Arthurian Rhetoric tools

The author Mary Frances Zambreno creates quite a compelling essay on the Arthurian structure of writing. She describes to the reader the many ways, that the narrative structures are used to help captivate, and hold the attention of the readers. Once we understand how to configure our narrations using carefully structured strategies we can then use them, to make our writings excel.

The first form of writing that she uses is called "Mutability or Plasticity", which are the ways in which the material can be reshaped for new audiences. She gives example through the story of King Arthur the ways in which others have been able to manipulate the story, and focus on points that characterize the story like romance, or the characters, etc. The way people view these stories allows them to manipulate and change it to their liking. Another story that has been reshaped for audiences is the tale of Robin Hood, it can be focused on the point that he steals from the rich and gives to the poor, to also be focused on the romance between Robin, and the Maid Marryanne. Next she discusses the "Piecemeal" of the story, which is how the story has adapted over time. The story of King Arthur has been floating around for generations, many different people have told their own versions of the story. Over time the story has been changed, remolded, and adapted to suit the modern age. Which is like most legends that have been around, like the Lochness monster, big foot, or aliens. Next she refers to "Windows of Opportunity" Which are blank spots in the historical record. The gaps or windows can be filled in over time by the readers, they are filled by other stories, new stories and perspectives. The people feel the need to fill in the blank spots that are left out, so that to stories feels more complete. In movies the perspective from the directors get put in the movies, more than the actual stories, the directors don't necessarily read all of the book so they fill in the gaps with their perspective.(Which is why the movies suck a bit more than the book you read.) And finally Zambreno talks about the "Open ended Closure" if the reader wants more stories they are going to have to find them themselves. The stories turn into a to be continued to the reader. The use of cliff hangers in most modern literature is used to captivate the reader, and leave them wanting to read more. So writers who want to sell more books in their series often leave cliff hangers to make the reader go and buy their second book, and if the book is not out yet the reader thinks of the books possible endings for themselves.