'Here is my Glove': Introductory Oath-taking and Trial by Combat in Le Morte Darthur

Abstract

I argue that in Malory's Le Morte Darthur, the formal oaths taken before trial by combat are essential for making those trials decisive. Arthur's failure to regulate the oath-taking process before these trials, however, makes them ineffective at producing a clear verdict and ultimately contributes to the fall of Camelot.