« Rex quondam Rexque futurus » : étude en miroir du récit de la mort d’Arthur dans la Vera Historia de morte Arthuri et Le Morte Darthur de Malory

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Supervisors: Latre, Guido ; Isebaert, Lambert
Faculty: Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres
Degree label: Master [60] en langues et lettres anciennes, orientation classiques
Abstract: enThis essay deals with the narrative of King Arthur’s death in the Vera Historia de morte Arthuri (Latin text from the end of the XIIth century) and in Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur (English text from the second half of the XVth century). It details the historical context in which those works have been written and presents a literary analysis focused on the influence of the various traditions of medieval Arthurian literature, as well as the representation of the figure of Arthur. It also supplies a personal translation of the Vera Historia de morte Arthuri. Finally, it offers a brief comparative synthesis. This essay aims to emphasise the differences and similarities between these two texts produced in Britain. In those, the figure of Arthur is expressed through different forms but still presents a seemingly identical core. The combination of these core characteristics with the theme of death allows through the narrative of King Arthur’s death the exploration of grief, fate and the nature of death.