the King, and when the Knight saw it he prayed that it might be given to him, 'for,' said he, 'I have followed this quest this twelvemonth, and either I shall slay him or he will slay me.'
What's important there is that the deer eventually leads Arthur to a "beast" he must slay before it slays him. In the HP books, we can follow the progression of Harry with his stag patronus, then Snape with his silver doe patronus, directly to the final showdown with Voldemort - the beast of the story. That goes back to Snape's description of evil as a multi-headed beast which must be slain by cutting off it's head, which later Neville does to Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor, thus removing the last horcrux of Lord Voldemort.
And for those who would say that James was braver than Snape, please realize that although James aspired as a boy to wield the Sword of Gryffindor, the only people we ever see using it in any way are Harry, Ron, Neville, and yes, Severus Snape. Those are the "worthy" Gryffindor types, and that's why in the end, James is not "the bravest man" Harry ever knew, but Snape was.
JKR said she could not bear to kill Arthur off in the books, but she did have him attacked by a giant snake in OotP so that his safety was in doubt. The character she eventually killed off with the snake was Severus Snape, but before he dies, he does something quite interesting with the Sword of Gryffindor that is a direct reference to the legends of Arthur.
Sir Bedivere Throws Excalibur into the Water
Where it is Caught by the Lady of the Lake
I love all the Snakey-Slytherin Designs on These Swords!
Click to viewRead Much More Under the Cut...
And in the following version there is also an "adder" type snake that creeps out in battle to kill a knight:
From Sacred Texts: The End of it All
. . . So King Arthur leaped on his horse, and Sir Mordred on his, and they went back to their own armies, and thus began the fight, and never was there seen one more doleful in any Christian land. For all day long there was rushing and riding, spearing and striking, and many a grim word was there spoken, and many a deadly stroke given. And at the end full an hundred thousand dead men lay upon the down, and King Arthur had but two Knights left living, Sir Lucan and his brother, Sir Bedivere. 'Alas! that I should have lived to see this day,' cried the King, 'for now I am come to mine end; but would to God that I knew where were that traitor Sir Mordred that hath caused all this mischief.' Then suddenly he saw Sir Mordred leaning on his sword among a great heap of dead men.
'Give me my spear,' said King Arthur unto Sir Lucan.
'Sir, let him be,' answered Sir Lucan. 'Remember your dream, and leave off by this. For, blessed be God, you have won the field, and we three be alive, and of the others none is alive save Sir Mordred himself. If you leave off now, the day of destiny is past.'
'Tide me death, tide me life,' said the King, 'he shall not escape my hands, for a better chance I shall never have,' and he took his spear in both hands and ran towards Sir Mordred, crying 'Traitor! now is your death day come,' and smote him under the shield, so that the spear went through his body. And when Sir Mordred felt he had his death wound, he raised himself up and struck King Arthur such a blow that the sword clave his helmet, and then fell stark dead on the earth again. When Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere saw that sight they carried the King to a little chapel, but they hoped not to leave him there long, for Sir Lucan had noted that many people were stealing out to rob the slain of the ornaments on their armour. And those that were not dead already they slew.
'Would that I could quit this place to go to some large town,' said the King, when he had heard this, 'but I cannot stand, my head works so. Ah, Lancelot, sorely have I missed thee.' At that Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere tried to lift him, but Sir Lucan had been grievously wounded in the fight, and the blood burst forth again as he lifted Arthur, and he died and fell at the feet of the King.
'Alas!' said the King, 'he has died for my sake, and he had more need of help than I. But he would not complain, his heart was so set to help me. And I should sorrow yet more if I were still to live long, but my time flieth fast. Therefore, Sir Bedivere, cease moaning and weeping, and take Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou hast seen.'
'My lord,' answered Sir Bedivere, 'your commandment shall be done,' and he departed. But when he looked at that noble sword, and beheld the jewels and gold that covered the pommel and hilt, he said to himself, 'If I throw this rich sword into the water no good will come of it, but only harm and loss'; so he hid Excalibur under a tree, and returned unto the King and told him his bidding was done. 'What did you see there?' asked the King.
'Sir,' answered Sir Bedivere, 'I saw nothing but the winds and waves.'
'You have not dealt truly with me,' said the King.
'Go back, and do my command; spare not, but throw it in.' But again Sir Bedivere's heart failed him, and he hid the sword, and returned to tell the King he had seen nothing but the wan water.
'Ah, traitor!' cried King Arthur, 'this is twice you have betrayed me. If you do not now fulfil my bidding, with mine own hands will I slay you, for you would gladly see me dead for the sake of my sword.' Then Sir Bedivere was shamed at having disobeyed the King, and drew forth the sword from its hiding place, and carried it to the water side, and with a mighty swing threw it far into the water. And as it flew through the air, an arm and hand lifted itself out of the water, and caught the hilt, and brandished the sword thrice, and vanished with it beneath the water. So Sir Bedivere came again unto the King, and told him what he saw.
'Alas!' said the King, 'help me hence, for I have tarried overlong,' and Sir Bedivere took him on his back, and bare him to the water side. And when they stood by the bank, a little barge containing many fair ladies and a Queen, all in black hoods, drew near, and they wept and shrieked when they beheld King Arthur.
'Now put me into the barge,' said the King, and Sir Bedivere laid him softly down, and the ladies made great mourning and the barge rowed from the land.
'Ah, my lord Arthur!' cried Sir Bedivere, 'what shall become of me now you go from me, and I am left here alone with my enemies?'
'Comfort yourself,' replied the King, 'and do as well as you may, for I go unto the valley of Avilion, to be healed of my grievous wound. And if you never more hear of me, pray for my soul.' But Sir Bedivere watched the barge till it was beyond his sight, then he rode all night till he came to a hermitage.
In this case, when Albus (not Arthur) dies, he tells Severus through his painting in the Headmaster's Office that Severus needs to take the Sword of Gryffindor to Harry, but to not make it too easy to retrieve it because it can only be won through valor. This is a direct parallel to Arthurian legend and the Death of Arthur, when the dying king told Sir Bedivere to take his sword Excalibur and throw it into the lake - a Viking tradition for a dying hero. In the story, the hand of the magical "Lady of the Lake" rises out of the water to catch the sword when Bedivere threw it in. There are many variations and names connected to this story as well - in the movie Excalibur the knight is named "Percival" - and of course Ron has a brother named Percy. In some non-English versions of HP, Snape's name is "Perselus," and of course his name is an anagram for "Perseus Evans."
In the Arthurian stories, Bedivere is weak and cannot complete his task. In OUR story, the plan is Snape's from the beginning and he doesn't hesitate. Amazingly enough, the boy who actually uses the sword to destroy the horcrux is the boy for whom the song "Weasley is our King" was written - Ron, the "spear" of Arthur.
Harry is led to the sword by the Silver Doe, and white deer are also part of Arthurian Legends. In fact, Harry's dream of following a "bright" creature through a dark wood in PoA foreshadows "The Silver Doe" and echoes this dream that King Arthur had as a boy. JKR just changes it from a "Hart" (stag) to a Doe - which interestingly represents Snape's "heart."
Sacred Texts: The Questing Beast
He thought that the land was over-run with gryphons and serpents which burnt and slew his people, and be made war on the monsters, and was sorely wounded, though at last he killed them all. When he awoke the remembrance of his dream was heavy upon him, and to shake it off he summoned his Knights to hunt with him, and they rode fast till they reached a forest. Soon they spied a hart before them, which the King claimed as his game, and he spurred his horse and rode after him. But the hart ran fast and the King could not get near it, and the chase lasted so long that the King himself grew heavy and his horse fell dead under him. Then he sat under a tree and rested, till he heard the baying of hounds, and fancied he counted as many as thirty of them. He raised his head to look, and, coming towards him, saw a beast so strange that its like was not to be found throughout his kingdom. It went straight to the well and drank, making as it did so the noise of many hounds baying, and when it had drunk its fill the beast went its way.
While the King was wondering what sort of a beast this could be, a Knight rode by, who, seeing a man lying under a tree, stopped and said to him: 'Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if a strange beast has passed this way?'
'Yes, truly,' answered Arthur,' and by now it must be two miles distant. What do you want with it?'
'Oh sir, I have followed that beast from far,' replied he, 'and have ridden my horse to death. If only I could find another I would still go after it.' As he spoke a squire came up leading a fresh horse for the King, and when the Knight saw it he prayed that it might be given to him, 'for,' said he, 'I have followed this quest this twelvemonth, and either I shall slay him or he will slay me.'
What's important there is that the deer eventually leads Arthur to a "beast" he must slay before it slays him. In the HP books, we can follow the progression of Harry with his stag patronus, then Snape with his silver doe patronus, directly to the final showdown with Voldemort - the beast of the story. That goes back to Snape's description of evil as a multi-headed beast which must be slain by cutting off it's head, which later Neville does to Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor, thus removing the last horcrux of Lord Voldemort.