Elements of the romantic mode are found in many of the literatures written not only in the present, but heavily in the literature of the past. The different versions of the story of King Arthur and his court provide excellent examples of the elements of the romantic mode of literature. Elements such as emphasis on childhood and youth, the romantic quest journey and the role of supernatural powers are clearly evident in the Arthurian cycle. The elements of the romantic mode efficiently assist the authors in the Arthurian Era in presenting very vivid and interesting stories to the readers.
In the literature found in the Romantic Mode, it often looks back on the world of childhood as something that has been left behind or lost forever. This lost world of childhood is also seen as the world of innocence. This element of the Romantic Mode is called emphasis on childhood and youth, and is clearly evident in two specific pieces of literature, Historia Regum Brittaniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth and Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. In Historia Regum Brittaniae, Merlin was brought before King Vortigern because the king was looking for a child with no father to sprinkle that child’s blood on the mortar’s and the stones to

s to make a strong foundation for the king’s tower. This idea of sprinkling the child’s blood was presented by the king’s wizards, and Merlin was quick to point out that they were wrong. Merlin advised the King to dig up the land where the tower was to be built, and there a pool of water will be there and under the pool of water will be two stones where two dragons will be asleep. This emphasis on childhood is similarly found in the literature piece Le Morte d’Arthur. In this story, King Arthur is born and entrusted in the hands of Merlin, because Arthur is destined for great glory and Merlin, through a deal with Arthur’s father, King Uther Pendragon, acquired the boy under his guidance to teach the boy the many things about life he must learn before he can achieve his glory. Year after when Arthur becomes a boy, he is sent by his step brother Sir Ector to fetch a sword for him. Arthur, not wanting to disappoint his brother, rode on to St. Paul’s, to acquire the sword which was lodged in the stone. When Arthur returned with this sword from the stone, many were amazed for it was the sword of Excalibur, and only the rightful successor of King Uther would be able to pull the sword out of the stone. Arthur was sworn in as the King, and the nobles swore their allegiances to him. Both pieces of literature present emphasis on childhood very clearly. . In the romantic mode, childhood is often thought to be a time when fairytale princes and princesses, kings and queens, supernatural beasts, and magical castles were a part of reality. Merlin stood bravely before the king without the worries an adult may have, such as offending the king and his wizards, and questions the wizard’s wisdom. Arthur, without knowing the importance of the sword lodged in the stone, pulls the sword out of the stone and takes it back to his step brother. Kings and supernatural occurrences are also present which further shows the presence of the element, emphasis on child and youth. In Historia Regum Brittaniae