ENG 201: Arthurian Literature
(Fall 2017)
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
M Aug 28: Introductions: the “historical” King Arthur
Part One: The Welsh Connection
W Aug 30: Nennius’ History of the Britons (as excerpted in the Geoffrey of Monmouth book, pp. 229-238); and “King Arthur: From Myth to Man” (also in Geoffrey of Monmouth book, Appendix C, pp. 278-286); and The Spoils of the Unworld (handout)
F Sept 1: Culhwch and Olwen (handout)
M Sept 4: LABOR DAY
W Sept 6: Culhwch and Olwen (handout); and Sarah Sheehan, “Giants, Boar-Hunts, and Barbering” (JSTOR)
M Aug 28: Introductions: the “historical” King Arthur
Part One: The Welsh Connection
W Aug 30: Nennius’ History of the Britons (as excerpted in the Geoffrey of Monmouth book, pp. 229-238); and “King Arthur: From Myth to Man” (also in Geoffrey of Monmouth book, Appendix C, pp. 278-286); and The Spoils of the Unworld (handout)
F Sept 1: Culhwch and Olwen (handout)
M Sept 4: LABOR DAY
W Sept 6: Culhwch and Olwen (handout); and Sarah Sheehan, “Giants, Boar-Hunts, and Barbering” (JSTOR)
Part Two: Arthurian Legend in the Twelfth Century
F Sept 8: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 41-58, pp. 112-129, and skim pp. 131-42 (“The Prophecies of Merlin”)
For an overview of the life and work of Geoffrey of Monmouth, click here.
M Sept 11: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 143-162
W Sept 13: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 163-196
F Sept 15: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 197-217; Valerie Flint, “The Historia Regum Britanniae of Geoffrey of Monmouth: Parody and Its Purpose. A Suggestion” (JSTOR)
M Sept 18: Texts on Merlin, including The Life of Merlin (in Geoffrey of Monmouth book, Appendix B, pp. 239-277)
T Sept 19: Short Paper due (2 pages).
W Sept 20: Marie de France, Lanval (handout)
For an overview of the life and work of Marie de France, click here.
F Sept 22: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 37-79
For an overview of the life and work of Chrétien de Troyes, click here.
M Sept 25: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 80-122
W Sept 27: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 207-225
F Sept 29: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 226-265
M Oct 2: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 266-294
W Oct 4: Chrétien de Troyes, The Story of the Grail, pp. 381-424
F Oct 6: Class canceled.
M Oct 9: Chrétien de Troyes, The Story of the Grail, pp. 425-461
T Oct 10: Paper #1 due (5-7 pages)
W Oct 11: Peredur (handout)
F Sept 8: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 41-58, pp. 112-129, and skim pp. 131-42 (“The Prophecies of Merlin”)
For an overview of the life and work of Geoffrey of Monmouth, click here.
M Sept 11: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 143-162
W Sept 13: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 163-196
F Sept 15: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 197-217; Valerie Flint, “The Historia Regum Britanniae of Geoffrey of Monmouth: Parody and Its Purpose. A Suggestion” (JSTOR)
M Sept 18: Texts on Merlin, including The Life of Merlin (in Geoffrey of Monmouth book, Appendix B, pp. 239-277)
T Sept 19: Short Paper due (2 pages).
W Sept 20: Marie de France, Lanval (handout)
For an overview of the life and work of Marie de France, click here.
F Sept 22: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 37-79
For an overview of the life and work of Chrétien de Troyes, click here.
M Sept 25: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 80-122
W Sept 27: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 207-225
F Sept 29: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 226-265
M Oct 2: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 266-294
W Oct 4: Chrétien de Troyes, The Story of the Grail, pp. 381-424
F Oct 6: Class canceled.
M Oct 9: Chrétien de Troyes, The Story of the Grail, pp. 425-461
T Oct 10: Paper #1 due (5-7 pages)
W Oct 11: Peredur (handout)
Part Three: Arthurian Legend in the Later Middle Ages F Oct 13: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt 1 For an overview of the life and work of the anonymous Gawain-poet, click here. Oct 14-22: Fall Break M Oct 23: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitts 2 and 3 W Oct 25: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt 4 F Oct 27: Sir Thomas Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 1-48; Terence McCarthy, “How To Read the Morte Darthur” (handout) For an overview of the life and work of Sir Thomas Malory, click here. M Oct 30: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 49-127. Optional addendum: read the story of Pelleas and Ettarde, pp. 135-140. W Nov 1: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 175-208 F Nov 3: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 209-277; Geraldine Heng, "Enchanted Ground: The Feminine Subtext in Malory" (handout) M Nov 6: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 608-642; 655-674 W Nov 8: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 706-784 F Nov 10: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 785-837 M Nov 13: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 838-864 W Nov 15: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 865-911 F Nov 17: Malory, Morte D’Arthur, pp. 912-938 |
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Part Four: The Once ... and Future King
M Nov 20: Monty Python and the Holy Grail [Be sure to have watched the entire film by class time: we will try to arrange a communal screening sometime the previous week.] W Nov 22: Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave, pp. 1-116 Nov 23-26: Thanksgiving Break M Nov 27: The Crystal Cave, pp. 117-320 W Nov 29: The Crystal Cave, pp. 321-494 F Dec 1: The Buried Giant, pp. 3-124 M Dec 4: The Buried Giant, pp. 127-264 W Dec 6: The Buried Giant, pp. 267-317; Paper #2 due (7-10 pages) |
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Course Policies – a.k.a. The Fine Print
Attendance
Your regular attendance, both physical and mental, is an integral component of this course. More than two unexcused absences will affect your grade; more than four unexcused absences will jeopardize your chances of passing the course.
Class Participation
Though this class may be large, I expect everyone to participate regularly. If speaking aloud in class is not amenable to you, you may certainly discuss the texts with me in my office hours.
Grading
Your final grade will consist of the following:
First paper (due 10/10): 30% Second paper (due 12/6): 50%
Short paper (due 9/19): 10% Class participation: 10%
Late Paper Policy
The short paper due on Sept. 19 will not be accepted late, except in the case of a medical emergency. Any other paper passed in after the due date will be graded down one-half grade per every day it is late. Additionally, I will not write comments on any paper passed in late without permission.