|
Dallben
''The Chronicles of Prydain'' is a pentalogy of children's high fantasy Bildungsroman novels written by American author Lloyd Alexander and published by Henry Holt and Company. The series includes: '' The Book of Three'' (1964), ''The Black Cauldron'' (1965), '' The Castle of Llyr'' (1966), '' Taran Wanderer'' (1967), and '' The High King'' (1968). ''The Black Cauldron'' earned a 1966 Newbery Honor, and ''The High King'' won the 1969 Newbery Medal. The five novels take place in Prydain, a fictional country ruled by a High King who oversees several minor kingdoms. The setting is based on Wales and inhabited by creatures and characters inspired by Welsh mythology and folklore. The series follows the protagonist Taran, a youth of unknown parentage living on a farm with an old enchanter named Dallben and a farmer named Coll. Taran, who dreams of being a great hero, is named "Assistant Pig-Keeper" and tasked with helping to care for and protect Hen Wen, a white oracular pig magi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doli (fictional Character)
''The Chronicles of Prydain'' is a pentalogy of children's high fantasy Bildungsroman novels written by American author Lloyd Alexander and published by Henry Holt and Company. The series includes: '' The Book of Three'' (1964), ''The Black Cauldron'' (1965), '' The Castle of Llyr'' (1966), '' Taran Wanderer'' (1967), and '' The High King'' (1968). ''The Black Cauldron'' earned a 1966 Newbery Honor, and ''The High King'' won the 1969 Newbery Medal. The five novels take place in Prydain, a fictional country ruled by a High King who oversees several minor kingdoms. The setting is based on Wales and inhabited by creatures and characters inspired by Welsh mythology and folklore. The series follows the protagonist Taran, a youth of unknown parentage living on a farm with an old enchanter named Dallben and a farmer named Coll. Taran, who dreams of being a great hero, is named "Assistant Pig-Keeper" and tasked with helping to care for and protect Hen Wen, a white oracular pig magically ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Black Cauldron (film)
''The Black Cauldron'' is a 1985 American animated dark fantasy adventure film directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions in association with Silver Screen Partners II and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 25th Disney animated feature film, it is loosely based on the first two books in '' The Chronicles of Prydain'' by Lloyd Alexander, a series of five novels that are, in turn, based on Welsh mythology. Set in the mythical land of Prydain during the Early Middle Ages, the film centers on a wicked emperor known as the Horned King, who hopes to secure an ancient magical cauldron that will aid him in his desire to conquer the world. He is opposed by young swineherder Taran, the young Princess Eilonwy, the harp-playing bard Fflewddur Fflam, and a friendly wild creature named Gurgi, who seek to destroy the cauldron to prevent the Horned King from ruling the world. The film is directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich, who had dire ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taran (character)
Taran is a fictional character from Lloyd Alexander's ''The Chronicles of Prydain'' series of novels. Serving as the series's central protagonist, he is first introduced as the assistant pig-keeper at Caer Dallben charged with the care of Hen Wen, the oracular white pig. With dreams of becoming a great hero, over the course of the series, his character matures as he is drawn into the war against Arawn Death-Lord and his champion, the Horned King. During his journey, he befriends Princess Eilonwy, a young girl his age, Fflewddur Fflam, a wandering bard and minor king, Gurgi, a wild creature between animal and man, and the dwarf Doli. Upon the conclusion of the series, Taran is crowned High King of Prydain and marries Eilonwy. Appearances in literature Background and characteristics Taran is a young man in late adolescence, who lives with the enchanter Dallben and the aged warrior Coll. He is charged with taking care of the oracular pig Hen Wen and throughout the series is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The High King
''The High King'' (1968) is a high fantasy novel by American writer Lloyd Alexander, the fifth and last of ''The Chronicles of Prydain''. It was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1969. The series follows the adventures of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, as he nears manhood while helping to resist the forces of Arawn Death-Lord. In the concluding volume Taran and companions join the rest of Prydain in a great effort to defeat Arawn directly. Finally Taran must decide whether to be High King. Thirty years later, Alexander explained to Scholastic students: "The High King was the final logical development of the first four books in the Prydain Chronicles. It was not an easy book to write, but at least I was building on a foundation that I had already made. I never considered a different ending ...". He did cry afterward, as the exchange implies many readers have done. After seven years "the characters were as close to me as my own fami ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Book Of Three
''The Book of Three'' (1964) is a high fantasy novel by American writer Lloyd Alexander, the first of five volumes in ''The Chronicles of Prydain''. The series follows the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper, a youth raised by Dallben the enchanter, as he nears manhood while helping to resist the forces of Arawn Death-Lord. The book provided many elements of plot for the 1985 Disney animated feature '' The Black Cauldron''. Origins The series was inspired by Welsh mythology and by the castles, scenery, and language of Wales, which the author experienced during World War II army combat intelligence training. The planned title of the first book was originally ''The Battle of the Trees''. Plot summary The youth Taran lives at Caer Dallben with his guardians, the ancient enchanter Dallben and the farmer and retired soldier Coll. Taran is dissatisfied with his life, and longs to become a great hero like the High Prince Gwydion. Due to the threat posed by a warlord known a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Black Cauldron (novel)
''The Black Cauldron'' (1965) is a high fantasy novel by American writer Lloyd Alexander, the second of five volumes in ''The Chronicles of Prydain''. The story continues the adventures of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, as he joins in a quest to capture the eponymous Magical Cauldron from Arawn Death-Lord. For 1966 it was a Newbery Honor book, runner-up for the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". The book provided a title and many elements of plot for the 1985 Disney animated feature '' The Black Cauldron''. Origins The series was inspired by Welsh mythology and by the castles, scenery, and language of Wales, which the author experienced during World War II combat intelligence training. At one stage of planning it was a trilogy with titles ''The Battle of the Trees'', ''The Lion with the Steady Hand'', and ''Little Gwion''. Plot summary More than a year after the defeat of Arawn Death-Lord's army and death of his warlord the Horn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy ( ) is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's ''The Chronicles of Prydain''. She appears in four of the five novels in the series, as well as Disney's 1985 animated film adaptation '' The Black Cauldron''. Eilonwy is a member of the Royal House of Llyr, and the women in her line are formidable enchantresses, including her mother, Angharad, and grandmother Regat. She has inherited this characteristic, most readily visible in her manipulation of a magical item she calls her " bauble", a small golden sphere that glows with magical light when activated by her willpower. Eilonwy's father, Geraint, was a commoner with whom her mother fell in love. Name origin Eilonwy is not a historical Welsh name (unlike many others used in the stories), but it turns up in a tale by Glasynys – published in ''Cymru Fu'', or ''The Wales that Was'' (1862-4), and translated from the Welsh by Sir John Rhys in his ''Celtic Folklore'' (1901) – belonging to the daughter of a mermaid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Foundling And Other Tales Of Prydain
''The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain'' is a collection of short high fantasy stories for children by Lloyd Alexander and illustrator Margot Zemach. The 1973 first edition includes six stories; the 1982 edition, eight. The 1999 edition adds a map of Prydain and a pronunciation guide .Original edition (1973). Expanded edition (1999). All are prequels to '' The Chronicles of Prydain'', Alexander's award-winning series of five novels published 1964 to 1968. Expanded contents *''Author's Note'' (1973) Expanded edition, title leaf: lists copyrights 1965, 1967, 1973 Lloyd Alexander; 1999 copyrights only Henry Holt, compilation and pronunciation guide. Inspection supports the implication that dedication and author's note date from 1973. *''Map'' (copyright 1968, Evaline Ness) Expanded edition, title leaf. *The foundling *The stone *The true enchanter *The rascal crow *The sword *The smith, the weaver, and the harper *Coll and his white pig *The truthful harp *''Prydain Pron ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taran Wanderer
''Taran Wanderer'' (1967) is a high fantasy novel by American writer Lloyd Alexander, the fourth of five volumes in ''The Chronicles of Prydain''. The series follows Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, as he nears manhood while helping to resist the forces of Arawn Death-Lord. The story follows Taran as he "wanders" with Gurgi, but without most of his former companions from the other Chronicles. He searches for his noble or common lineage in the eastern regions of Prydain, far from both the realm and forces of Arawn and the demesne of the High King. The map of Prydain (c)1968 by Evaline Ness places Annuvin approximately on the west coast and the Isle of Mona in the sea off the west coast. ''The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain'', 1999 expanded edition, x–xi. Along the way, he meets many people, learns new skills and crafts, and confronts some rough characters. According to the author, "he learns to reshape his life out of his own inner resources, for there must not only be a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Castle Of Llyr
''The Castle of Llyr'' (1966) is a high fantasy novel by Lloyd Alexander, the third of five volumes in ''The Chronicles of Prydain''. The story continues the adventures of Taran, the "Assistant Pig-Keeper", and his companions. Princess Eilonwy, the latest enchantress to be born of the House of Llyr, "faces the unavoidable (and in her view absolutely unnecessary) ordeal of becoming a young lady." The young hero Taran accompanies her on her journey to the royal court of the Isle of Mona, the same island where her ancestral home was located, and where she will continue her education as a princess. Soon after her arrival, she is kidnapped by agents of the evil sorceress Achren, who wishes to use her for as part of a plan for domination. During the adventure, more is revealed of Eilonwy's heritage and her family's former home, the castle Caer Colur. Origins The series was inspired by Welsh mythology and by the castles, scenery, and language of Wales, which the author experienced duri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gurgi
Gurgi is a fictional character in ''The Chronicles of Prydain'', the series of fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. Gurgi is the hero Taran's faithful companion, appearing in all five books. Profile He is described as being a cross between man and beast, having long arms, covered with fur and leaves, and ever hungry but really "just a sort of a, kind of a thing". His demeanor is extremely loyal and caring, almost to a fault. His manner of speech is filled with rhymed pairs of words ("crunchings and munchings", "smackings and whackings", "sneakings and peekings", etc.), and redundant phrases ("see with lookings!"); he refers to himself in the third person. Gurgi is humble and loyal toward his human companions, at first submitting even to Taran as a "noble lord". Appearances Gurgi is one of the few characters to appear in all five books of the series, the others being Taran, Fflewddur, Dallben and Coll. In ''The Book of Three'', Taran first meets Gurgi in his quest to locate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Evaline Ness
Evaline Ness (April 24, 1911 – August 12, 1986) was an American commercial artist, illustrator, and author of children's books. She illustrated more than thirty books for young readers and wrote several of her own. She is noted for using a great variety of artistic media and methods. As illustrator of picture books she was one of three Caldecott Medal runners-up each year from 1964 to 1966 and she won the 1967 Medal for ''Sam, Bangs and Moonshine'', which she also wrote. In 1972 she was the U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's illustrators. Life Ness was born Evaline Michelow in Union City, Ohio and grew up in Pontiac, Michigan. As a child she illustrated her older sister's stories with collages cut from magazine pictures. She studied at Ball State Teachers College 1931–32 to become a librarian, then at Chicago Art Institute 1933–35 to become a fashion illustrator. For a while she was also a fashion model. Eva ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |