Malory's work in the light of his times

D'Angelo, A G W

Malory's work in the light of his times

Master Thesis

1989

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of English Language and Literature

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

My examination of Malory's work in the light of his times falls into a number of sections which examine his portrayal of government, society, love, religion and chivalry. I have at tempted to identify in each both Malory's own perceptions and those of his society and to show the links between them. I have also considered the proportions of realism and idealism in his work, where appropriate, as well as the accuracy of the physical picture which Malory's work gives of his times. To some extent my choice of topic has been prompted by a desire to justify, though certainly not to apologise for, the study of medieval European literature in the Southern hemisphere, particularly in Africa. I feel that both the internationalism and, if I may coin a term, the 'intertemporalism' promoted by such disciplines have their part to play in the modern world where they are seen as facets of universal human experience. They allow us to approach the stage where the experience of one man in any time may become the experience of any man in any time, and thus intellectually to transcend the bonds of race, or place, or time. The Morte d'Arthur is in this respect a pathway in human experience and the aim of my essay has been to test its reliability. Conclusions are expressed at intervals in the body of the essay, often at the end of a section or subsection, and, more generally, in a separate conclusion at the end. While most references are acknowledged in footnotes I have acknowledged quotations from Malory's work only by page number in the body of the essay. My text for these is Vinaver, E; Malory; Works (London:Oxford University Press, 1981). Since I am to some extent precariously straddling disciplines in this essay I hope that my heavy reliance on historians, particularly social historians, will be viewed with tolerance.

Keywords

Medieval European Literature

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