Exploring the Enchanting World of Castles: A Fascinating Study of British History and English Literature

Castles are a fascinating part of the British history and English literature. They were built over hundreds of years, from the 11th century onwards, and played a vital role in shaping the country's political and social landscape. Life during the time of the castles was harsh and uncertain, with war and conflict a constant threat. Despite this, castles were also centers of power, culture, and learning, and they continue to captivate our imaginations today.

Castles were built during a time when the threat of invasion was high. They were designed as strongholds to protect the ruling class and their people from marauding armies. However, life for the common people outside the castle walls was much harder. They lived in small, overcrowded villages and towns, constantly at risk of attack from enemy forces. Castles were symbols of power and wealth, and the ruling classes lived in relative luxury, while the common folk struggled to survive.

The idea that castles are often used as places where ghosts reside is rooted in the many tales of tragedy and violence that took place within their walls. Many of these stories involve executions, murder, and suicide, and the lingering spirits of those involved are said to haunt the castle to this day. Now there are resources of English Literature that feature castles both from British soil as well as neighbours. Some of the most famous stories associated with British castles include the haunting of the "Tower of London" by Anne Boleyn, the ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh at the Tower of London, and the mysterious Grey Lady of Glamis Castle. These stories continue to capture the public's imagination, and many people visit British castles today in the hopes of encountering their ghosts.

Again "Beowulf" and Arthurian romance are two important literary traditions in British literature, and both feature castles in different ways. Castles play an important role in both "Beowulf" and Arthurian romance, serving as symbols of power, wealth, and security in the medieval world. We all know that "Beowulf" is an Old English epic poem that was likely composed in the early Middle Ages. It tells the story of the hero Beowulf, who travels to Denmark to help King Hrothgar defeat the monster Grendel. Later, Beowulf becomes king of his own people, the Geats, and faces a dragon in battle. Although castles do not feature prominently in the poem, there are a few references to fortified halls that suggest the importance of castles in the Anglo-Saxon world. For example, Hrothgar's hall, Heorot, is described as being "wide and high-gabled, the house of Hrothgar," with "smooth, green meadows" around it. This suggests that Heorot was an important stronghold that was designed to impress visitors and intimidate enemies.

Arthurian romance has a castle literary tradition that emerged in the Middle Ages and is based on the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Castles feature prominently in many of the stories, as they were important strongholds for medieval knights and lords. Camelot is the castle that serves as Arthur's court and the headquarters of his knights. It is typically described as a grand, imposing castle with high walls and towers. Tintagel is the castle associated with the birth of Arthur, as his mother, Queen Igraine, was said to have conceived him there with the help of the magician Merlin. Castle Anthrax is a castle that appears in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a comedic take on Arthurian legend. In the film, the castle is inhabited by a group of nuns who are eager to seduce the knights who come to visit. Carbonek is a castle that appears in the French medieval romance Perceval, the Story of the Grail. It is said to be the location of the Holy Grail and is guarded by the Fisher King. The castle is described as being made of precious stones and metals and as being surrounded by a moat filled with blood.

Castles were a popular literary setting in Elizabethan English literature. They represented power, wealth, and nobility. William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" featured the castle of Elsinore as a central setting, while in "Macbeth," the Scottish king resided in a castle, the castle of Dunsinane as the main setting. In Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene," castles represented strongholds of virtue or vice. Castles also featured prominently in works by Christopher Marlowe, such as "Edward II" and "Tamburlaine the Great," as symbols of both authority and rebellion.

In comparatively modern tradition, Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" takes place in a remote Yorkshire farmhouse called Wuthering Heights, which is said to have been inspired by the ruins of Top Withens, a small farmhouse on the moors near Haworth. Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe"  takes place during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart and features the castle of Torquilstone as one of its main settings. Anthony Hope's "The Prisoner of Zenda" is set in the fictional country of Ruritania and features the castle of Zenda as the main setting. Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles" novel takes place in and around Baskerville Hall, a mansion on the moors of Devonshire. Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" tells the story of a cursed lady who lives in a castle near the river Thames. T.H. White's "The Once and Future King" retells the story of King Arthur and features several castles, including Camelot and the Castle of the Forest Sauvage. Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto" is considered to be the first Gothic novel and is set in a castle in Italy. Paul Scott's "The Jewel in the Crown" is set during the final years of British rule in India and features several British colonial buildings, including a castle-like palace in the city of Udaipur. L.M. Boston's "The Children of Green Knowe" takes place in a haunted manor house in the English countryside that is said to be based on Boston's own home, the medieval Green Knowe estate.

In conclusion, British castles are an important part of the country's history, and their stories continue to captivate and intrigue us today. From their origins as fortresses to their later use as centers of culture and learning, castles played a vital role in shaping the country's political and social landscape. Despite the harsh conditions and violence associated with their history, British castles are still some of the most visited tourist destinations in the country, attracting visitors from around the world who are eager to explore their fascinating past.

Ardhendu De

Reference

1.LM, M. (n.d.). A History of English Literature - MICHAEL ALEXANDER. (PDF) a History of English Literature - MICHAEL ALEXANDER | Marco LM - Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/43757647/A_History_of_English_Literature_MICHAEL_ALEXANDER

2. https://academic.oup.com/book/32345/chapter/268599009. (n.d.). https://academic.oup.com/book/32345/chapter/268599009

3.Marc Hoover: The ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh |. (2019, March 15). Marc Hoover: The Ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh |. https://www.clermontsun.com/2019/03/15/marc-hoover-the-ghost-of-sir-walter-raleigh

4.Winter reads: The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M Boston. (2011, December 7). The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/dec/07/winter-reading-children-of-green-knowe