This is an outstanding question.
To your
point: yes..."ish."
The development of the Arthurian Legend is a
veritable backbone of heroic Western literature. Accordingly, tracing the origins and
evolution of these iconic figures and their respective incorporation into the broader,
all-encompassing "Camelot" umbrella would undoubtedly prove to be a field worth several
months -- if not years -- of study.
With that said, however, I believe
that the current scope of your existing question is simply to narrow. In order to
properly address all of the related source material(s) that pertain to the Arthurian
legends, you will likely need to begin your field of study at least three centuries
prior to Mallory's work. I would suggest using the writings of Chrétien de Troyes (12th
century) as the starting point of your inquiry, then moving through the Merlin source
texts and related writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth (12th century) before and likewise
paying due critical attention to such 14th century works as Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight. Similarly, you might also consider a brief foray into courtly love poetry and
medieval texts pertaining to the chivalric code. In spite of the rather questionable
historical authenticity of these behavior norms, the very spectre of their existence
does -- unquestionably -- go a long way in shaping much of the content of the modern
Arthurian legends.
Thereafter, the Mallory texts will provide more
than ample grounds for study, and I believe your line of inquiry will be all the more
informed and all the more enriched by virtue of having first examined the source texts
that helped bring Mallory's work to bear.
Best of luck in this noble
effort!
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