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King Arthur as Transcendent Rhetoric of Anxiety: Examining Arthurian Legends as Sociopolitical Paratexts

Ancona, Alexis Faith
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6327-279X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1525102970057973

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, English.
As a recurring figure representative of the institution of kingship, King Arthur presents a unique rhetorical opportunity to examine sociopolitical anxieties of the Middle Ages. Because of his unique position, I propose Arthur himself is a text to be analyzed. With Arthur established as a text, specifically one of rhetorical significance, I analyze his subsequent iterations (historical and literary) as paratexts. Traditionally, paratextual analysis has involved an investigation of the literal and physical artifacts surrounding a text; however, by examining Arthur-the-figure as a text, I apply paratextual analysis theoretically. Rather than examining book bindings or author's notes, I argue Arthur's paratexts involve genre and the sociopolitical rhetoric of his authors. Through this method, I argue that Arthur is a transcendent text onto which sociopolitical anxieties are imposed, making him more than a literary figure but rather a rhetorical device of cultural memory and anxiety, particularly an anxiety of belonging. The works of Geoffrey of Monmouth, Geoffrey Chaucer, Marie de France, and Sir Thomas Malory afford both an illustration of Arthur's transcendent temporality and insights into attempts at self-actualization. Reading Arthur-the-figure as a text provides not only significant opportunities to recover marginalized narratives of medieval England, but also insight into present sociopolitical anxieties.
Miriamne Krummel (Advisor)
49 p.
British and Irish Literature; Folklore; Gender; Literature; Medieval History; Medieval Literature; Middle Ages; Rhetoric
medieval literature; geoffrey chaucer; king arthur; arthurian literature; geoffrey of monmouth; marie de france; thomas malory; le morte darthur; paratextual analysis; rhetorical analysis; social anxieties; self-actualization

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ancona, A. F. (2018). King Arthur as Transcendent Rhetoric of Anxiety: Examining Arthurian Legends as Sociopolitical Paratexts [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1525102970057973

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ancona, Alexis. King Arthur as Transcendent Rhetoric of Anxiety: Examining Arthurian Legends as Sociopolitical Paratexts. 2018. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1525102970057973.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ancona, Alexis. "King Arthur as Transcendent Rhetoric of Anxiety: Examining Arthurian Legends as Sociopolitical Paratexts." Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1525102970057973

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

dayton1525102970057973
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This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.