Memories of War: Retracting the Interpretive Tradition of the Alliterative Morte Arthure

Abstract

Since William Matthews published what remains to date the only monograph about the Alliterative Morte Arthure, literary critics have largely elaborated upon—rather than questioned or corrected—the interpretive tradition he established. Modern pacifist ideals continue to shape scholarly work on this poem, so the dominant interpretation remains that the text critiques Arthur and war. We argue, in contrast, for a retraction of this tradition based on textual and historical details that consistently validate Arthur as a great conqueror-king who is preeminent among the Nine Worthies.