“A STINKE IN THE CHAPELL”:READING SACRED SPACES IN THE MIDDLE ENGLISH SIR AMADACE AND THE ERLE OF TOLOUS
“A STINKE IN THE CHAPELL”:READING SACRED SPACES IN THE MIDDLE ENGLISH SIR AMADACE AND THE ERLE OF TOLOUS

Summary/Abstract: Though medieval romances are often adversly criticized for their depiction of sacred spaces, nevertheless, these spaces may be viewed as going beyond merely places for prayer and meditation. The Middle English Sir Amadace and Erle of Tolous seem to carry their audience through such sacred spaces. These romances seem to enter into a dialogue with the complex dynamics of desire and devotion which are mapped onto the space of the church. In this context, this paper will focus on the renewal of understanding the sacred space in medieval narratives. The literary landscape (i.e. monasteries, convents, shrines and chapels) may not utterly constitute a secular equivalent to the canonically inspired order. Hence, the major concern of this paper is to explore how some medieval romances seem to be a product of the complex process of inhabiting and representing a space which is itself far from simple.

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