Campus Location
Abilene Campus (Residential)
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Language and Literature
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Joseph F. Stephenson
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
David C. Kneip
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
William M. Carroll III
Abstract
The study of Arthurian literature has evolved and changed drastically over the past few centuries. The methodologies and research on King Arthur have taken a variety of approaches and covered all manner of topics, such as the Celtic roots of Arthuriana or discussion of ideals like chivalry. However, the discussion of Arthur’s character has stagnated due to the prevalence of discussing the ideology of kingship or the historical validity of a man called Arthur. A view of Arthur’s character as examined by the canon as a whole has yet to be explored. This thesis presents a new mode of interpretation, demonstrating that Arthur serves an archetype of protection—called the “Knight-King” within the thesis—who fulfills the roles and obligations of both knight and king perfectly. The view of Arthur as both knight and king has been overlooked by the majority of scholars, but Arthur the Knight-King has remained prominent in popular culture and folkloric beliefs. Rather than a character embodying either knighthood or kingship, Arthur is best understood as a character embodying all forms of protection and takes on the appropriate role of knight or king in accordance with Britain’s needs.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Edwards, John Anthony II, "Arthur the Knight-King: Protector of Land, Preserver of Culture" (2026). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1022.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/1022