ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the 'fantasy', and sketches some of the important insights into medieval cultures. In the first step, an examination for the nature of the evidence for medieval ghosts is given. It argues that our evidence for medieval ghosts is loosely categorized under three headings: 'literary', 'educational' and 'documentary'. Secondly, the difficulties posed by the evidence explores with the aid of an example from the three categories. Thirdly, on the basis laid by the first two sections, able to suggest some fruitful lines of enquiry, where medieval and modern ideas of fantasy can help to understand medieval ghosts and the society to which they belonged. The purpose of this chapter has been to suggest the possibilities of this approach than to present hard and fast conclusions. Perhaps the greatest of the merits of 'fantasy' as an interpretative tool is that it allows for complexity.
