Alliterative Morte Arthure • Work of last half of 14th century, probably closer

to 1390-1400; author unknown • Sources: Geoffrey, Wace or Layamon, lots of

battle know-how (perhaps his own) • Aliterative revival—emphasizes the poem’s

“Englishness” • Focuses on the political loyalties and internal

divisions; Richard II’s court full of these questions • Focuses on Gawain, Mordred, and Waynor

(Guinevere)

Only one surviving copy

• Thornton MS copied between 1430 & 1440 in a Lincolnshire dialect

• May have been compiled from smaller manuscripts

• Contains chivalric romances, religious texts, and medical remedies

• Hear bits read aloud: http://faculty.arts.ubc.ca/sechard/amalang.htm

Robert Thornton’s colophon, f. 98v

Hic jacet Arthurus rex quondam rexque futurus

De casibus Tragedies • Has to do with the fall of great people

• Popularized by Boccaccio in mid-14th century

• Moral commentary on misfortune and enduring it (written just after the Black Plague)

• Use of biography to teach a moral lesson

• Luck favors people for a while, but then turns away from them, whether they have done something wrong or not; happiness is not found in this world but in Heaven.

Wheel of Fortune

Nine Worthies (Cologne City Hall, 13th c)

L-R: Charlemagne, Arthur, Godfrey of Boulogne; Julius Caesar, Hector, Alexander the Great; David, Joshua, and Judas Maccabeus.

Tapestry of 9 Worthies (Cloisters)

• Alliterative Morte author combines de casibus, 9 Worthies tradition, and image of Wheel

• Sets up parallels: the two dreams, the great battles, the lessons learned

• Arthur’s story becomes a Mirror for Magistrates, an exemplary tale to teach rulers how to behave

Questions It Presents • What kind of king IS Arthur?

• To what extent is Arthur responsible for his own fall?

• Why is Arthur at the center of the story?

• Why is there no possibility of return for Arthur?

• To what ends is the Arthurian story starting to be turned?

• What kind of tragedy is this?

Alliterative Morte Arthure and the Critics: five views of tragedy

o John Finlayson: not until after he beats Lucius does Arthur decline;

AMA contrasts just wars (for justice, end oppression, fight

usurpation) and unjust wars (revenge, personal glory, willfulness)

o Russell Peck: a Boethian tragedy of Arthur's self-glorification. Sir

Kay's death is the turning point (2171ff); unsurprising that Cradok

doesn't recognize Arthur, since he's grown so proud.

o William Matthews: a tragedy of Fortune; critical of the hero and of

war, although it retains the hero; vows in opening scene unChristian; Arthur a latter-day Alexander the Great (as Priamus notes.

o R. M. Lumiansky: another Boethian view, in which Arthur exhibits fortitude in the face of worldly demands; the turning point is the Tuscan campaign, where Arthur ceases to be virtuous until prompted by the dream, after which he dies restored to fortitude and not in wretchedness

o Larry Benson: tension between Christian detachment necessary for ultimate happiness even on earth, and complete engagement with an earthly ideal that chivalric heroism requires; Arthur's fault is ascribing to the code in the first place, and it couldn't be avoided. Wastefulness of war contrasted with justness of war fought against usurpers and pagans.

Critics (cont.)