Arthur, King of Britain: History, Chronicle, Romance & Criticism

Description

With texts in modern English, from Gildas to Malory. Here is Arthur, valiant King of Britain, from the beginning to the end of the Middle Ages, from the time he slaughters invaders in early history (Part I) until he succumbs through treachery in late romance (Part II). In between is a great wealth of materials for investigation and interpretation. To aid in both these important endeavors, Part III consists of criticism, carefully selected essays by leading Arthurian scholars. After the student has read the primary texts in translation, he can turn to these pages to broaden and deepen his knowledge and understanding, as well as to sharpen his critical perception through varying analytical approaches. As a guide throughout, study questions on the materials in Parts I, II, and III are contained in Part IV, along with suggestions for short and long investigative papers. These topics for research allow the reader to leave Arthur if he chooses and follow in library resources the outstanding personages of that glittering court. Moreover, broad historical, geographical, and mythical subjects are included for possible examination. A selective bibliography in Part V contains a list of translations, text and author studies, and critical items for use in the various research topics. Finally, there is a brief Glossary at the end to assist the student with certain Middle English and Latin words or expressions, and to identify a few geographical locations and real or imaginary persons. PREFACE vii PART I: HISTORY AND PSEUDO-HISTORY GILDAS, from "De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae" (c. 540) 3 BEDE, from "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum" (731) 4 NENNIUS, from "Historia Brittonum" {c. 800) 5 "ANNALES CAMBRIAE" (c. 950), Three entries 7 WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY, from "Gesta Regum Anglorum" (c. 1125) 7 GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS, from "De Principis Instructione" (c. 1195) 9 RALPH HIGDEN, from "Polychronicon" (c. 1327) 11 PART II: CHRONICLE AND ROMANCE "THE MABINOGION", "Culhwch and Olwen" (c. 1100) 15 GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH, from "Historia Regum Britanniae" (c. 1136) 43 ROBERT BIKET, "The Lay of the Horn" (c. 1150) 103 WACE, from "Roman de Brut" (1155) 110 LAYAMON, from "Brut" (c. 1205) 127 "THE MABINOGION", "The Dream of Rhonabwy" (c. 1220) 142 "ARTHUR AND MERLIN" (c. 1265), "The Choosing of Arthur" 155 "MORTE ARTHURE" (c. 1360), from "The Alliterative Version" 165 "LE MORTE ARTHUR" (c. 1400), from "The Stanzaic Version" 193 THE PROSE "MERLIN" (c. 1450), "The Early History of King Arthur" 215 SIR THOMAS MALORY, from "Le Morte D'Arthur" (c. 1469, 1485) 233 PART III: CRITICISM KENNETH HURLSTONE JACKSON, "The Arthur of History" 325 JOHN JAY PARRY, "The Historical Arthur" 331 WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, "The Birth of Britain" 336 JOHN J. PARRY AND ROBERT A. CALDWELL, "Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae” 339 J. S. P. TATLOCK, "Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historiography" 344 ALBERT C. BAUGH, "Definition, Characteristics, and 'Matters' of Medieval Romance" 348 GWYN JONES AND THOMAS JONES, "Culhwch and Olwen" 351 ERNEST HOEPFFNER, "Biket's Lay of the Horn" 355 ROBERT HUNTINGTON FLETCHER, "Wace's Roman de Brut" 357 HENRY CECIL WYLD, "Layamon as an English Poet" 366 IDRIS LLEWELYN FOSTER, "The Dream of Rhonabwy" 375 ROBERT W. ACKERMAN, "Arthour and Merlin" 378 WILLIAM MATTHEWS, "Sin and Punishment in the Alliterative Morte Arthure" 379 JOHN EDWIN WELLS, "The Stanzaic Le Morte Arthur" 390 M. C. BRADBROOK, "Malory and the Heroic Tradition" 392 EUGENE VINAVER, "Malory's Le Morte Darthur" 396 STUDY QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 409 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND GLOSSARY 429