The Depiction of Ghosts in Two Middle English Romances

Abstract The present article opens with an exploration of the different ways in which ghosts were conceived during the Middle Ages. This survey adopts the spiritual and material models for the conception of ghosts developed by Nancy Caciola, to provide the basis for the analysis performed in the second part of this article. Here, the depiction of ghosts appearing in the Middle English romances The Awntyrs off Arthure and Sir Amadace is studied taking into consideration the extent to which they adhere to Caciola’s spiritual or material model. In the light of this analysis, this article argues that the description of ghosts in material terms encourages a reading of the romances where they are found in which the reproduction of pious values characteristic of the exemplary tradition is superseded by a concern relating to the behaviour of the ruling classes and the proper understanding of wealth.