'Yet som men say...kynge Arthure ys nat dede': Medieval Christianity, apocalyptic expectations, and Malory's transformation of King Arthur's death.

摘要

Christianity in the late Middle Ages focused largely on a concern for the afterlife and the need for repentance, which was connected to the belief that Christ's Second Coming was near. As a result, late medieval writings expressed a clear concern for the state of one's soul when facing death as well as the judgment that would accompany death. Despite the importance of these concerns, Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur has been overlooked in relation to these issues. Most critics argue that Malory's work is not as Christian as his sources; however, when the Morte is read in relation to late medieval religious concerns, this conclusion is unsatisfactory.;Specifically, Malory's original additions and his transformation of King Arthur's death reflect late medieval Christian concerns. Chapter One introduces the current state of Malorian studies, exploring why the Christian elements of the work have been left largely unexplored by previous critics. Chapter Two discusses the nature of and evidence for late medieval Christian concerns. Chapter Three explores Malory's original sections of books I–VII of the Morte, which reflect late medieval Christian concerns. Chapter Four analyzes King Arthur's death in relation to these issues. By switching from the written tradition concerning Arthur—an ending in which Arthur definitively dies—and using information from the oral tradition—the belief that Arthur may return again—Malory transformed a traditional romance into a work of myth, which contains many elements of Christian hope. Finally, Chapter Five analyzes Malory's changes to the deaths of Lancelot, Guinevere, and the remaining knights, which further emphasizes the need for repentance. In a distinct way, each chapter sheds light on how late medieval culture affected and shaped Malory's transmission of the legend of King Arthur and his knights, and reveals the way in which Le Morte Darthur reflects the Christian concerns of its age.