Knights of the Kitchen Table

“‘None shall pass,’ boomed the Black Knight.

‘If you could just point the way toward New York we’ll be on our way and—’

‘None shall pass!’

‘I think I heard that somewhere before,’ said Sam.”

These lines link the story to the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In the film, King Arthur faces a black knight who also yells that “none shall pass,” and like Arthur in the movie, the boys defeat the knight. Scieszka references the movie to make a point. This moment is a humorous nod to Monty Python, as well as an indication that the boys will be successful like their predecessors. For those who have not seen the film, this is simply the first challenge the boys face.

“‘Thy tongue and garb art passing strange. Methinks thy band hails not from this shore.’

‘What did he say?’ asked Fred.

‘He said we look funny, and we’re probably not from around here,’ I said.”

This exchange between Fred and Joe begins the “what did he say” joke that persists throughout the book and shows the dynamics between the boys. As the joker with more physical than mental prowess, Fred struggles to understand what the people of King Arthur’s world are saying. This opens up an opportunity for Joe to be a leader and translate, ensuring all his teammates are on the same page and understand what’s happening. This moment also illustrates how Scieszka navigates having characters who speak in a way his readers may not be familiar with. By having Joe translate, Scieszka makes the story accessible.