by Brodie Erk

The Once and Future King is required reading at Palisades High School, yet most students never read past the first hundred pages (if they bother to read it at all). For many required books this might be acceptable, after all, high schoolers famously find little value in older works, and the Once and Future King was written nearly a century ago, about the even older stories of Arthurian legend. How much value can a student (or a teacher for that matter) truly find in a fantasy book that was written before they were born?

A lot of value, surprisingly. Briefly leaving aside the entertainment it provides, The Once and Future King’s value comes from its potential to teach nearly any subject.       

The first and foremost of these subjects is literature. The book represents a clear link in a chain of literary classics, connecting ancient legends to modern fantasy classics like Harry Potter. This connection is important, and students may pick up on it on their own, helping them to think independently about the legacy of stories. One particular example comes in a scene that fans of Harry Potter ought to recognize. Merlin the wizard vanishes magically from the castle, perfectly mirroring an iconic moment from the more accessible franchise. 

Other valuable information comes through in the details. T. H. White, the author of the story makes his fascinating personality clear throughout, not withholding his own quips, opinions, and clarification from the narrative, which can at first be jarring, but ultimately contribute to enriching it. As such, without having done any background research I am well aware of his interest in armor, love of birds, philosophical stances, and more; and now know far more about those subjects than I did before. The book also contains dramatic anti-fascist allegory, and references to English culture, both of which easily lend themselves to the otherwise difficult subject of historically influenced literature.

The Once and Future King is old, but one thing it most certainly is not is outdated. It’s a book about love, life and everything in between. As such, despite the fact that not everyone will find it entertaining, everyone can learn something from it, especially a high schooler who can’t imagine that an old book have aspects that apply to their lives.