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Sir Balin

Arthurian Legend
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Tragic Arthurian knight known as “the Knight with the Two Swords,” whose fated strike wounds the Fisher King.

Detailed Definition
Balin’s tragic strength brings ruin despite good intentions. In poetry, he represents the paradox of heroism—his valor inescapably tied to destruction, his stroke wounding both king and land in a single blow.
Example
Example in poetry:
Sir Balin delivers the Dolorous Stroke that wounds King Pellam; Poets depict him as “the Savage Knight” cursed by his own sword; In tragic monologues, Balin laments unintended consequences; Modern verse explores his impulsivity as fatal flaw; His story warns that even well-intentioned knights cause ruin; Sir Balin’s legacy is the Wasteland he unknowingly creates.
Additional Notes
Sir Balin is the “Knight with the Two Swords,” whose Dolorous Stroke wounds King Pellam and desolates the land; his tale is one of cursed fate and unintended consequences—poets use him to examine the burden of prophecy and the fragility of peace.
Also Known As
Balin the Savage Balin le Savage
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