To what extent is a knowledge of mediaeval literature relevant to “modern” literature (from the 19th century onwards) or else to our “modern” civilisation?

The revival of interest in mediaeval history and art started in the mid-18^th century and widely spread throughout Europe, together with the national sentiments which began to flourish in each country: politicians were seeking in the past some glorious symbols to make up a continuous and powerful image of their country/nation, deeply rooted in history.

In the first part of my essay, I demonstrated that by the middle of the 19^th century, all arts had been affected by this revival. Then, I illustrated the influence of mediaeval literature in “modern” European culture with two examples. First, among the legendary heroes, I focused on King Arthur, whose legend has fed the imaginations of generations of artists for more than eight centuries. Second, as the ballad is a literary form which has travelled from the early Middle Ages to 20^th-century poetry and song, I summarized its evolution throughout the centuries, and focused on Keats’s ballad ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’.

Illustration at the top of this page: Arthur Hughes, La Belle Dame sans merci, 1863 – National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/4068/