Behold thy doom is mine: The evolution of Guinevere in the eorks of Chrétien de Troyes, Sir Thomas Malory, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson

<p>Guinevere has existed in literature for nearly a millennium, evolving to suit societal values and mores. She has metamorphosed from Arthur’s noble queen to Lancelot’s jealous lover, from a motherly sovereign to a vindictive adulteress as each author struggled to apply his own literary and societal conventions to a character that is both inherited and created.</p> <p>In addressing the evolution of Guinevere, this thesis has followed her progression through three works: <em>The Knight of the Cart</em> by Chrétien de Troyes, <em>Le Morte d’Arthur</em> by Sir Thomas Malory, and <em>The Idylls of the King</em> by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. In addition, this thesis has drawn upon literary criticism, including that of Maureen Fries and Norris J. Lacy, in proving how Guinevere’s character marks the societal values and beliefs of each author’s time period, as well as how she exemplifies the struggle to understand female characters in literature.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English Language and Literature

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Comer, Stephanie R

Contributors dc:contributor

• Annette Wannamaker, PhD, Chair
• Christine Neufeld, PhD

• ChreÌtien
• de Troyes
• 12th cent. Chevalier de la charrette. English
• Malory
• Thomas
• Sir
• 15th cent. Morte d'Arthur
• Tennyson
• Alfred Tennyson
• Baron
• 1809-1892. Idylls of the King. Selections
• Guenevere
• Queen (Legendary character)
• Arthurian romances History and criticism
• English Language and Literature

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/164

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1163