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The Black Cauldron (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Black Cauldron is a 1965
fantasy novel, the second book in Lloyd Alexander
's five-part novel series The Chronicles of Prydain
(first published in 1964). The story centers on the adventures of Taran
, an Assistant Pig-Keeper in the magical land of Prydain, as he joins in a quest to capture the eponymous vessel, a magical device which can be used to create armies of the undead
. The book was awarded a Newbery Honor.
The Walt Disney
company adapted the plot of The Black Cauldron, along with the other books in the series, into a film
in 1985, which itself served as inspiration for a 1986 computer game.
resolves to destroy the evil weapon and convenes a council at Caer Dallben
, where reside Dallben, Coll, Princess Eilonwy
and Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper. Joining the council are the wandering bard-king Fflewddur Fflam
, Doli
of the Fair Folk, the jolly but powerful King Smoit, the cool and calculating King Morgant, Adaon, son of the chief bard, and the arrogant Prince Ellidyr
who, between his two older brothers was left nothing of his father's kingdom besides "his name and his sword".
Gwydion and the other leaders devise a plan for Gwydion to lead a small band into Annuvin by way of a little-known mountain pass to seize the cauldron by stealth. Along the way, Taran and Ellidyr find themselves often at odds with each other, with Taran envying Ellidyr's noble birth and the Prince in return scorning Taran's lack of parentage. Doli turns invisible and enters Annuvin, only to find out that the Cauldron is already gone. Meanwhile, servants of Arawn chase the party away from their camp into a Fair Folk watchpost, where it is revealed that the thieves of the Cauldron were the witches of the Marshes of Morva, known as Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch.
After leaving the post, Ellidyr sneaks away to the Marshes, determined to win back the Cauldron for personal glory. Adaon and the rest follow to save him from any attacks from Arawn's servants. They themselves are attacked, and in the battle that follows, Adaon is mortally wounded and Fflewddur and Doli are separated from Gurgi, Taran, and Eilonwy.
Taran takes Adaon's brooch, as promised, and realizes it has power to give its wearer prophetic dreams and visions. Using his dreams as guidance, Taran leads the group back to Fflewddur and then onward to the Marshes. Taran discovers the house of Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch, and reluctantly barters Adaon's brooch for the cauldron. Upon acquiring the cauldron, the group attempts to smash it, but their attempts are futile. The witches tell the group that the only way to destroy the cauldron is for a living person to enter the cauldron, knowingly and willingly, sacrificing his own life to destroy the cauldron.
As the group attempts to return with the cauldron, it becomes lodged in a riverbed. Ellidyr returns and offers assistance, provided Taran swears to tell Gwydion that Ellidyr discovered the cauldron. After freeing the cauldron, Ellidyr attacks the group and rides off with the cauldron.
When the group recovers, they are found by King Morgant and his men. When they enter the camp, Morgant shows the group a beaten and bound Ellidyr. The King then reveals that he intends to use the cauldron to create his own legion of Cauldron-Born to rule Prydain. Morgant orders the group bound and, impressed with Taran, offers to allow Taran and his friends to live on the condition that Taran enters into his service. As the bound group discusses their options, Doli returns and frees the group, including Ellidyr. Ellidyr decides to rush the cauldron and, although wounded by a guard, is able to throw himself into it, sacrificing himself. As the cauldron shatters, King Smoit and Gwydion return and attack Morgant's camp. Morgant is slain and the group rescued.
1965 in literature
The year 1965 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Lloyd Alexander - The Black Cauldron*J. G. Ballard - The Drought*Ray Bradbury - The Vintage Bradbury*John Brunner...
fantasy novel, the second book in Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
's five-part novel series The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain is a five-volume series of children's fantasy novels by author Lloyd Alexander...
(first published in 1964). The story centers on the adventures of Taran
Taran (character)
Taran is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain series, as well as in the film and game named after the second novel, The Black Cauldron.-Profile:...
, an Assistant Pig-Keeper in the magical land of Prydain, as he joins in a quest to capture the eponymous vessel, a magical device which can be used to create armies of the undead
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
. The book was awarded a Newbery Honor.
The Walt Disney
Walt Disney Feature Animation
Walt Disney Animation Studios is an American animation studio headquartered in Burbank, California. The studio, founded in 1923 as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio by brothers Walt and Roy Disney, is the oldest subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
company adapted the plot of The Black Cauldron, along with the other books in the series, into a film
The Black Cauldron (film)
The Black Cauldron is a 1985 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and originally released to theatres on July 24, 1985...
in 1985, which itself served as inspiration for a 1986 computer game.
Plot
Having suffered a grievous blow with the death of his champion, the Horned King, in The Book of Three, Arawn begins to increase his number of deathless Cauldron Born with his vile tool, the Black Cauldron. Recognizing the danger that this poses, Prince GwydionGwydion
Gwydion fab Dôn is a magician, hero and trickster of Welsh mythology, appearing most prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, which focuses largely on his relationship with his young nephew, Lleu Llaw Gyffes...
resolves to destroy the evil weapon and convenes a council at Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben is a cottage farm within the lands of Prydain and the starting point for each book of Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. It is also the setting for the series' final chapter....
, where reside Dallben, Coll, Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy
Princess Eilonwy is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain and wife of High King Taran in the Chronicles of Prydain and also appears in Disney's 1985 animated film The Black Cauldron...
and Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper. Joining the council are the wandering bard-king Fflewddur Fflam
Fflewddur Fflam
Fflewddur Fflam, son of Godo, is a cantrev lord in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. He is referred to as a King, but it is made clear that he is a very minor king of a tiny kingdom at best, much less important than the High King who rules Prydain. His...
, Doli
Doli
Doli is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. Doli is one of the "fair folk", a nation of faeries, and other magical beings who live in an extensive underground kingdom that spans the entire country of Prydain.-Profile:Doli is described as a short,...
of the Fair Folk, the jolly but powerful King Smoit, the cool and calculating King Morgant, Adaon, son of the chief bard, and the arrogant Prince Ellidyr
Ellidyr
Ellidyr is a fictional character in the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. He plays a tragic, pivotal role in the second book of the series, The Black Cauldron....
who, between his two older brothers was left nothing of his father's kingdom besides "his name and his sword".
Gwydion and the other leaders devise a plan for Gwydion to lead a small band into Annuvin by way of a little-known mountain pass to seize the cauldron by stealth. Along the way, Taran and Ellidyr find themselves often at odds with each other, with Taran envying Ellidyr's noble birth and the Prince in return scorning Taran's lack of parentage. Doli turns invisible and enters Annuvin, only to find out that the Cauldron is already gone. Meanwhile, servants of Arawn chase the party away from their camp into a Fair Folk watchpost, where it is revealed that the thieves of the Cauldron were the witches of the Marshes of Morva, known as Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch.
After leaving the post, Ellidyr sneaks away to the Marshes, determined to win back the Cauldron for personal glory. Adaon and the rest follow to save him from any attacks from Arawn's servants. They themselves are attacked, and in the battle that follows, Adaon is mortally wounded and Fflewddur and Doli are separated from Gurgi, Taran, and Eilonwy.
Taran takes Adaon's brooch, as promised, and realizes it has power to give its wearer prophetic dreams and visions. Using his dreams as guidance, Taran leads the group back to Fflewddur and then onward to the Marshes. Taran discovers the house of Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch, and reluctantly barters Adaon's brooch for the cauldron. Upon acquiring the cauldron, the group attempts to smash it, but their attempts are futile. The witches tell the group that the only way to destroy the cauldron is for a living person to enter the cauldron, knowingly and willingly, sacrificing his own life to destroy the cauldron.
As the group attempts to return with the cauldron, it becomes lodged in a riverbed. Ellidyr returns and offers assistance, provided Taran swears to tell Gwydion that Ellidyr discovered the cauldron. After freeing the cauldron, Ellidyr attacks the group and rides off with the cauldron.
When the group recovers, they are found by King Morgant and his men. When they enter the camp, Morgant shows the group a beaten and bound Ellidyr. The King then reveals that he intends to use the cauldron to create his own legion of Cauldron-Born to rule Prydain. Morgant orders the group bound and, impressed with Taran, offers to allow Taran and his friends to live on the condition that Taran enters into his service. As the bound group discusses their options, Doli returns and frees the group, including Ellidyr. Ellidyr decides to rush the cauldron and, although wounded by a guard, is able to throw himself into it, sacrificing himself. As the cauldron shatters, King Smoit and Gwydion return and attack Morgant's camp. Morgant is slain and the group rescued.