ABSTRACT
Graphic novels are increasingly using historical periods and events as the basis for diverse and fascinating explorations of the medieval period, and through them, the present. This chapter draws on the medieval period, and on the events of the Hundred Years’ War in particular. It focuses on the themes of class and national identity, and their representation in the texts. The chapter analyses how these themes are portrayed to a modern audience, and what they infer about medieval—as well as modern —society. The concept of class as it relates to medieval society is a complex one. It is acknowledged that the idea of class as a construct is a nineteenth-century development, and so its use in relation to the medieval period can be seen as anachronistic. The issues of class and nationalism come with a sizeable amount of post-medieval meaning that affects interpretation of such themes, especially when dealt with in a medieval context.
