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 ...................................................................................................................................... 79 The All-encompassing Vision ...................................................................................................... 85 Light and Sight: The First Appearance of the Grail ................................................................... 102 Extramissive Theories of Vision and Individual Perception ...................................................... 115 Chapter II: The Topography of the Grail Quest: Spatial Perception ..................................... 136 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 137 The Arthurian Landscape: Reality and Romance ........................................................................... 142 Finding the Grail Castle in Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval , the Didot- Perceval and Perlesvaus .... 154 Predestination and Free Will: Finding the Grail in the Queste del Saint Graal and the Tale of the Sankgreal ........................................................................................................................................ 165 The Quest on Land ..................................................................................................................... 167 The Quest at Sea ......................................................................................................................... 174 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 182 Chapter III: Temporal Transformations: Grail Time ............................................................. 185 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 186 Temporal References in the Grail Narratives ................................................................................. 191 The Interaction between Linear and Cyclical Temporal Structures ............................................... 204 Grail Time: Manipulations of the Past, Present, and Future ........................................................... 217 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 230 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 234 Possible Worlds .............................................................................................................................. 236 Experiencing the Grail Miracles: Sight, Space and Time ............................................................... 240 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 247 2 Abstract Approaching Grail narratives as a distinct subgenre of medieval romance, this thesis compares five Old French and Middle English Grail texts: Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval (c.1190), the Didot- Perceval (c.1200), Perlesvaus (early thirteenth century), the Vulgate Cycle Queste del Saint Graal (c. 1225) and Thomas Malory’s Tale of the Sankgreal (1469). Through detailed analysis of the ways these texts explore three primary areas of Christian experience – sight, space and time – this thesis illuminates both concepts shared across these Grail narratives, and characteristics that distinguish them from each other. The comparative analysis of this thesis shows how the Grail romances operate according to a distinct form of logic that furthers their interests in spiritual instruction. This thesis opens with an introduction to the five texts under consideration and an overview of previous scholarship on the Grail narratives. The introduction also discusses some of the conventional features of Arthurian romance and foregrounds the ways in which the Grail romances disrupt and distort these familiar expectations. Chapter One, ‘Hermeneutic Progression: Sight, Knowledge, and Perception’, explores t he ways in which the Grail narratives utilise medieval optical theories to highlight hermeneutic contrasts between normative Arthurian aventures and Grail aventures . The knights’ failures in perception in the latter are marked by a geographical disorientat ion. Chapter Two, ‘Spatial Perception: The Topography of the Grail Quest’, argues that once the knights embark upon the quest of the Holy Grail, they enter a separate temporal framework in which their physical progression is dictated by their spiritual imp rovement. Chapter Three, ‘Temporal Transformations: Grail Time’, suggests that in the Grail narratives, concepts of time are transformed to allow readers and Grail knights to travel between the Arthurian present and the biblical past. It is through interpreting and understanding the relationship between past and present that the significance of the Grail aventures emerges. 3 The conclusion to this thesis explores contemporary medieval ideas of demonstrative and dialectic argumentation to suggest that the Grail romances function as a visual form of demonstrative argumentation. This thesis argues that this logic distinguishes the Grail narratives from more secular Arthurian romances and enables both Grail knights and readers to develop their appreciation and understanding of the Grail miracles themselves. 4 Declaration This work has not been submitted in substance for any other degree or award at this or any other university or place of learning, nor is being submitted concurrently in candidature for any degree or other award. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 1 This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 2 This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit references. The views expressed are my own. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 4: PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BAR ON ACCESS I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loans after expiry of a bar on access previously approved by the Academic Standards & Quality Committee. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… 5 6 Acknowledgements I have been lucky enough to benefit from financial support throughout my time in academia. I would like to thank the Rochdale Ancient Parish Educational Trust and Royal Holloway University of London for generously funding my earlier studies and the Arts and Humanities Research Council for their financial support throughout this thesis. This thesis developed from ideas that I have been working on for the past eight years and I would like to thank Ruth Kennedy, Jennifer Neville and Alastair Bennett for providing instrumental advice and encouragement throughout my first two degrees and continually keeping me on track. I would not have reached my PhD without this support. I would also like to thank Rhian Rattray for the eternal patience, help and support she has given to me since I arrived in Cardiff. I also want to say thank you to all of the friends and colleagues, both old and new, who have supported and kept me going while I completed this work. Most of all I would like to thank my supervisors, Megan Leitch and Rob Gossedge, for their invaluable guidance, support and academic advice. Megan and Rob have helped me to develop in ways that I would not have achieved otherwise, and I am incredibly grateful for their help and unwavering confidence in me. I would also like to thank Daniel Wakelin for first awakening