Merlin Book 2: The Seven Songs facts for kids
Merlin Book 2: The Seven Songs Cover
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| Author | T. A. Barron |
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| Original title | The Seven Songs of Merlin |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Merlin Saga |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Penguin |
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Publication date
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1997 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 336 pp (hardcover edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-399-25021-7 |
| Preceded by | Merlin Book 1: The Lost Years |
| Followed by | Merlin Book 3: The Raging Fires |
Merlin Book 2: The Seven Songs is an exciting fantasy book written by T. A. Barron. It was published by Penguin in 1997. This book is the second part of a big series called The Merlin Saga, which has 12 books in total. It was first known as The Seven Songs of Merlin and was part of a 5-book series called The Lost Years of Merlin. These books tell the story of the famous wizard Merlin when he was a young boy.
What's the Story About?
In this book, young Merlin has brought new hope to Fincayra. Fincayra is a magical island that floats between the earth and the sky. Merlin and his friend Rhia, a girl from the forest, have just saved Fincayra from a terrible problem called the Blight. Now, they want to heal the land using a special magical item called the Flowering Harp.
But Fincayra is still in great danger! The first person to be hurt by this new evil is Merlin's own mother. To save her life, Merlin has only one hope: he must learn the Seven Songs of Wizardry. These songs were passed down by his grandfather, Tuatha, who was the greatest wizard Fincayra had ever seen.
Once Merlin masters these songs, he can travel to the Otherworld. This is a spirit world where he hopes to find the precious Elixir of Dagda. This elixir is the only cure for his mother. However, to get it, Merlin must do something even his powerful grandfather could not do. He must defeat Balor, a scary ogre whose look alone can cause death. Even harder, Merlin needs to learn how to see things not with his eyes, but with his heart.
The Seven Magical Songs
The Seven Songs are like seven main lessons or skills in Wizardry. These skills are: Changing, Binding, Protecting, Naming, Leaping, Eliminating, and Seeing.
Merlin's grandfather, Tuatha, wrote a special song on the walls inside Arbassa. Arbassa is an oak tree that is Merlin's sister's home. This song tells about the seven skills. Merlin can only start to master these skills and go to the Otherworld if he finds the "Souls of the Songs." The song goes like this:
The Seven Songs of Wizardry,
One melody and many,
May guide ye to the Otherworld,
Though hope ye have not any.
Divine the truth within each Song
Before ye may proceed.
For truths like trees for ages grow,
Yet each begins a seed.
Pursue the Seven Songs in turn;
The parts beget the whole.
But never move until ye find
Each Song's essential soul.
The lesson Changing be the first,
A treeling knows it well.
The power Binding be the next,
As Lake of Face can tell.
The skill Protecting be the third,
Like dwarves who tunnel deep.
The art of Naming be the fourth,
A secret Slantos keep.
The power Leaping be the fifth,
In Varigal beware.
Eliminating be the sixth,
A sleeping dragon's lair.
The gift of Seeing be the last,
Forgotten Island's spell.
And now ye may attempt to find
The Otherworldly Well.
But lo! Do not approach the Well
Until the Songs are done.
For dangers stalk your every step,
With Balor's eye but one.
Merlin learns the special meaning, or "soul," behind each song:
- Changing: All living things can change and grow. Merlin remembers his mother saying, "The butterfly can change from a mere worm to the most beautiful creature of all. And the soul, my son, can do the same."
- Binding: The strongest connections are made with your heart.
- Protecting: The best way to keep something safe is sometimes to let it go free.
- Naming: A true name holds real power.
- Leaping: Everything in the world is connected to everything else.
- Eliminating: Every living thing is special and important in some way.
- Seeing: Your heart can see things that your eyes cannot.
