Britons were a people native to England, united by a common language, belief system, and culture. For many years, the Romans—who settled in England for a period before returning to Rome and who were much more technologically advanced—had helped protect the Britons from possible invaders, but their departure allowed the Saxons to migrate to the country and settle there. Britons felt that all of England was theirs by right and that they were morally and intellectually superior to Saxons because they had converted to Christianity. For centuries, Britons and Saxons fought each other for land and resources. The most famous Briton king was King Arthur, whose life inspired dozens of legends. Ultimately, the Britons were not able to completely eradicate the Saxons, but lasting peace was eventually established between them.
Briton Quotes in The Buried Giant
The The Buried Giant quotes below are all either spoken by Briton or refer to Briton. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 5
Quotes
“Even so, sir, isn’t it a strange thing when a man calls another brother who only yesterday slaughtered his children? And yet this is the very thing Arthur appears to have accomplished.”
“You touch the heart of it just there, Master Wistan. Slaughter children, you say. And yet Arthur charged us at all times to spare the innocents caught in the clatter of war. More, sir, he commanded us to rescue and give sanctuary when we could to all women, children and elderly, be they Briton or Saxon. On such actions were bonds of trust built, even as battles raged.”
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Chapter 12
Quotes
“There are Britons who tempt our respect, even our love, I know this only too well. But there are now greater things press on us than what each may feel for another. It was Britons under Arthur slaughtered our kind. It was Britons took your mother and mine. We’ve a duty to hate every man, woman and child of their blood. So promise me this. Should I fall before I pass to you my skills, promise me you’ll tend well this hatred in your heart. And should it ever flicker or threaten to die, shield it with care till the flame takes hold again.”
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Briton Term Timeline in The Buried Giant
The timeline below shows where the term Briton appears in The Buried Giant. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
...there with other women from the warren. Furthermore, the leader of the town is a Briton and a friend of hers. Even still, Beatrice says that the increased security means something...
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The elderly man, addressing Axl and Beatrice in the Briton language, wonders how the guards could so soon forget their duty to stay at their...
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...thinks this is interesting and wonders if it’s because he’s old or because he’s “a Briton living here among Saxons” that he seems to remember more than those around him. Axl...
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...He also introduces the warrior as Master Wistan and tells them that Wistan speaks the Briton language with ease. Axl greets Wistan and tells him it’s an honor to meet such...
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...Wistan, catching himself staring, tells Axl that although Wistan is a Saxon, he lived among Britons for many years. Axl also notes that Wistan wears his sword like a Briton and...
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...asked Wistan to take the boy with him and leave him at a village of Britons where he’ll be safe, and Wistan has agreed to think this plan over. Before leaving...
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...about Edwin’s plight, saying that he wants to bring the boy to a village of Britons where Edwin will be safe. Wistan asks Axl if he would consider taking the boy...
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Chapter 4
...with Wistan, it seems to be coming true. Edwin looks back down at the old Britons and Wistan and wonders why they’re traveling together. He looks back to the soldiers on...
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Chapter 5
...a long time, the men didn’t leave. Realizing the soldiers belong to Lord Brennus (a Briton) and aren’t about to leave their post, Wistan suggests that he will keep his “jaw...
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...a fight with Lord Brennus or his soldiers on account of being a Saxon in Briton-ruled territory. Furthermore, Wistan has been asked by his king to look into rumors about Saxons...
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...Sir Gawain also assures Wistan that, although there are wars in other places, Saxons and Britons have “long been friends and kin” in this country. Wistan agrees and says he’ll be...
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Chapter 6
...village to talk with the elders and move amongst them, even though he was a Briton. This, however, was before Wistan was taken by soldiers and trained as a warrior by...
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Chapter 8
...top. Wistan said he thought this was once a trap: Saxons would lure bands of Briton soldiers in after filling the moat with firewood, run up the stairs so the soldiers...
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Chapter 10
...Brennus. Wistan says that he and Brennus had been trained to be warriors for the Britons together as children. Although Wistan had grown close with most of the other children, he...
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Chapter 12
...the dragon at all, but is tracking his mother, who had been taken away by Britons and “longs” to return to him. Wistan looks at Edwin strangely, almost as if he’s...
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...promise is, and Wistan replies that it’s to “carry in [his] heart a hatred of Britons.” When Edwin asks if this includes Britons who share bread with and protect him, Wistan...
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Chapter 15
...Sir Gawain rejects this idea and points out that, because of Merlin’s work, Saxons and Britons live side by side in peace.
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...but Wistan is staring at Axl again. Wistan asks Axl if he is the “gentle Briton” that he remembers from his childhood and had tried to “keep innocents beyond the reach...
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...Wistan says he doesn’t rightfully know, but thinks that he’s “been too long among you Britons,” having admired and despised them every step of the way. Now that his mission is...
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...buried, now stirs.” Once that giant rises, all the friendships and relationships between Saxons and Britons will be torn asunder and violence will break out. Wistan notes that this vengeance, for...
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Chapter 16
...decides to make whoever killed his mother pay. Edwin doesn’t see Wistan, just the old Britons. Beatrice tells him to go to Wistan, so Edwin runs forward. Suddenly he stops and...
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