Michael Cichon teaches English and Classical, Medieval & Renaissance Studies at St. Thomas More College in the University of Saskatchewan. He obtained his Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto.
2009 0-7734-4658-3 This study examines the presence and extent of legal and feud elements in the Middle Welsh Owein and the Middle English Ywain and Gawain. The anonymous English author of Ywain and Gawain expresses sentiments of a feud culture, especially the sanctity of the spoken vow. The process of feud and the concern for honor, along with the sentiment of reciprocity and exchange which inform them, are so integral to the cultures which produced Owein and Ywain and Gawain that familiarity with this mentalité is essential to fully appreciate and understand the literature.