The Faithful King of Thule
The Faithful King of Thule is a story about a king who loved his daughter so much that he was willing to sacrifice everything for her happiness. The story begins with the king's daughter falling in love with a young man from another kingdom, but their love is forbidden by both families. Despite this, they decide to run away together and elope. However, on their journey, they are attacked by bandits who kill the young man and take the princess captive. The king sets out on a quest to find his daughter and bring her home safely. After many trials and tribulations, he finally finds her in the hands of the bandits and rescues her. In the end, the king returns home with his daughter and they live happily ever after.
By George Borrow · First published 1835 · Genre: Poetry, Legend, Tragedy · 200 words
First lines
A king so true and steady In Thule lived of old; To him his dying lady A goblet gave of gold.
He drank thereout so often, For all his love it gained; To tears his eyes would soften Whene'er its juice he drained.
When death drew nigh, his spirit His riches o'er he told To him who should inherit -- But not that cup of gold.
By all his knights surrounded One day he sat at dine, In hall of fortress, founded By ocean's roaring brine.
What this Textopian page supports
The Faithful King of Thule is listed on Textopian as a short story by George Borrow, dated 1835 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George Borrow
- Date: 1835 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Legend, Tragedy, Historical Fiction
- Length: 200 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Faithful King of Thule by George Borrow
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Faithful King of Thule?
- How does this short story by George Borrow fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming pattern, characteristic of poetry.
- Legend — The narrative centers around a legendary king and his symbolic actions, typical of legendary tales.
- Tragedy — The themes of loss, death, and the king's emotional attachment to the goblet suggest a tragic element.
- Historical Fiction — The setting in an ancient kingdom and the presence of knights imply a historical context, though fictionalized.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · mythology · loyalty · kingdom · heroism · narrative · courage · friendship · sacrifice · legend · exploration