The Literary Progression of Guinevere in Arthurian Literature

A Hypertext Research Paper



In early Arthurian legend, when Arthur reigns supreme as warrior-king, Guinevere has little personality of her own. She accompanies the throne that Mordred usurps from Arthur like so much booty, and is a woman whose loyalty (perhaps out of necessity) chages with the tides of war.

Later, as writers of Arthuriana choose to emphasize the courtly aspects of Camelot over the bloody conquests of its king, Guinevere finally comes into her own as a character. Her relationship with Lancelot typifies this courtly ideal, and their love seized the popular imagination of the time. Guinevere became widely know at last--as an adulteress. Since her heyday in the chivalric literature, portrayals of Guinevere have revised, rewritten, or reread her position as Arthur's Queen, but the whole of her character revolves around her courtly liaison with Lancelot--she will carry forever her knight's fall and Arthur's betrayal.


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Photo taken from The Arthurian Handbook, Norris J. Lacy and Geoffrey Ashe