The Wood Beyond the World · Chapter
XXXV: Of the King of Stark-Wall and His Queen explained
King Walter and the Maid are acclaimed by the people of Stark-Wall, crowned and hallowed in the great church, and celebrated with a banquet.
What happens
King Walter and the Maid are acclaimed by the people of Stark-Wall, crowned and hallowed in the great church, and celebrated with a banquet. The chapter emphasizes their public reception, the Queen's transcendent beauty, and the beginning of their reign.
Themes in this chapter
Journey and Transformation
Walter and the Maid have left the wilderness behind and are transformed into crowned monarchs, marking a pivotal transition in their journey.
Sacrifice and Redemption
The Queen's pure and holy presence is seen as a redemptive force, blessing the city and its people, and her lineage will be blessed for generations.
Fate and Free Will
The people interpret Walter's arrival and the Queen's beauty as signs of good luck and fate, while the couple actively steps into their new roles.
Characters to notice
- Golden Walter
Newly crowned King of Stark-Wall, acclaimed by the people, wears the ancient armour and bears the Sword of the King's Slaying.
- The Maid
Crowned Queen, praised for her pure and holy beauty, clad in white samite with pearls, seen as a bringer of paradise.
- The King's Son
Not directly present; the elder and lords serve as advisors to the new king.
- The Old Man
Elder who advises the King to look out the window to see the gathered people.
- Sir Squire
Unarmed squire who leads the King and Queen to the church and back to the palace.
Key passages
“Here then is the wilderness left behind a long way, and here is warding and protection against the foes of our life and soul.”
The Maid tells Walter that they have finally left the dangerous wilderness behind and found safety and protection in Stark-Wall.
The Maid expresses relief and gratitude for their new secure home.
“Surely Stark-wall hath cast a lucky net this time.”
One neighbor remarks that Stark-Wall has been fortunate to gain such a queen.
The people view the Queen as a great blessing to the city.
“they that come of her, to the twentieth generation, shall bless and praise the memory of her, and hallow her name little less than they hallow the name of the Mother of God.”
A neighbor predicts that the Queen's descendants for many generations will honor her almost as highly as the Virgin Mary.
The Queen's purity and holiness inspire near-religious devotion in the people.