The Sense of Movement in the Stanzaic Morte Arthur and the Alliterative Morte Arthure

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Alliterative Morte Arthure and Stanzaic Morte Arthur narrate violent interactions and intense emotions that are predominantly conveyed by means of kinesis. When a literary work refers to kinesis, i.e., gestures, movements, facial expressions, and Stanzaic physical interactions, readers tend to infer the kinaesthetic valence of such information. The term kinaesthesia refers to the sense of movement. More systematically than their medieval sources, the two Middle English poems emphasize the significance of kinesis and kinaesthesia. This article supports this claim by analysing kinesic tropes of emotions, and action verbs referring to detailed dynamic movements. It also highlights the importance of kinesis in conceptions of identity and faciality, showing that facial gestures are more relevant in the two poems than facial features.