35 pages • 1 hour read
Clyde Robert BullaThe Sword in the Tree
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1956A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaSymbols & Motifs
The Sword
Lord Weldon’s sword represents his power and position as the lord of the castle. This special sword belongs to whoever has the title of Lord Weldon, so Shan, the heir, knows that it will one day be his. Shan’s respect and admiration for the sword are representative of his serious attitude toward the obligations of being lord: “Long ago Shan had asked his father, ‘May I be the one to care for your sword?’ His father had told him, ‘Yes, my son, because some day it will be yours’” (25).
Uncle Lionel’s desire to own and use the sword is symbolic of his goal to wrench the lordship and castle away from his nephew. After faking his brother’s death, Lionel finds and claims the sword for his own, revealing his intentions to Shan: “‘Stop!’ he cried. ‘Why do you wear that sword?’ ‘Why should I not wear it?’ asked his uncle. ‘It was my father’s,’ said Shan. ‘Now it is mine’” (32).
This symbol is a key aspect of the story’s plot, as Shan protects the sword from his thieving uncle by hiding it in the hollow of an oak tree. When Sir Gareth visits Weldon Castle, the sword is Shan’s only proof that he ever lived there and really is the heir: “He opened the box. He took out his father’s sword and held it high. ‘The sword is mine!’ cried Lionel. ‘It is mine, I tell you!’” (93). By reclaiming his father’s sword, Shan also reclaims his position as heir to Weldon Castle, defeating his uncle.
King Arthur’s Court
King Arthur’s court is a symbol for the rule of law. By listening to his subjects and offering them help, Arthur ensures that the rule of law prevails throughout his kingdom for people of all social classes. One hunter explains, “Now that the wars are over, King Arthur has more time for the people. On two special days per month he opens his doors to them” (63). Shan knows that he cannot defeat his uncle Lionel on his own, and visiting Arthur’s court in Camelot is the best way to right this wrong.
In King Arthur’s court, the king is similar to a judge, and his knights function as his law enforcement, riding out to protect and advise people. By sending Sir Gareth out to Weldon Castle, Arthur brings justice for Shan and his family, extending the rule of law from his court out into his kingdom.
The Dungeon
The dungeon is a motif for the story’s theme of Chivalry Triumphing Over Brutality. At the beginning of the story, the dungeon of Weldon Castle is empty since King Arthur has secured England’s borders and Lord Weldon rules fairly over his region of the kingdom. With no one imprisoned in the dungeon, Shan even dreams of having this ugly, frightening part of the castle filled in completely.
However, when Uncle Lionel takes control of the castle, he imprisons his own brother, Lord Weldon, in the dungeon’s cells and threatens to do the same to Shan. By unfairly imprisoning his brother in the dungeon, Lionel reveals his brutal character and bases his power on this violent act.
At the end of the story, when Shan and Sir Gareth prevail over Lionel, Nappus helps Shan rescue his father from the dungeon. Lord Weldon’s liberation from his cell represents the triumph of good over evil, as the oppressive dungeon stands empty once again, and Lord Weldon returns to rule as Lord. Shan tells his father, “Now you are free […] They can do us no more harm” (102).
