Shame and Honour in Late Medieval English Literature An analysis of two narratives from the Sir Gawain Cycle: The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle and The Avowing of Arthur

Abstract

Shame and honour have been the topic of many research papers that focus on the early medieval period (Bremmer, Díaz-Vera and Manrique Antón), however the late medieval period in relation to these concepts has received limited attention. This present paper aims to build on previous analyses of shame in English medieval Arthurian romances (Trigg, Flannery) by exploring the concept of shame and honour in two Arthurian tales taken from the Sir Gawain Cycle: The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle and The Avowing of Arthur that have not been looked at yet from this perspective. In exploring how shame is invoked in Arthurian romances this paper highlights the continuing cultural impact shame held as a force in late medieval England. Furthermore, this study shows how shame is invoked in the tales’ depiction of chivalry with a satirical function that highlights the shortcomings and hypocrisy of Arthur and his court and serves as a critique of the failing of the ruling classes of fourteenth and fifteenth century England.