Christmas In Camelot

Osborne highlights the significance of hope and imagination through Jack’s character arc and the growth he experiences over the course of the story. While saving Camelot with the power of hope and imagination alongside Annie, Jack discovers these significant qualities within himself. While the children ultimately restore hope to a kingdom lost in despair, Jack begins the narrative struggling with low spirits due to the months-long absence of Morgan and the magic tree house. He rejects Annie’s suggestion that the dove is a messenger from their friend because he is “afraid to get his hopes up” (4). Annie’s optimism counterbalances Jack’s skepticism at several other key moments in the story. Her hopeful suggestions about riding the stag and concealing themselves with the cloak allow her and her brother to reach the Otherworld so that they can complete their quest. By modeling these qualities for Jack, Annie supports the progression of his character arc.

The optimistic tone of Osborne’s plot suggests that even in moments of deep despair, hope can never be lost, especially when paired with imagination. The author provides a final test to this idea when Jack accidentally spills the Water of Memory and Imagination in the great hall: “‘I dropped the cup,’ said Jack, ‘and spilled all the water!’ ‘But the water made a gold cloud,’ said Annie. ‘And everyone came back to life!’” (99). The golden cloud formed by the magical water demonstrates the enduring power of hope.

Osborne’s narrative makes clear that imagination plays an equally vital role in saving Camelot by connecting imagination the endurance of Arthurian legend. As Morgan explains, imagination is critical to the legendary setting because “different people in different times tell the story. They use their imaginations to add new parts. That is how a legend is kept alive” (15). Because Camelot is a legend rather than historical fact, only the Water of Memory and Imagination can restore the kingdom to its former glory. Just as Annie tends to be more hopeful, she is also the more imaginative of the two main characters for much of the story. She uses a game of make-believe to sneak past the iron gate’s guards and enter the Otherworld: “Had Annie lost her mind? ‘What are you doing?’ he whispered. ‘I’m the wind!’ Annie whispered back. ‘WHOOOSSSHHH!’” (51). Jack commends his sister for the success of her creative plan, demonstrating his own developing appreciation of imagination. Annie models hope and imagination for her brother as he learns to embrace them himself.

In the story’s climax, Jack joins Annie in exercising his imagination, leading to the success of their quest. Up until that point, Jack cautiously trails after Annie, reluctant to get his hopes up or face perilous obstacles, and remains largely skeptical of his sister’s creative ideas. However, confronted by the Keepers of the Cauldron, he drinks from the Water of Memory and Imagination and joins his sister in envisioning a solution to their predicament: “‘I imagined us fighting the Keepers with flaming swords,’ said Annie. ‘What did you imagine?’ Jack shrugged. ‘I—I just imagined the Keepers going back in their holes,’ he said. ‘Good,’ said Annie. ‘We both got what we imagined’” (84). The magical water fills Jack with strength and courage and helps him unleash the power of his imagination. After experiencing the strength of imagination first hand during his quest, Jack exercises it again when he returns home by writing down his and Annie’s adventures: “Jack kept writing, doing his part to keep the legend of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin, and Morgan le Fay alive” (111). Over the course of the story, Jack transforms himself as well as Camelot; he becomes braver, more hopeful, and more creative. Osborne illustrates the significance of hope and imagination through Camelot’s restoration and the protagonist’s personal growth.