The name Morgan le Fay holds many meanings and has appeared in various forms throughout the course of medieval and modern history.
Which Witch?: Morgan le Fay as Shape-Shifter and English Perceptions of Magic Reflected in Arthurian Legend
March 1, 2018 by
Arthur and the Giant of Mont-Saint-Michel: The Creation of a Folktale
January 23, 2018 by
The article traces the transformation of history into fiction, in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s story of King Arthur’s attacks on the Romans and his battle against the (Spanish) Giant of Mont-Saint-Michel
Will the Real Guinevere Please Stand Up?
December 17, 2017 by
If you’ve ever watched soap operas chances are good you’re familiar with the trope of the evil twin. But did you know it extends even into Arthurian legend?
Masks of the Dark Goddess in Arthurian Literature: Origin and Evolution of Morgan le Fay
November 21, 2017 by
The world of Arthurian legend is one steeped in mythology and magic. Such tales often feature perplexing and seemingly contradictory characters: a primary example of such a character is Morgan le Fay.
The Legendary King: How the Figure of King Arthur Shaped a National Identity and the Field of Archaeology in Britain
November 16, 2017 by
Drawing from archaeological evidence, historic, and current sources, we can understand King Arthur’s role as a symbol of Britain, which has affected the narrative of Tintagel Castle as the birthplace of King Arthur.
Chretien de Troyes and Arthurian Romance in the Development of the Tournament
October 3, 2017 by
How did the joust as an event come to replace the tournament proper? The relationship between art and life is of a cyclical nature, meaning that it does not stop with art’s imitation of life, but continues with the roles reversed. This was the relationship between Chretien de Troyes and the medieval nobility.
Love, Freedom, and Marital Fidelity in Malory’s Morte Darthur
July 31, 2017 by
If we examine closely Malory’s representation of courtship and marriage — a sphere of human activity within knightly society where men’s and women’s interests and activities converge — we will realize that he is not at all “misogynistic.”
Medievalists at the Movies: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
July 17, 2017 by
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword premiered May 2017 MAN CANDY ALERT! When I sat down to watch “King Arthur” over this past weekend, I was a bit apprehensive. This big-budget, big-name feature film didn’t last very long in theaters (never a good sign) and it received overall negative reviews (typically, not always, not a […]
The Medieval Magazine (Volume 3, Issue 9) : The Magic of King Arthur
May 19, 2017 by
In this issue: A Man for All Centuries: The Changing Myth of King Arthur, Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur comes to the big screen!, Medieval Minded with author Guy Gavriel Kay, Books: Harold: The King Who Fell at Hastings, Travel: A hidden medieval garden in Southern France
Letters from the Otherworld: Arthur and Henry II in Stephen of Rouen’s Draco Normannicus
May 3, 2017 by
The poem Draco Normannicus includes a correspondence between King Arthur, now ruler of the Antipodes, and Henry II.
Book Excerpt: Warriors and Kings The 1500-Year Battle For Celtic Britain by Martin Wall
March 22, 2017 by
For those of you looking for something Celtic to read this spring, author Martin Wall brings us Warriors and Kings: The 1500-Year Battle for Celtic Britain.
The Story of the Grail
February 17, 2017 by
The Story of the Grail has captivated people for hundreds of years. How is it that a story first written in the 12th century can still be so meaningful in the 21st?
Did Medieval People Believe in King Arthur?
July 20, 2016 by
By Danièle Cybulskie If you’ve ever had your doubts that King Arthur was a real, living, breathing human being at some point, you’re not alone. Despite the many, many histories that “prove” that Arthur was definitely this or that – tenacious Briton, Roman military man, leader of hunky Sarmatians – the evidence is pretty thin. […]
Daughter of Destiny, by Nicole Evelina
January 9, 2016 by
Before queenship and Camelot, Guinevere was a priestess of Avalon. She loved another before Arthur, a warrior who would one day betray her.
Reclaiming Guinevere for the 21st Century
January 9, 2016 by
It’s my hope that as women continue to claim their power in modern society, they will learn from Guinevere’s mistakes, emulate her strengths, and claim her as the heroine and role model she should be.
The Lady’s Man: Gawain as Lover in Middle English Literature
December 26, 2015 by
Gawain’s reputation as a philanderer precedes him; the best known example is the comment of Bertilak’s wife in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, whose disbelief that the famous and courteous Gawain could be alone with her and not crave a kiss is notorious
In Search of Guinevere
November 28, 2015 by
As a lifelong lover of Arthurian stories, I have always had a love/hate relationship with Guinevere. In some stories, she is the well-mannered and generous ideal queen; in others she is a jealous and spiteful adulteress. How can she be both? When did she change?
Celtic Mythology in the Arthurian Legend
October 31, 2015 by
The aim of this thesis is to find out whether there are some aspects, themes or symbols of the pagan Celtic mythology that appear in the Arthurian legend and if so, what role they play there and to what extent they influence the legend.
Hair and Masculinity in the Alliterative Morte Arthure
September 5, 2015 by
This essay examines the use of forced hair cutting in the late fourteenth‐century alliterative romance, Morte Arthure, to show how it is used to develop characters that reflect the tension surrounding the English king Richard II and the tyranny that characterized the final years of his reign.
Secret Gestures and Silent Revelations: The Disclosure of Secrets in Selected Arthurian Illuminated Manuscripts and Arthurian Films
August 29, 2015 by
This paper explores visual language and iconic systems central to the representation of the Arthurian cycle in thirteenth and fifteenth century Gothic illuminated manuscripts and in two Arthurian films; its focus is the theme of courtly love and crucial revelations of the secret or hidden.
Malory’s Arthur and the Politics of Chivalry
August 27, 2015 by
The jury is back and the verdict is in. In Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur, a major reason the Round Table falls is that its political apparatus and the chivalric ethos in which that apparatus is grounded are inadequate for maintaining a stable kingdom.
Five Ways Gawain Kicks Lancelot’s Ass
July 23, 2015 by
Here are five ways in which Gawain shows Lancelot who’s boss!
Magna Carta Conference Offers New Insights Into The 800-year-old Document
June 22, 2015 by
Magna Carta just celebrated its 800th birthday this past Monday. In honour of this incredible milestone, King’s College London, and the Magna Carta Project, hosted a 3 day conference dedicated to this historic document.
The Medieval Sleeping Beauty
June 18, 2015 by
I’ve since read an early version of the Sleeping Beauty story from the actual fourteenth century, and it’s much darker than the modern version, although it does hold an interesting secret for those who love the stories of the Round Table.
Genre Medievalisms: Geek Goes Chic!
June 4, 2015 by
Is Cersei a collection of bad medieval stereotypes? Have nerds gone mainstream? Were American cowboys a modern retelling of the medieval knight? Put down that comic, put away your bag of dice, and indulge your inner nerd.
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