Aluen and lechecraft: magic and the supernatural in Layamon’s Arthuriad

In his Brut, the poet Layamon rewrites the origin myth of Britain according to his own literary purposes. While drawing on the work of his predecessors, Geoffrey of Monmouth and Wace, the English author employs supernatural devices far more freely. The interference of the magical universe in the historical-heroic narrative intensifies in the Arthurian section of the text, particularly in regard to the presence of the mysterious aluen in the story of the British monarch. The impact of these supernatural creatures appears to have been added by Layamon to characterize the figure of Arthur in a positive way, as someone who will be remembered for his exceptionality in comparison to other kings depicted in the poem. A systematic examination of the vocabulary used at key points in the Arthurian journey enables us to identify the ways in which the poet explores aspects of the magical and the marvellous in order to imbue the figure of the British king with messianic characteristics, thus distancing him from historical reality.