An introduction to the variety of medieval narrative, intended both for students and more general readers who already know some of the classics of the Middle Ages, such as Beowulf, the Decameron and The Canterbury Tales,, and who wish to venture further. Medieval definitions and theories of narrative are considered in relation to modern narratology and the major medieval types of narrative are discussed. The perspective in this book is mainly English, with Chaucer as a central figure, but it refers to a range of well-known European texts and writers, such as Marie de France, Cretien de Troyes, the Niebelungenlied, the Poem of the Cid, Dante and Boccaccio.

1. The Idea of Medieval Narrative; 2. Narrative; 3. Didactic Narratives; 4. Forms of History; 5. Comic Tales; 6. Fantasy and Dream; 7. Two Versions of Tragedy: Trolius and Criseyde and the Alliterative Morte Arthure; 8. Putting Narratives Together; 9. Postscript; Bibliography

Tony DavenportEmeritus Professor, University of London