# VI: Those Two Are Learned Lore by the Sage of Swevenham explained — The Well at the World’s End

> Chapter companion for The Well at the World’s End by William Morris.

## What happens

The Sage of Swevenham leads Ralph and Ursula to a stone table in the woods, where he reads to them from an ancient book containing the lore of the Well at the World's End. He quizzes them repeatedly until they know the material by heart. After two days of instruction, he prepares to send them on their way to the Rock of the Fighting Man, offering to guide them a little due to the presence of foes from Utterbol.

## Themes in this chapter

### Quest and Adventure

Ralph and Ursula receive crucial knowledge for their quest to the Well at the World's End, preparing them for the journey ahead.

### Sacrifice and Loss

Ursula's withdrawal of her hand from Ralph hints at the emotional sacrifices and discipline required on their perilous quest.

## Character check-ins

### Ralph of Upmeads

Ralph listens to the Sage's lore and is tested on the knowledge of the Well at the World's End.

### Ursula

Ursula learns alongside Ralph, drawing her hand away when he tries to caress it, but struggles to keep her eyes off him.

### The Sage of Swevenham

The Sage instructs Ralph and Ursula in the lore of the Well at the World's End, reading from an ancient book and testing their knowledge.

## Key lines

> In these wastes and wilds are many suchlike places, where of old time the ancient folks did worship to the Gods of the Earth as they imagined them

In these remote areas, there are many similar sites where ancient people once worshipped the earthly gods they conceived.

_The Sage explains the origin of the stone table and the ancient book._

> if they answered amiss he read that part again, and yet again, as children are taught in the school.

When they answered incorrectly, he repeated the passage until they got it right, like teaching children in a classroom.

_The Sage's method of teaching is compared to schooling children._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/vi-those-two-are-learned-lore-by-the-sage-of-swevenham
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters