Anachronisme, égalité et domination : représenter le roi Arthur autour de la Table ronde

Abstract

The myth of the Round Table, developed as soon as the 12th century by Wace in his Roman de Brut, contributes to the lasting success of the legend of King Arthur and his Knights by describing the Arthurian realm as a progressive and egalitarian land. But this depiction of the institution, which regularly appears in audiovisual adaptations of the legend, raises the issue of Arthur’s place among his men: is the King equal to the Knights, or, by definition, is he above them all? From the Middle Ages to the 21st century, the Round Table changes in its symbolism and plays on the paradoxical position of the sovereign regarding questions of authority, power and equality. These representations thus examine the anachronistic conception of Arthur’s domination

Keywords

• power
• representation
• domination
• Arthurian legend
• King Arthur
• Round Table