National identity, propaganda, and the ethics of war in English historical literature, 1327-77
This thesis argues against the common assumption that English writers ignored the ethical problems of war during the particularly brutal wars of Edward III, king of England, 1327â77. English historical literature in this period is typically mined for âfactsâ to create visions of the past, or read as literature with little context, but never properly considered for its engagement with the morality of warfare. Chapter One shows that the many uncertain aspects of war, such as intention, are those that most affect how military acts are judged. Chapter Two argues that writers use theo-retical frameworks in a more nuanced and rhetorical sense than commonly believed. Chapter Three argues against the common belief that there was no concept of civilian immunity in the period, and demonstrates how writers present these civilian victims in different ways to attach moral value to those who attack them. Chapter Four examines how writers show the English to only attack enemy civilians, in their campaigns of devastation on a day-to-day basis, to force the enemy to do battle, and thereby end war. Chapter Five shows that writers avoid any of the morally unsavoury aspects of violence but revel in the suffering endured
Smith, Trevor Russell
National identity, propaganda, and the ethics of war in English historical literature, 1327-77. This thesis argues against the common assumption that English writers ignored the ethical problems of war during the particularly brutal wars of Edward III, king of England, 1327â77. English historical literature in this period is typically mined for âfactsâ to create visions of the past, or read as literature with little context, but never properly considered for its engagement with the morality of warfare. Chapter One shows that the many uncertain aspects of war, such as intention, are those that most affect how military acts are judged. Chapter Two argues that writers use theo-retical frameworks in a more nuanced and rhetorical sense than commonly believed. Chapter Three argues against the common belief that there was no concept of civilian immunity in the period, and demonstrates how writers present these civilian victims in different ways to attach moral value to those who attack them. Chapter Four examines how writers show the English to only attack enemy civilians, in their campaigns of devastation on a day-to-day basis, to force the enemy to do battle, and thereby end war. Chapter Five shows that writers avoid any of the morally unsavoury aspects of violence but revel in the suffering endured
national_identity propaganda ethic war english historical literature argues common_assumption english writer ignore ethical problem war particularly brutal war edward iii king england english historical literature period typically fact create vision past read literature little context never properly consider engagement morality warfare show many uncertain aspect war intention affect military act judge argue writer use framework nuanced rhetorical sense commonly believe argues common belief concept civilian period demonstrate writer present civilian victim different_way attach moral_value attack them four_examine writer show english attack enemy civilian campaign day_to_day basis force enemy battle thereby end_war show writer avoid morally aspect violence suffering endure