Damsels in Drag - Crossdressing Adventurers in Medieval Literature and Modern Fantasy

Abstract

This RMA thesis is centred on the representation of crossdressing adventurers in medieval narratives and modern fantasy literature. By looking at various depictions of gender performances, the different uses of dramatic irony, and the ways in which crossdressing can interact with a character's identity, I argue that in both the medieval and the modern sources, there are plenty of examples of how the concept of gender binarity can be challenged. I demonstrate that the beginnings of the seemingly modern of concept gender fluidity can be found in medieval literature, and that, at least when it comes to the representation of crossdressing adventurers, fantasy literature does not stray far from its medieval roots.