The Arthurian Legend

Comparison of Treatment in Modern and Mediaeval Literature

Margaret J. C. Reid

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• Topic: Literature
• eBook ISBN:
  9781317656678
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

First published in 1938, this study explores the reception of the mythology of King Arthur by modern poets and playwrights. More specifically, the author explores the lineage of the legendary material since the first edition of Malory in 1485, exploring a vast range of artists who have made use of it: Spenser, Milton and Dryden, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Hardy, Matthew Arnold, and even Wagner.

The conclusion is that although the myths have never occupied as central a place as the Classical or Biblical heritage, nonetheless the tales of King Arthur will continue to encapsulate romantic ideals and aspirations.

INDEX

Titles of published works are printed in italic.

Amour courtois, 1, 4

Anfortas, King, in Parzival, 167, 168, 169, 172

“Annales Cambriæ,” 16

Arderydd, battle of, 71

Arnold, Matthew, “Tristram and Iseult,” 240

Artegal, 73

Arthur, 1, 12, 49, 53

as chieftain, 53

as culture hero, 117

birth of, 74

death of, 22, 27

feudal, 20

historical, 14

in Chronicles, 14–29

in eighteenth century, 35–41

in Mabinogion, 120

in Malory, 28

in metrical romances (English), 59–64

in seventeenth century, 34–35

in sixteenth century, 30–33

in Tennyson, 137

in Tristram of Lyonesse, 213

mythical Arthur, 14

slayer of monsters, 120

tomb of Arthur, 151

See below under “Avowynge of Arthur,” also “Auntres of Arthure,” etc.

Arthur, return of, in Don Quixote, 245

Arthurian myth, value of, 250, 262

Astolat, maiden of, 92–3

“Auntres of Arthure at the Terne Wathelyn,” 63

Avalon, 22, 26, 42, 111, 131. See also Glastonbury

“Avowynge of Arthur,” 63

Balan. See Balin and Balan

Balen. See under Swinburne

Balin (Balen) and Balan, in Malory, 159. See under Tennyson and Swinburne

Ballads, 11, 12, 35, 96

Beardsley, Aubrey, illustrator of Malory, 208

Bedevere (Bedwyr, Bedivere), 1, 27

slayer of monsters, 120

Bédier, Joseph, ed. Tristan, 12, 191

Béroul, 208, 213, 214, 215, 282

and Masefield, 238

Tristan of, 192

Binyon, Laurence, Arthur, a play, 49, 107

“Tristram’s End,” Ode, 220–223

Black Book of Cærmarthen, 71, 113. See also under Skene, W. F., ed.

Borron (Boron), Robert de, ed. “Joseph of Arimathea,” 72

“Merlin,” 72

“Percev...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Copyright Page
• AUTHOR’S PREFACE
• Table of Contents
• I. INTRODUCTORY
• II. ARTHUR IN THE CHRONICLES AND IN MALORY
• III. ARTHUR IN THE SIXTEENTH, SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES: SPENSER, MILTON, DRYDEN
• IV. ARTHUR IN MODERN TIMES: SCOTT, TENNYSON, MASEFIELD
• V. GAWAIN
• VI. MERLIN
• VII. LANCELOT
• VIII. THE WELSH TRADITION
• IX. THE HOLY GRAIL: EARLIER VERSIONS
• X. THE HOLY GRAIL: MODERN VERSIONS
• XI. BALIN AND BALAN
• XII. WAGNER: PARSIFAL, LOHENGRIN, TRISTAN
• XIII. TRISTAN: SOURCES AND MALORY
• XIV. TRISTAN: TENNYSON AND SWINBURNE
• XV. TRISTAN: OTHER MODERN VERSIONS
• XVI. THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND IN SATIRE
• XVII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
• APPENDIX A Chronological Summary of Original Poems, Plays and Prose Works after 1485 which have Arthurian Subjects.
• APPENDIX B The Arthurian Legend in the Decorative Arts.
• APPENDIX C List of Important Reference Books including Texts.
• INDEX