Societal Beliefs and Values in Literary Works

FICTION has two aims:
- Epistemic (it tells what literature reflects about society and its beliefs, norms, what it means to be human. Questions to answer: what are human beings like? What can be expected from them? Why do they behave as they do? What is their aim in life (of humans as such)?
- Political: these are didactic aims of literature (what should human beings do? How should you act?
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ARTHURIAN LEGENDS

I HISTORIES OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN (written in c. 1136 by Geoffry of Monmouth (c. 1095 - c. 1155) (tr. by Sebastian Evans, 1904))

- People find their purpose in life according to their status because that is the one which determines their life (that is why in the story we do not even hear the name of the King and Queen; the names could have been assigned but it does not matter - their lives depend on their status in society; people sit at the table according to their rank);
- Traditions and ceremonies are of utmost value (only through ceremony you can be declared king or queen; importance of religious and ceremonial practices in establishing royal authority. The Church plays a central role in establishing authority. CEREMONIES HAVE CERTAIN REGULATIONS which creates the sensation of something important and special)
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