The Crystal Cave
This place represents his home and where Merlin finds his power and
has his first vision.
The King-Star
This symbol appears in the sky many times to lead Merlin on the right
path. It is in the constellation of the bear, artos, which further symbolizes
Arthur.
The Ring-Dove
This bird which runs away from danger represents Merlin as a child.
The Falcon
This bird, whose name is synonymous with his name, represents Merlin
as man who has grown and has come to know his power.
The Wolf
This animal symbolizes both Vortigern and the dirty way he achieved
his throne and Merlin, who turns Vortigern's tactics against him.
The Red Dragon
This is the coat of arms of Ambrosius and Uther and in Merlin's vision
eats up the White Dragon, the arms of Vortigern.
The Bear
The bear symbolizes Arthur, or artos, in Merlin's vision.
The Sword in the Altar
Merlin is unsure of the meaning of this symbol, but the reader knows
that it is the sword Excalibur, which Arthur will withdraw from the stone
to become King.
The Crystal Globe
Whenever Merlin has a vision, he often feels he holds or is inside
of a crystal globe which symbolizes the cave where he first acknowledged
his power and saw his first vision.
The Two-Headed Axe
Merlin usually sees this symbol at the standing stones and, like
the star, they guide him on the path of the god.
The Giant's Dance
Another name for Stonehenge, in this story, it represents the heart
of Britain and as long as it stands, Britain will not fall.
The Black Stone at Killare
This stone symbolizes the heart of Ireland, but it had been stolen
by an ancient Irish King and Merlin returns it to the Giant's Dance at
the monument over his father's grave. In this way, it becomes the heart
of Britain.
The White Bull
The symbol of Mithraism
Chains
To Keri, they symbolize the nunnery where she is not free. To Merlin,
they represent the will of the god.
The Rising Sun
At the end of the novel, Merlin witnesses the King-Star blazing into
the brilliant light of the rising sun. This symbolizes the coming of Arthur.
Light
This symbol always represents ultimate goodness, like the light of
the sun of the winter solstice that hits Ambrosius' grave.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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