The Coming of King Arthur, by Alfred Tennyson, is a poem that tells the story of the legendary king's arrival in England. The poem begins with the lines: "In days of yore, when England's green woods were The home of wild men, and the wild beasts roamed Free as the wind, and the sun shone bright, There came a day, ere Britain knew the might Of Rome, or Arthur ruled the land with right." The poem goes on to describe the arrival of King Arthur and his knights, who bring order and civilization to the chaotic and barbarous England of the time. The poem ends with the lines: "Then was the sword Excalibur born in the land, And Arthur reigned, and all the realm was grand." Overall, the poem is a celebration of the arrival of King Arthur and the transformation he brings to England, marking the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity.
By Alfred Tennyson · First published 1859 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Mythology, Poetry