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King Of The Who? The Collective Unconscious And The Crafting Of National Identity In The Medieval Arthurian Tradition, Melissa Ridley-Elmes

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis examines the ways in which British writers of old have attempted to create a sort of ideal, national, British identity through the archetypal image of King Arthur, the “once and future king.” Drawing from sources such as Malory, Laʒamon, and Geoffrey of Monmouth, this thesis suggests that these authors’ texts, along with the texts of others who have modified the myth throughout history, have helped change and develop the way in which Britons think of themselves and their nation over the course of time.