Description

The Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend is both a critical history of the Arthurian tradition and a reference guide to Arthurian works, names, characters, symbols, and places. Seven essays offer a comprehensive survey of the legends in all of their manifestations, from their origins in medieval literature to their adaptation in modern literature, arts, film, and popular culture. It also demonstrates the tremendous continuity of the legends by examining the ways that they have been reinterpreted over the years. The indispensable reference on the subject, it also contains encyclopedic entries, bibliographies, and a comprehensive index. The extensive chapter-by-chapter bibliographies, which are subdivided by topic, augment the general bibliography of Arthurian resources.
Comprehensive in its analysis and hypertextual in its approach, the Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend is an essential reference book for Arthurian scholars, medievalists, and for those interested in cultural studies of myth and legend.

Features

• Offers a comprehensive history of the development of the Arthurian legends from their earliest manifestations to adaptations in contemporary literature, art, music, film, and popular culture
• Arranged by topic so that readers can trace the path of a single character, such as Perceval, or a single story, such as Gawain and the Green Knight
• Seven chapters explore the development of major themes including the chronicle and romance traditions, the influence of Malory, the Grail legend, the story of Tristan and Isolt
• A full index of characters, places, and symbols enables the reader to pursue particular themes and motifs through the stories
• Extensively indexed for ease of reference
• A general bibliography of resources about the legends, plus details of all works discussed

Product Details

512 pages; 5-1/4 x 7-3/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-921509-6ISBN10: 0-19-921509-X

About the Author(s)