Mr. Valiant Fortruth

Posted on | April 23, 2010 | No Comments

The boys and I have been reading through John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress—both parts—in lieu of our post-WWI history studies. So sorry…”The Great War” kind of burned me out for a while. It was senselessly dealt with and that’s all I’ll say about that. History is fascinating but most of the time emotionally draining (watching Sgt. York was a highlight, though).

So here we are with an even more emotional book!

I did have to give in and get a more “modern” English version because translating “from whence did thou come and wither goest thou?” became too laborious. And I kept saying the opposite of what the text meant. Think Yoda but with ideas rather than English.

Anyway, while I really identified with the character of Mr. Fearing, it’s his antithesis in a loose sense, Mr. Valiant Fortruth was someone to aspire to be like. Very Paul-ish.

This is one of my favorite poems in the book so far (and the most approachable in terms of the language), about Valiant Fortruth:

Who would true Valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather:
There’s no Discouragement
Shall make him once relent,
His first avow’d intent
To be a Pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound,
His Strength the more is.
No Lion can him fright;
He’ll with a Giant fight,
But he will have a right
To be a Pilgrim.

Hobgoblin, nor foul Fiend
Can daunt his spirit;
He knows, he at the End
Shall Life inherit.
Then Fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labour Night and Day
To be a Pilgrim.

I think this was a good choice for a book for us. My NM isn’t a big poetry fan at all but he hasn’t complained about any of these verses. I absolutely love how engaged both the boys are with the story at a degree that I didn’t expect. It did really help that there were questions for each chapter in our edition but beyond those, we do have dialogues about the characters and their experiences. The boys have been touched by the book and I really don’t want it to end (it does tomorrow). Some of what we’ve experienced so far will be indelible for J at least, since he’s named two of his stuffed animals in the manner of Bunyan. His robin is named Peaceful and his okapi is Love.

Last thing about the book…I have to re-read some parts for my own benefit. There is a point where Christiana and Christian’s boys are questioned by Prudence during their stay. Prudence gives very direct and simple object lessons when the boys ask her questions. My favorite:

“Why does fire fasten upon the candle wick?” [Matthew] inquired.

“To show us that unless grace kindles upon the heart, there will be no true Light of Life in us, ” answered Prudence.

“Why are the wick and tallow and everything spent to maintain the light of the candle?” he asked.

“To show that body and sould and everything should be at the service of and spend themselves to maintain in good condition that grace of God that is in us,” she answered.

Am I completely spent? Or am I still asking “how much”?

Category: God is Great, Homeschool

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