Incest

Ok, this isn't for a novel, it's for a display I'm doing on Arthurian legend for a university assignment but I'm stuck on an important point.

Is it ok for children to know that in Arthurian legend Mordred is usually portrayed as the incestuous child of King Arthur and his sister? Or should I just say "Arthur's nephew?"

The display is theoretically for family visitors which would include children, some that are probably quite young. All comments welcome.

If it were my parents, they wouldn't mind in the slightest if I knew the real legend at so young. Unfortunately, most parents aren't like that and wouldn't like their children to be exposed to the idea of incest. So I say..... use the variation that Mordred is Arthur's nephew.

Yeah, I decided to do that in the end. I can't remember NOT knowing it myself but I probably read it in a book, which is harder to regulate.

You could say Arthur's son and just not give any details about it. But nephew works fine.

Unlike my parents, a lot of parents are very picky about what their children see and hear. They probably won't like the phrase "incestuous child" even if their kids might not even understand what it means. I'd recommend being safe and using nephew.

I knew what incest was in the story when I first read it when I was about 9. I figured, "Okay, so he's the son of his father and his father's sister. I don't know the name of it, but whatever it is is what Mordred is by birth."

I'd tell the truth and explain that it's not accepted and is a taboo. But I think it's best to tell the story as it is and let kids ask questions. I'm not one for censoring things from kids unless it's explict, but explaining that the guy's parents were brother and sister is not explicit. I can understand though that a lot of parents might have issues with their kids knowing that. Just treat it sensitively.

I'd say just play it on the safe side and say nephew. Probably some people would be upset if you say "incestuous child" and probably none will if you just say "nephew".