Idylls of the King Papers & Assignment Topics

Essay Topics/Writing Assignments

These 20 essay questions can be used as essay questions on a test, or as stand-alone essay topics for a take-home or in-class writing assignment. Students should have a full understanding of the text in order to answer these questions. They ask for a thorough analysis of the text.

1. Discuss how the world view of the Middle Ages differs from that of the Romantic era, as expressed in Tennyson's "Idylls of the King."

2. Describe the structural elements of "Idylls of the King." Identify and define the voice, tense, and verse style of the poems in your answer.

3. Compare and contrast the characters of Arthur and Lancelot in "Idylls of the King." How are these men similar? How are they different?

4. Discuss Tennyson's use of symbolism and motif in "Idylls of the King." How do these examples illustrate the stories' themes?