Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander

 

Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander

Fantasy, Adventure

Ages 9-12

Grades 4-7

          Taran Wanderer is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Prydain series and may be my favorite, though I love the entire series. In this book, more than any other, Taran comes to a much deeper and clearer understanding of himself. Taran has always wanted to be noble, and increasingly so, as his love for Princess Elloway grows. Not knowing his identity, he sets out with faithful Gurgi to find the Mirror of Llunet.

            As Taran wanders through the length of Prydain he meets a wide variety of characters, from local rulers and a king to a wide range of craftsmen, a mad wizard, and a ruthless mercenary. From each one he learns valuable lessons about life and about himself. King Smot offers Taran to be his heir and Taran is tempted to accept the offer at first. Later Taran acquires the jewel that gave the mad wizard Morda his incredible power. Once again Taran is tempted to keep this power for himself, but he realizes that by right it belongs to the fairies and that a thing of such great power is not safe in any humans’ hands. Perhaps the greatest struggle Taran faces is with his encounter with the lame shepherd Craddoc. After Taran has helped him Craddoc tells him that he is his lost son. The tale seems probable, yet Taran is crushed to learn he is of lowly birth. Desperately wanting to leave, Taran stays, even to the point of saving Craddoc’s life after he falls over a cliff. In the end Craddoc admits the truth that he made up the story because he needed Taran’s help. At this point Taran decides not to continue his quest to find his heritage. He realizes it is not by birth that one becomes noble but by what one makes of himself.

            The last part of the book involves Taran’s journey through the Free Commons, a land of craftsmen who live independent of any lord. Here Taran learns the skills of a blacksmith, a weaver, and a potter. He also continues to learn many life lessons, the joys of humble labor, the patience of learning a craft, and the realization that none of these crafts bring him the fulfillment he is seeking.

            There is so much wisdom interwoven in this story combined with humor and great characterization. So many of the people Taran meets on this journey are well developed and we see Taran gradually leaving behind his self-preoccupation to develop into a mature man, with skills of true leadership. Without being didactic, this is a great story for young people learning to journey into a more mature understanding of themselves.

            There are fewer major battles in this book, as the major battle is the one going on inside Taran. Still, there are plenty of adventures and Taran is forced to defend himself against several enemies. When he finally does gaze into the Mirror of Llunet he sees himself, with the good and the bad that is within him. This helps him accept his orphan status and ignoble birth. He is no longer ashamed of himself and ready to accept his station in life. He remarks, “the folk of the Free Commons taught me well that manhood is not given but earned.” With that understanding he decides to return home to Caer Dallben.

 

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

Adventure, Fantasy

Grades 4-7

Ages 9-12

229 pages, paperback

c. 1965

        The Black Cauldron is a Newbery Honor Book and the second book in the Chronicles of Prydain series. This is a darker, more serious book than The Book of Three but there is also much humor which keeps it for being too heavy. This time Taran and his companions are facing a greater evil and the stakes are higher. It is decided that the Black Cauldron, which Arawn uses to create his deathless warriors, must be destroyed. To accomplish this the band, along with Gwydion and other strong warriors, must travel deep into Arawn's domain. Once there they discover someone else has already taken the Cauldron. Then begins the long quest to find the Cauldron and destroy it.

          All the main characters from the first book return and several new characters are added. Adaron, the son of the Chief Bard, is a noble young man full of wisdom and can see things in dreams. Prince Ellidry, the youngest son of his family and thus without much of an inheritance, is arrogant and prideful. There is constant tension between him and Taran for most of the book. King Morgant and King Smoit are renowned warriors, but where Smoit is good-natured Morgant is vain and tends to keep his own counsel.

As the company retreats, they are chased by Arawn’s guards as well as the dreaded Huntsmen of Annuvin, ruthless warriors who grow stronger when one of their company is killed. They escape but are separated from the rest of the warriors.  Eventually they learn that the Cauldron has been taken by three mysterious women and is now hidden in the dangerous Marshes of Morva. The choice to seek the Cauldron themselves is a difficult one and it is surprising that Adaon, who was put in charge of the band, defers to Taran who decides to go forward. On their way to the marshes Adaon asks Taran to take care of his few precious possessions should harm befall him. The most precious is a brooch he wears that helps him see things clearly and gives him wisdom in dreams. When Adaon saves Taran’s life from the Huntsmen and is mortally wounded and Taran wears the brooch he realizes just how precious it is. With his new wisdom Taran can lead the band safely through the dangerous marshes but is forced to make the difficult decision to give the brooch to the three enchantresses in return for the Cauldron. He then learns the only way to destroy the Cauldron, which was the intention from the start, is for a living person to willingly enter it to die. Devastated by this news they decide to bring the Cauldron back to Caer Dallben and hope the old enchanter Dallben has some wisdom about what to do with it.

The task of carrying the Cauldron is nearly impossible and requires Taran to give up all hope of being a hero as he must promise to Ellidyr, whose help and strength is needed when the Cauldron gets stuck in the mud, to say that it was Ellidyr who found the Cauldron. Ellidyr had earlier abandoned the group to seek the Cauldron himself. Another significant betrayal occurs as they near the end of their journey, illustrating the power of the Cauldron to tempt good men to evil in their quest for power.  Just as good men can turn to evil so an evil man can repent and from an unexpected source comes a willing victim to enter the Cauldron and destroy it.

There is much action in this story but what really drives the story is the characters and the difficult choices they must make. Alexander presents issues of friendship, loyalty, honor, and self-sacrifice in compelling but not didactic ways. He raises questions of what is heroic, good leadership and how to judge those who turn from good to evil and evil to good. Taran began the quest for the Cauldron with his new sword, given by Dallben, full of excitement and hope for glory. He returns much sobered and wiser from the adventure. He comments to Gwydion, “I had longed to enter the world of men. Now I see it filled with sorrow, with cruelty and treachery, with those who would destroy all around them.” Gwydion also reminds him “but there are equal parts of love and joy. Think of Adaron and believe this. Think , too, of your companions. Out of friendship for you, they would have given up all they valued; indeed all they possessed.”

 

 

Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Adventure, Fantasy

grade 4-7

ages 9-12

190 pages, paperback

c. 1964

            The Book of Three is the first book in the five- book series called The Chronicles of Prydain. It is a classic epic fantasy adventure for younger readers and can be enjoyed by older readers as well. It is inspired by Welsh mythology but is not a retelling of the Welsh myths. I think one of its best elements are the characters and especially how the main character, Taran, develops throughout the series. I also find the theme of the true cost involved in the battle against evil to be both inspiring and a more realistic view than what is often shown in the superhero world.

            The Book of Three introduces the main characters that will continue through the series and establishes the main conflict between the forces of good and evil that are fighting for control of the imaginary land of Prydain. All the major characters are well developed and shown with their virtues and weaknesses, often in a comical way. Taran, who is given the title of Assistant Pig-Keeper, because he longs to be important and heroic, is stubborn, impatient, prideful, and sometimes rude. He also tends to blame others for his mistakes. By the end of his adventure he has grown in kindness, learned some leadership skills, and takes responsibility for his own mistakes, and sometimes those of others as well. He also develops a more accurate picture of what a hero really is.  Eilonwy is a strong-willed, opinionated, talkative, and somewhat scatterbrained princess. She is also an enchantress. During their journey she too grows in her ability to be kinder, generous, and self-sacrificing. Gurgi is a curious character, part man and part beast. In the beginning he is cowardly, whinny, and mostly interested in getting fed. As Taran learns to treat him with kindness and respect he becomes a loyal, brave, and selfless member of the company. Fflewddur Fflam is a king bored with his duties, and a would-be bard given to excessive exaggerations about his bravery and accomplishments. He also becomes a truly brave, loyal, and selfless companion.

            There are also other characters taken from the Welsh legends. Gwydion, the noble warrior, and prince of Prydain's House of Don, Arawn, the dread lord of Annuvin, the land of the dead, the Horned King, war leader of Arawn, Hen Wen, the oracular pig under Taran’s care and Dallben, the old enchanter who has taken care of Taran since infancy. Gwyn the Hunter and his hounds also have some bases in Welsh Mythology. Their presence normally signifies death.

            Taran’s adventures begin when Hen Wen becomes frightened and runs off into the forest. Taran immediately runs after her though he has been forbidden to enter the forest. He quickly becomes lost, encounters and is wounded by the Horned King then found and helped by Gwydion. Taran is initially disappointed by Gwydion modest appearance but gradually comes to realize “it is not the trappings that make the prince, nor the sword that makes the warrior.” Gwydion needs to find Hen Wen to discover what she knows of the Horned King and since it is too dangerous to send Taran home himself it is decided that they will both seek Hen Wen. They are captured and separated. Taran meets the Princess Eilonwy, who helps him escape from the dungeon, the bard Fflewddur Fflam, and Gurgi, half man half beast. Believing that Gwydion is dead they decide to travel to Caer Dathyl to warn the Sons of Don that the Horned King and his army of Cauldron Born, deathless warriors, are coming to attack them.

            Taran and his companions face many dangers as they continue their perilous journey trying to avoid running into the Horned King and his warriors. Along the way Taran makes some bad and some good decisions. In the end the companions, by working together, do reach their destination. Through Taran eyes we see that that to be a great hero one does not need to be the greatest swordsman or most powerful magician. It is our choices that make us heroes and our friends and companions who make us great, and these lessons are told with a generous dose of humor. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

           

The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander

The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander

Adventure, Fantasy

age 11-14

grade 6-9

280 pages, hardcover

c. 1997

          Lloyd Alexander is one of my favorite authors. I have read and enjoyed many of his books and hope to blog on more of them in the future. I think The Iron Ring is one of his more complicated books due to it being rooted in the mythology of ancient India and the philosophical questions it raises.

            The Iron Ring is a tale of adventure, magic, romance and treachery, but mostly the journey of Tamar, the king of Sundari, in self-awareness and the understanding of honor. The story begins when a mysterious king arrives in Sundari in the middle of the night with his elephants and courtiers and demands an immediate audience with Tamar. The king, Jaya, insists they play a dice game of chance. Though Tamar is winning and wants to stop Jaya demands one more game in which Tamar loses and forfeits his life to Jaya. An iron ring immediately appears on Tamar’s finger. Tamar is now honor bound to travel to Jaya’s mysterious kingdom and accept the fate that awaits him there. In the morning no one in the palace remembers this night visit and they all encourage Tamar not to make the journey. However, according to his warrior’s code of honor Tamar feels he must go and sets out on the journey.

            Along the way Tamar will be accompanied with a great variety of interesting characters, some of them human and some talking animals. Among the more humorous of the animals are Hashkat, the thieving, lazy but amazingly loyal monkey king and Garada, the ugly, annoying and whiny eagle who has a soft spot for the beautiful, brave and cunning milkmaid Mirri. He also encounters the heroic and wise deposed king Ashwara, from whom he gains a more mature concept of honor, true justice and compassion. On the eve of a great battle against his brother who has usurped his throne Ashwara comments, “And yet… a throne, a kingdom, what are they worth in blood? Is it honor that demands such a price? Or arrogance? Is it truly dharma that compels me? Or wrath? Can a warrior’s virtue lead to evil ends? Have I misunderstood what I thought I knew?” In the end Tamar will confront a truly evil king but in a way that is a spiritual victory. The description of this great battle makes it clear that Alexander believes that killing is not the path to victory. Tamar’s final meeting with the mysterious king Jaya also challenges the reader to consider questions about reality and illusion.

            There is much to enjoy in this book from exciting adventure scenes to wise cracking conversations between the animals. There is magic and fantasy and cold realism in the way the lower caste people are viewed and treated and the evil cruelty of the treacherous king. Finally there is love, the loyalty and bravery of true friends and much real wisdom.