DOCSLIB.ORG

The Redemptive Role of Chivalry in Old French Arthurian Romance (12Th and 13Th Centuries)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Redemptive Role of Chivalry in Old French Arthurian Romance (12Th and 13Th Centuries) Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 4-30-1997 The Redemptive Role of Chivalry in Old French Arthurian Romance (12th and 13th Centuries) Nora Jane Peacock Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the French and Francophone Language and Literature Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Peacock, Nora Jane, "The Redemptive Role of Chivalry in Old French Arthurian Romance (12th and 13th Centuries)" (1997). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5310. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.7183 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. THESIS APPROVAL The abstract and thesis of Nora Jane Peacock for the Master of Arts in French were presented April 30, 1997, and accepted by the thesis committee and the department. COMMITTEE APPROVALS: ......__ , o. Chair . I Christine Rose Rzyreseit~tiv~~~- of Graduate Studies DEPARTMENT APPROVAL: Louis Elteto, Chair Department of Foreign Languages and Literature ******************************************* ACCEPTED FOR PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY BY THE LIBRARY by on fol4 :n/ /fff- ABSTRACT An abstract of the thesis of Nora Jane Peacock for the Master of Arts in French presented April 30, 1997. Title: The Redemptive Role of Chivalry in Old French Arthurian Romance (12th and 13th Centuries). Many medieval authors used religious imagery to influence their religious­ minded audiences. Old French Arthurian romances are laden with religious images and allegoric undertones drawn from contemporary religious beliefs. The purpose of the present study is to examine the changes in redemptive imagery as represented through certain characters in the romances studied and to demonstrate how the religious views of the Middle Ages were assimilated into this body of Arthurian literature. Two main themes arise from this study: the dynamic quality of the religious images and the functions and purpose of redemption in regards to the final spiritual quest in the four texts analyzed. In Chretien de Troyes's Le Chevalier de la Charrette, the use of Christian imagery is studied with regards to the ever-changing savior-image of Lancelot and his chivalric exploits. The 13th-century Vulgate Lancelot presents many of the same Christ-like images of Lancelot, but proceeds to allude to Lancelot's insufficiencies and a higher chivalric standard. Chretien de Troyes's Le Conte du Graal introduces the Grail into literature and succeeds in creating a new chivalric adventure. The main characters, Perceval and Gawain, are presented as exact opposites in order to emphasize their divergent intents. The final text, La Ouete du Graal, contains the culmination of all the chivalric pursuits and either exalts those who repent or condemns those who refuse to join the spiritual quest. The shift in focus from 12th-century Arthurian romance to 13th-century Arthurian romance is marked by its spirituality and its move towards a self-reflective philosophy. The conclusion of this thesis suggests that this shift reflects changes occurring in the society. THE REDEMPTIVE ROLE OF CHIVALRY IN OLD FRENCH ARTHURIAN ROMANCE (12TH AND 13TH CENTURIES) by NORA JANE PEACOCK A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in FRENCH Portland State University 1997 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1-7 PART ONE: LANCELOT CHAPTER ONE: Redemption in Chretien de Troyes's Le Chevalier de la Charrette ........................................................................ 8-39 CHAPTER TWO: Redemption in the Vulgate Cycle's Lancelot.. ....................... .40-65 PART II: THE GRAIL CHAPTER ONE: Redemption in Chretien de Troyes's Le Conte du Graal (Perceval) .................................................................... 66-97 CHAPTER TWO: Redemption in La Quete du Graal. ................................................................................. 98-128 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................ 129-131 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................ 132-141 1 THE REDEMPTIVE ROLE OF CHIVALRY IN OLD FRENCH ARTHURIAN ROMANCE (12TH AND 13TH CENTURIES) INTRODUCTION The purpose of this thesis is to examine the role of religious imagery in Old French Arthurian romance. This exploration of religious imagery will focus on the theme of Christian redemption and, particularly, on the shift in the role of redemption between 12th- and 13th-century Arthurian romances. I will examine this shift by analyzing the Christian redemptive notions in four romances: Chretien de Troyes' s Le Chevalier de la Charrette and Le Conte du Graal (Perceval) (12th- century texts), and two anonymous works from the 13th-century Vulgate Cycle: Lancelot and La Ouete du Graal. The theme of redemption plays a significant role in Lancelot's portrayal as Savior in both Chretien de Troyes' s Le Chevalier de la Charrette and the Vulgate Lancelot. The Christian imagery in all four romances has a dynamic quality that helps to transform the chivalric representations from worldly (in the early texts) to spiritual (in the later texts). The spiritual dynamic appears within these texts if one regards them chronologically. Lancelot, the knight of main interest, appears as a 2 "Christ-like" Savior in the early romances, yet falls from glory in the later texts as a result of his own humanity and as the new chivalric representative arrives. Chretien's Grail romance offers an example of this shift between the two types of chivalry within one text: Chretien's narrative voice glorifies Perceval's spiritual pursuits and condemns Gau vain' s self-seeking worldly pursuits. The final Grail text of this analysis, La Ouete du Graal, presents the culmination and unraveling of the redemptive literary "build-up." In other words, this text is the "denouement" of a certain Old French tradition and brings together into one romance the former and future Savior, the spiritual enlightenment to be obtained, the do's and don't's of the spiritual quest, and the judgment of those who repent and those who don't. La Quete succeeds in transforming the theme of redemption. Each knight either obtains glory or falls from glory in either the "worldly" physical sense or the spiritual sense, according to his choices. For the purpose of this analysis of redemptive imagery, it is important to discuss briefly the redemptive theology of the Bible and Christianity of the Middle Ages. Redemption is "the deliverance from some evil or bondage by payment of a price or ransom" (New Concise Bible Dictionary). In particular, redemption in the Bible refers to Christ's willing death on the cross as payment for the sins of man, in 3 order for man to be reconciled to the righteous God of the universe and have eternal life in Heaven. The Bible states that "all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Rom. 3 .23 ). The Apostle Paul continues by giving a solution to this "fallen" situation by stating that all who believe "are justified freely by grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ" (Rom. 3 .24). It is Paul who offers an understanding of redemption, its purpose and how it is attained. In Ephesians, Paul writes, In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (1.7-10) Paul explicitly explains that through Christ's redemptive works, one receives salvation (redemption), forgiveness, the riches of God's grace and ultimately eternal life. Biblical interpretations, however, are always quite numerous, and the Middle Ages was a time when Christianity underwent many changes and acquired many new doctrinal additions. 1 1 Jeffrey Russell, A History of Medieval Christianity (Arlington Heights: Harland Davison, 1968). 4 The concept of redemption itself was the center of many controversial debates between theologians of the time. Many of the early theologians thought that redemption served two purposes. The first was to reconcile man to God, as I have already explained. But the second was to free humanity from the power of the devil. Many theological debates centered on this belief. According to Biblical doctrine, it is apparent that redemption saves man from the power of the devil and eternal damnation in hell. However, the devil's power is what came under scrutiny in theological debates. Early theologians wondered if the devil had rights. In other words, was the devil given permission by God to have some power over humanity? Following this line of thought, theologians wondered if God purposely deceived the devil by sending Christ in human form to be sacrificed for humanity. Such beliefs concerning the devil seem to have been widely held in the Middle Ages. 2 However, since this aspect of redemption does not directly influence my analysis of
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Echoes of Legend: Magic As the Bridge Between a Pagan Past And
    Winthrop University Digital Commons @ Winthrop University Graduate Theses The Graduate School 5-2018 Echoes of Legend: Magic as the Bridge Between a Pagan Past and a Christian Future in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur Josh Mangle Winthrop University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/graduatetheses Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons Recommended Citation Mangle, Josh, "Echoes of Legend: Magic as the Bridge Between a Pagan Past and a Christian Future in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur" (2018). Graduate Theses. 84. https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/graduatetheses/84 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at Digital Commons @ Winthrop University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Winthrop University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ECHOES OF LEGEND: MAGIC AS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN A PAGAN PAST AND A CHRISTIAN FUTURE IN SIR THOMAS MALORY’S LE MORTE DARTHUR A Thesis Presented to the Faculty Of the College of Arts and Sciences In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Of Master of Arts In English Winthrop University May 2018 By Josh Mangle ii Abstract Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur is a text that tells the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Malory wrote this tale by synthesizing various Arthurian sources, the most important of which being the Post-Vulgate cycle. Malory’s work features a division between the Christian realm of Camelot and the pagan forces trying to destroy it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Logic of the Grail in Old French and Middle English Arthurian Romance
    The Logic of the Grail in Old French and Middle English Arthurian Romance Submitted in part fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Martha Claire Baldon September 2017 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 8 Introducing the Grail Quest ................................................................................................................ 9 The Grail Narratives ......................................................................................................................... 15 Grail Logic ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Medieval Forms of Argumentation .................................................................................................. 35 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................. 44 Narrative Structure and the Grail Texts ............................................................................................ 52 Conceptualising and Interpreting the Grail Quest ............................................................................ 64 Chapter I: Hermeneutic Progression: Sight, Knowledge, and Perception ............................... 78 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • King Arthur CD Booklet
    Benedict Flynn KING ARTHUR and the Knights of the Round Table Read by Sean Bean JUNIOR CLASSICS CHILDREN’S FAVOURITES NA213812D 1 Prologue – the reign of Uther Pendragon 1:58 2 The death of Uther Pendragon 2:34 3 A summons to the Great Council in London 6:54 4 The sword in the anvil 6:32 5 King Arthur learns from Merlin 4:29 6 Magic and Guinevere, the young daughter of King Leodegraunce 6:48 7 From a lake, the sword Excalibur 7:01 8 Arthur, Guinevere and the Round Table 9:32 9 Merlin’s farewell, and a surprise arrival 5:15 10 A new knight – Sir Lancelot 7:54 11 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 9:59 12 ‘And there was the Green Knight’… 3:00 13 The adventures of Sir Lancelot at Corbenic Castle 10:45 14 ‘Elaine refused to be comforted’ 5:18 15 Mordred – black, black hair and cruel, pale eyes 2:58 16 The sword in the stone and the Holy Grail 8:23 17 The Holy Grail again 9:09 18 Lancelot and Guinevere 9:12 19 Guinevere is saved 4:38 20 Battle between Arthur and Lancelot 9:03 21 Mordred and Morgana le Fay plot 6:16 22 Face to face with Mordred 3:38 23 Excalibur returns to the Lady of the Lake 4:28 24 To Avalon… 2:33 Total time: 2:28:30 2 Benedict Flynn KING ARTHUR and the Knights of the Round Table There are still some places in Britain, hidden le Fey, for one, who plotted so deviously away, that are beyond the reach of time.
    [Show full text]
  • Bangor University DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY Representations Of
    Bangor University DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Representations of the grail quest in medieval and modern literature Ropa, Anastasija Award date: 2014 Awarding institution: Bangor University Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 26. Sep. 2021 Representations of the Grail Quest in Medieval and Modern Literature Anastasija Ropa In fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Bangor University Bangor University 2014 i Abstract This thesis explores the representation and meaning of the Grail quest in medieval and modern literature, using the methodologies of historically informed criticism and feminist criticism. In the thesis, I consider the themes of death, gender relations and history in two medieval romances and three modern novels in which the Grail quest is the structuring motif. Comparing two sets of texts coming from different historical periods enhances our understanding of each text, because not only are the modern texts influenced by their medieval precursors, but also our perception of medieval Grail quest romances is modified by modern literature.
    [Show full text]
  • Robert De Boron™S Overshadowing of Chrétien De Troyes
    UCLA Paroles gelées Title The Collaborative Lens: Robert de Boron’s Overshadowing of Chrétien de Troyes Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5sm6v0cm Journal Paroles gelées, 25(1) ISSN 1094-7264 Author Hackney, Melanie A. Publication Date 2009 DOI 10.5070/PG7251003186 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California The Collaborative Lens: Robert de Boron’s Overshadowing of Chrétien de Troyes __________________________________________________ Melanie A. Hackney Louisiana State University Notions of authorship, writing, and originality significantly differ today from their medieval connotations. In France, the sixteenth century saw a shift in attitudes toward originality, beginning with Joachim Du Bellay’s La Deffence, et illustration de la langue françoyse , which asserts the need for innovation while also praising imitatio. It marks a rupture with medieval practices that esteemed the mention of sources to authenticate works and that recognized the individuality of the author only to the degree to which he or she remained faithful to those sources while transferring oral stories into print. In this examination of the grail narratives by Chrétien de Troyes and Robert de Boron, I aim to establish that the very process of translatio is in fact a form of collaboration, one which stems from the work itself, rather than the authors. Their grail narratives illustrate that collaboration could not only drastically change a story in the Middle Ages, but also reinvent the way in which future readers would interpret it. In light of this analysis, I will suggest a reevaluation of the term “collaboration” and its application to modern texts. Collaboration can be defined as working collectively with another or a group, often in an intellectual capacity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Moral Problem in Malory
    Nathan Comfort Starr THE MORAL PROBLEM IN MALORY Tr-1E PROBLEM OF MALORY's ETHICS in the Morte Darthur presents contradictions which are insoluble by the laws of any rigid code. There indeed lies the secret of Malory's greatest power. On the surface, if one accepts the authority of Ca..'Cton's preface, the intention is clearly ethical. Caxton's purpose in priming the book, he says, \Vas ... "to the entente that noble men may see and !erne the noble actes of chyvalrye, the jenty l and vertuous dedes that somme knyghtes used in tho dayes, by whyche they came to honour, and how they that were vycious were punysshed and ofte put tO shame and rebuke". Yet one notices that even here Caxton makes reservations. The work he is introducing is not invariably one of high and noble conduct. It is only "somme knyghtes"' that are virtuous. Later in the same paragraph one finds further eviJcuce of Caxron's ambivalence when he notes both good and evil in the Marte Darthur. "For herein may be seen noble chyvalrye, curtosye, bumanyte, frendlynesse hardynesse, love, frendshyp, cowardyse, murdre, bate, vertue, and synne". Out of this melange Caxton extracts a moral: "Doo after the good and [eve the evyl". In spite of contradictions, the moral alterna­ tives and conflicts which Caxton recognizes account for Malory's most moving p:.l.Ssages, and reveal the powt>r rh:n characterizes great li terature in its func­ tional reconciliation of opposites. The present high regard for blory, fortified by Eugene Vinaver's magisterial edition of the Winchester manuscript, and by distinguished re­ workmgs of material from the Marte Darthur by E.
    [Show full text]
  • The Republic of Turkey Ankara University Graduate School of Social Sciences Department of Western Languages and Literatures (English Language and Literature)
    THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY ANKARA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE) TRANSCULTURALISM IN MEDIEVAL ROMANCE: ANONYMOUS THE QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL, THE SONG OF ROLAND AND CHAUCER’S TROILUS AND CRISEYDE PhD Dissertation Funda HAY Ankara - 2019 THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY ANKARA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE) TRANSCULTURALISM IN MEDIEVAL ROMANCE: ANONYMOUS THE QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL, THE SONG OF ROLAND AND CHAUCER’S TROILUS AND CRISEYDE PhD Dissertation Funda HAY Supervisor Prof. Dr. Ufuk EGE UYGUR Ankara – 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to thank my advisor, Prof. Dr. Ufuk Ege Uygur for introducing me to the magical and unlimited world of medieval literature. Without her unique experience and knowledge, I would not have found my way. She always encouraged me to cross my boundaries and to study abroad. Without her courage, I would not have benefited from the unlimited resources of the University of Leeds. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Prof. Emilia Jamroziak and Dr. Catherine Batt for sharing their wisdom with me, and for their guidance during my research at the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds. I would also like to thank for their unique knowledge. I would like to thank TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) for funding my research in the UK and for their generous support to the many who are able to pursue their studies thanks to their scholarships.
    [Show full text]
  • Tales from Camelotk 0 Pakistan to Defend the Right to Handsome He Wears Red Armour C 40 R 175 8 C 40 R 175 Education for Girls
    Step Two A2/B1 KEYS TO THE ACTIVITIES Colore iniziali GreenVictoria Apple Heward CHAPTER 7 – THEColore QUEST iniziali FOR Green THE Apple 3 They fought for their HOLY GRAIL independence, they wanted an C 50 R 147 C 50 R 147 education and wanted to have Colore Life Skills M 0 G 192 Possible answer: M 0 G 192 more control over their own lives. Y 100 B 25 Important: 4 He can sit on theY 100 SiegeB 25 4 Because she bravely fought for K 0 C 0 R 239 K 0 Perilous 5 He must find the Holy girls’ right to an education, M 60 G 123 Grail 7 He has a special destiny Y 100 B 0 because she risked her life in Colore Green Apple Not important: 3 He Coloreis very Green Apple Tales from CamelotK 0 Pakistan to defend the right to handsome He wears red armour C 40 R 175 8 C 40 R 175 education for girls. M 0 G 202 M 0 G 202 King ArthurY 90 andB 0 the Knights CHAPTER 8 – AVALON Y 90 B 0 2 K 0 K 0 1 Open answer. Possible answer: 2 Open answer. of the Round Table 1 love, sadness, death 2 betrayal, 3 Open answer. Font utilizzati dishonesty, love, fearFont 3 utilizzatibetrayal, KEYS TO THE ACTIVITIES 4 Open answer. ambition, dishonesty, lies, death 4 Agenda Medium Before you read CHAPTER 3 – THE LADY OF THE dishonesty, sadness,Agenda lies Medium 3 LAKE 1 d 2 f 3 e 4 c 5 b 6 a 1 Dossier - King Arthur – magician knight beard Possible answer: Activities 1 2 3 Truth or Legend? 4 sword 5 armour 6 stone 1 a good soldier – He helped unite CHAPTER 1 – THE MAGICIAN AND 7 wedding 8 chapel 9 lake theGill kings Sans Std of ExtraBritain Bold 2 magician – 1 Gill Sans Std Extra
    [Show full text]
  • Perspectives on the Grail: Subjectivity of Experience in La Queste Del Saint Graal
    Perspectives on the Grail: Subjectivity of Experience in La Queste del Saint Graal. Andrea M.L. Williams University of Exeter In La Queste del Saini Craal, important aspects of the author's use of narrati ve technique as a reflection of certain central thematic concerns have gone largely undiscussed by critics. The narrative of this Grail Romance recounts a series of adventures experienced by the Knights of the Round Table as they seek an understanding of the significance of the Holy Grail and of its appearance in the realm of Logres. During the course of their wanderings, many, indeed most, knights fail to varying degrees in their Quest, with ultimately only Bars, Perceval and Galahad achieving the Grail. Success or failure in the Quest seems to be measured according to the ways in which the 'aventures del Graal' are perceived, understood, or even misunderstood by the individual characters, and these 'aventures' tend to be presented ambiguously or paradoxically, with single events in the text being given a multiplicity of interpretations. Two planes of existence overlap in the Grail adventures: on the one hand, the world perceived as 'real' by the majority of the knights, and on the other, the world of the 'aventures del Graal' where things are not as they seem and are only comprehensible to a few characters: in fact, the failure of several knights on the Quest is due to their misinterpretation of events which they have understood literally rather than metaphorically. In this Grail Romance, the reader frequently fmds a single episode presented from more than one perspective: I intend to look at some examples of this narrative technique and the ways in which the author foregrounds these scenes through the use of certain linguistic signposts.
    [Show full text]
  • “Oh Lord, My God, Forgive Me”
    Háskóli Íslands Hugvísindasvið Íslensk miðaldafræði “Oh Lord, My God, Forgive Me”: Comparing the Psychological Effects of Religious Shame in Le Conte du Graal (Perceval) and Parcevals Saga Ritgerð til MA-prófs í Íslenskum miðaldafræðum Bethany Rogers Kt.: 260682-3429 Leiðbeinandi: Sif Ríkharðsdóttir September 2015 ABSTRACT The aim of this thesis is to examine the relationship between religion and shame as portrayed by characterizations of Perceval in the original French text of Le Conte du Graal (Perceval) by Chrétien de Troyes and in the Norwegian translation Parcevals saga (author unknown). This will provide an examination of how shame is represented, what its portrayal means for the narrative itself and why it may be represented this way due to religious and cultural influences in Norse and French society. The main focus will be on the association of shame and sin and how the relationship between the two is viewed in both cultures as depicted in the two narratives. The portrayal of emotions other than love in the romances has not often been examined by scholars, particularly in a psychological context. Leah Tether´s Master´s thesis, ―Beyond the Grail: The Roles of Objects as Psychological Markers in Chrétien de Troyes´ Conte du Graal,‖ examines Perceval´s perception of objects in the story and their gradual acquisition of deeper, symbolic interpretation as he matures. Sylvester George Tan similarly explores the idea of unconscious sin and asks whether or not Perceval is unfairly castigated for his actions within the narrative in his article, ―Perceval‘s Unknown Sin: Narrative Theology in Chrétien‘s Story of the Grail.‖ However, these works do not consider theology and its psychological influences on an individual and, by extension, his culture as represented in literature.
    [Show full text]
  • THE IDEALIZED WORLD of MALORY's "MORTE DARTHUR": a Study of the Elements of Myth, Allegory, and Symbolism in the Secul
    THE IDEALIZED WORLD OF MALORY'S "MORTE DARTHUR": A Study of the Elements of Myth, Allegory, and Symbolism in the Secular and Religious Milieux of Arthurian Romance by MURIEL A. I. WHITAKER A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Department of English We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA April, 1970 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree tha permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the Head of my Department or by his representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of Date 7 T ABSTRACT Towards the end of the Middle Ages, Sir Thomas Malory synthesized the diverse elements of British chronicle history, Celtic myth, French courtoisie, and Catholic theology which over a period of six hundred years or more had gathered about the legendary figure of King Arthur. Furthermore, Malory presented in definitive form the kind of idealized milieu that later writers in English came to regard as romantic. Malory's Morte Darthur presents dramatically the activities of a mythic aristocratic society living in a golden age. It preserves the "history" of a British king who defeats the Emperor of Rome and establishes an empire stretching from Ireland and Scandinavia to the Eastern Mediterranean.
    [Show full text]
  • Walker Percy's Lancelot and the Critic's Original Sin
    Walker Percy's Lancelot and the Critic's Original Sin By: Stephen R. Yarbrough Yarbrough, Stephen R. (1988) "Walker Percy's Lancelot and the Critic's Original Sin." Texas Studies in Literature and Language 30 (Summer): 272-94. Made available courtesy of University of Texas Press: http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/ ***Reprinted with permission. No further reproduction is authorized without written permission from University of Texas Press. This version of the document is not the version of record. Figures and/or pictures may be missing from this format of the document.*** Article: There is one story and one story only that is worth your telling. —Robert Graves, "To Juan at the Winter Solstice" And the Lord God said, Behold, the In WI is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. —Genesis 3:22 Stanley Fish in Surprised by Sin (1987) claimed that Milton's method in Paradise Lost "is to re-create in the mind of the reader (which is, finally, the poem's scene) the drama of the Fall, to make him fall again exactly as Adam did and with Adam's troubled clarity."1 Three years later in the preface to the paperback edition, Fish said he no longer believes it is necessary to "construct a special argument" for specifying "the peculiarly circular nature of the reader's relationship" to Paradise Lost, since such a relation holds between the reader and any text (ix).
    [Show full text]