Locus amoenus et locus horribilis : topografía mágica en la literatura caballeresca española

Abstract

Space gives the hero the chance to be in a certain place to make contact with an adventure; therefore space is the scenery for the knight’s exploits and achievements that produce the perfection of his virtues. Interestingly, these places do not always have Edenic features; sometimes they turn out to be a real hell where the adventure becomes an authentic punishment. This paper will attempt to articulate a possible classification of different magical places in which the knight has his unexpected meeting with the Other.