Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron: A Discussion Guide By David Bruce SMASHWORDS EDITION Copyright 2010 by Bruce D. Bruce Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. Dedicated with Love to Caleb Bruce ••• The Black Cauldron, by Lloyd Alexander A Newbery Honor Book Preface The purpose of this book is educational. I enjoy reading Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron, and I believe that it is an excellent book for children (and for adults such as myself) to read. This book contains many questions about Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron and their answers. I hope that teachers of children will find it useful as a guide for discussions. It can also be used for short writing assignments. Students can answer selected questions from this little guide orally or in one or more paragraphs. I hope to encourage teachers to teach Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron, and I hope to lessen the time needed for teachers to prepare to teach this book. This book uses many short quotations from Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron. This use is consistent with fair use: § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use Release date: 2004-04-30 Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include — (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors. Source of Fair Use information: <http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/us c_sec_17_00000107 — — 000-.html>. This is a royalty-free book, and I will let anyone download it for free. Introduction to Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron Who is Lloyd Alexander? Of course, Lloyd Alexander is the author of The Black Cauldron and the other books of the Prydain Chronicles. He has written many, many well-loved books of children’s literature. An excellent source of information about Lloyd Alexander comes from this website maintained by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers: http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-alexander-lloyd.asp In the article on this website, Mr. Alexander talks about his early life: My parents were horrified when I told them I wanted to be an author. I was fifteen in my last year of high school. My family pleaded with me to forget literature and do something sensible such as find some sort of useful work. I had no idea how to find work useful or otherwise. In fact I had no idea how to become an author. If reading offered any preparation for writing there were grounds for hope. I had been reading as long as I could remember. Shakespeare, Dickens, Mark Twain, and so many others were my dearest friends and greatest teachers. I loved all the world’s mythologies; King Arthur was one of my heroes; I played with a trash can lid for a knightly shield and my uncle’s cane for the sword Excalibur. But I was afraid that not even Merlin the enchanter could transform me into a writer. (kidsreads.com) Fortunately, he became a writer, and fortunately for fans of the Prydain Chronicles, he discovered mythology. Again, Mr. Alexander says, “It was as if all the hero tales, games, dreams, and imaginings of my childhood had suddenly come back to me” (kidsreads.com). The Chronicles of Prydain are set in a land loosely based on Wales. Mr. Alexander identifies the special concern in his writings: My concern is how we learn to be genuine human beings. I never have found out all I want to know about writing and realize I never will. All that writers can do is keep trying to say what is deepest in their hearts. If writers learn more from their books than do readers, perhaps I may have begun to learn. (kidsreads.com) What is the Prydain Chronicles? The Prydain Chronicles are a series of books that Lloyd Alexander has written about the mythical land of Prydain, which resembles Wales. In the Prydain Chronicles, the main character, named Taran, grows to adulthood. These are the books in the series: The Book of Three (1964) The Black Cauldron (1965; a Newbery Honor book) The Castle of Llyr (1966) Tarn Wanderer (1967) The High King (1968; A Newbery Medal book) The Newbery Medal goes to the author of the most distinguished American contribution to children’s literature in a certain year. Runners-up are given Newbery Honor status. In addition, Mr. Alexander wrote a prequel to the Chronicles of Prydain: The Foundling: and Other Tales of Prydain Mr. Alexander died on May 17, 2007. General Comments on The Black Cauldron: • We have the power to change. A good person can become bad. A bad person can become good. • We see altruism in action. • We see that a person can dislike war, but the person will not hesitate to fight in a war that is fought for good reasons. • A person can be too proud. However, proper pride can exist. Philosophical Underpinnings: • Children’s Literature can teach (it is didactic). • Good and evil exist. • We can choose whether to be good or evil. • We can choose to be altruistic. • A bad person can become good; a good person can become bad. • In judging a person, keep in mind the good that they have done. (We learn this lesson from Prince Gwydion.) • Working together in a group can be more important than going it alone. Definitions: “Prydain” is the medieval word used by the Welsh for the island of Britain. Here are some definitions of the word “pride” from the World Wide Web: • a feeling of self-respect and personal worth • satisfaction with your (or another’s) achievements; “he takes pride in his son’s success” • the trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards • be proud of; “He prides himself on making it into law school” Source: wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn Date Downloaded: 30 May 2010 Here is a definition of the word “pride” as a negative trait: unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins) Source: wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn Date Downloaded: 30 May 2010 Note: Of course, I am relying on the teacher to make this material age-appropriate should the teacher use any of the material in this discussion guide. Note: Of course, I am relying on the teacher to make this material age-appropriate should the teacher use any of the material in this discussion guide. Also, of course, it is important for the teacher to make reading this children’s novel enjoyable. Let us remember what Lucy Mangan, a Guardian columnist and a person who loves to read, wrote about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Michelle Magorian’s Good Night. Mr. Tom, “But as someone who still cannot fully enjoy Pride and Prejudice for the ghosts of annotated underlinings that still appear before my GCSE-affrighted eyes 20 years on, I beg you — please, please offer Magorian’s masterpiece to your readers before their teachers do, and let them feel the joy.” Source of Quotation: Lucy Mangan, “No 34: Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian (1981).” Guardian (UK). 12 June 2009 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/13/book- corner-goodnight-mr-tom>. Author’s Note • What are the author’s reasons for the “darker thread” running through this book, the second volume of the Chronicles of Prydain? Quite simply, although this is a book for children, it addresses important themes. Mr. Alexander writes, Although an imaginary world, Prydain is essentially not too different from our real one, where humor and heartbreak, joy and sadness are closely interwoven. The choices and decisions that face a frequently baffled Assistant Pig- Keeper are no easier than the ones we ourselves must make. Even in a fantasy world, growing up is not accomplished without cost. Deaths will occur in The Black Cauldron, and readers will see evil deeds and evil people. In our real world, we have death, evil deeds, and evil people. However, in The Black Cauldron, and in our real world, we also see humor and joy, and heroes, and good deeds and good people. Good and evil can — and do — exist in the same world. The genre of the Prydain Chronicles is fantasy novels. Novels are long fictional works of prose that tell a story. Fantasies include fantastic elements such as magic and wizards. Fantasies are not realistic (that is, about the real world), but they can address such themes as honor, courage, love, pride, and good and evil that are concerns of people who live in the real world. Fantasy novels can teach. Chapter 1: The Council at Caer Dallben • What does “caer” mean? “Caer” is a Welsh term that can be translated as a royal residence. Often, it can be translated as castle, palace, or fort. It can be the home of a king, or it can be a fortification. Caer Dallben is the home of Dallben. It is not fancy. From The Book of Three, we know that it is protected by Dallben’s sorcery. It has a room (Dallben’s chamber) big enough for the leaders and warriors and Taran to meet in a council of men. However, Caer Dallben cannot be huge because Eilonwy is the only female there (26). Apparently, Dallben, Coll, Taran, and Eilonwy are the only residents there. The Prydain books can remind the reader of Wales, which inspired Lloyd Alexander; however, Prydain is not Wales. • How has Taran changed since the end of The Book of Three? Taran is older, and he has grown. He is now old enough to sit in a council of men. In the Prydain Chronicles, Taran begins as a boy and ends as a young man of an age to be married. Taran does have pride, and he is still impetuous. • Write a short character analysis of Ellidyr. Ellidyr is only a few years older than Taran. Ellidyr has a horse named Islimach. Ellidyr’s clothing is old and patched now, but it was once fine clothing. Apparently, his heritage is noble, but he has little wealth. Ellidyr is proud and arrogant. He calls Taran “pig-boy” (1, etc.) and impolitely orders him around. He judges Taran by his occupation, which is taking care of a pig. True, Taran is an Assistant Pig-Keeper, but those who have read The Book of Three know that he is also a hero. Similarly, Coll is stout and bald, but Coll is also a hero. We should be careful not to judge solely by appearances. Taking care of pigs and cultivating a garden are important jobs, and Taran and Coll do these jobs. Growing food is one of the most important jobs in the world. (Of course, taking care of an oracular pig such as Hen Wen is also important.) Without food, would people be able to be teachers and students? And Eilonwy works in the kitchen, although she is a princess. Ellidyr is mistaken when he says, “A pig is a pig” (2). Hen Wen is an oracular pig that can call forth visions of importance. Ellidyr’s pride leads him to humiliate Taran in front of Eilonwy. When Taran answers him sharply, Ellidyr seizes the front of Taran’s jacket, carries him to Caer Dallben, then drops him roughly to the ground and says to Dallben, “Are you Dallben? I have brought your pig-boy to be thrashed for his insolence” (3). Ellidyr is strong. When he has Taran by the front of his jacket, Taran struggles but cannot release himself. Note that Lloyd Alexander does something that good writers do — he shows us something, rather than merely telling us something. (Of course, it is OK to both show and tell.) Mr. Alexander shows us that Ellidyr is proud through the way that Ellidyr acts and speaks. • Compare and contrast Taran and Ellidyr. Taran is the hero of the Prydain Chronicles. He is not perfect, but we know and like him. Ellidyr makes a very bad first impression. We discover that he is proud — and not in a good way. His pride leads him to mistreat Taran. Both are young. Ellidyr is only a few years older than Taran. • Who are these characters whom we have met before? Taran Taran is an Assistant Pig-Keeper who grows up during the course of the Prydain Chronicles. Hen Wen Hen Wen is an oracular pig that can cause (or conduit) visions of importance. Dallben Dallben is a wise man and a sorcerer who meditates frequently, especially while lying down after meals. He is famous and well respected. Coll Coll takes care of Dallben. He grows vegetables and is Pig- Keeper. He is stout and baldheaded, and he is also a warrior and a hero. Bards sing songs about him. Princess Eilonwy