Marczuk Barbara , Gorecka-Kalita Joanna , Kocik Agnieszka
book title:
Savoirs et fiction dans les littératures romanes
date of publication
:
2014
place of publication : name of publisher:
Kraków : Collegium Columbinum
pages:
105-116
ISBN:
978-83-7624-128-9
series:
Biblioteka Tradycji. Seria Druga, ISSN 1895-6076; nr 133
language:
French
book language:
French
abstract in English:
Although the early mediaeval literature didn’t know the late mediaeval artes moriendi, death was seen there as a phenomenon which needed certain know-how. The literary heroes knew in general that they were dying, and the source of this knowledge was purely metaphysical; it allowed them to prepare themselves for that moment by forgiving the offences, asking forgiveness and commending their soul to God. The article investigates from that point of view the 13th century romance, La mort le roi Artu (The Death of King Arthur), closing the so-called Lancelot-Grail cycle. By analyzing four cases of death (lover’s death, chivalric death, marvelous death and saint’s death), it highlights the literary technique of the author, and the complexity of the mediaeval approach to the problem.