Rogue Knights: Characterization in Malory's 'A Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake'

This thesis examines Thomas Malory's originality of characterization in his Arthurian work Le Morte Darthur, with special attention to "A Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake." It focuses on Lancelot's interactions with "rogue knights" who abuse their power and prey on the weak. This thesis argues that Malory's changes to these episodes, when compared to the versions presented in his Vulgate sources, present Lancelot as a more suitable exemplar of the chivalric ideal that Malory preaches.