ENG 201: Arthurian Literature
(as offered in spring 2009: future versions may vary)
Textbooks
Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances, trans. William W. Kibler (Penguin)
Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, trans. Michael Faletra (Broadview)
The Mabinogion, trans. Sioned Davies (Oxford University Press)
Thomas Malory, Le Morte D’Arthur, ed. Elizabeth J. Bryan (Modern Library)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, trans. James Winny (Broadview)
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
Part One: Arthurian Legend in the Early Middle Ages
M 1/26: Introductions: the “historical” King Arthur
W 1/28: 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 1/30: Mabinogion: The First Branch (pp. 3-21) and The Second Branch (pp. 22-34)
M 2/2: Mabinogion: The Second Branch (pp. 35-46) and The Fourth Branch (pp. 47-64)
W 2/4: Mabinogion: How Culhwch Won Olwen (pp. 179-213)
Part Two: Arthurian Legend in the Twelfth Century
F 2/6: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 41-58, pp. 112-129, and skim pp.131-42
M 2/9: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 143-162
W 2/11: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 163-196; and De Vera Historia (handout)
F 2/13: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 197-217; Short Paper due (2 pages).
M 2/16: Texts on Merlin, including The Life of Merlin (in Geoffrey of Monmouth book, Appendix B, pp. 239-277)
W 2/18: Mabinogion: Rhonabwy’s Dream (pp. 214-226)
F 2/20: Marie de France, Lanval (handout); Arthur and Gorlagon (handout)
M 2/23: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 37-79
W 2/25: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 80-122; and “On Courtly Love” by Georges Duby (handout); [and optional, read in The Mabinogion: Geraint Son of Erbin, pp.139-78]
F 2/27: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 207-225
M 3/2: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 226-265
W 3/4: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 266-294; Paper #1 due (5-6 pages).
F 3/6: Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 295-328
M 3/9: Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 329-358
W 3/11: Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 359-380; and read The Mabinogion: The Lady of the Well, pp. 116-138
F 3/13: Grail Day: Mabinogion: Peredur (pp. 65-102); excerpts from Chrétien’s Perceval (pp. 418-423), and from The Quest of the Holy Grail, (handout)
Part Three: Arthurian Legend in the Later Middle Ages
M 3/23: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, introduction and pp. 3-27
W 3/25: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 31-63
F 3/27: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 67-111
M 3/30: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 115-141
W 4/1: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book I, pp. 1-48
F 4/3: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books II-III, pp. 49-99; and read “How to Read the Morte Darthur” by Terence McCarthy (handout)
M 4/6: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book IV, pp. 102-148
W 4/8: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book VI, pp. 175-208
F 4/10: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book VII, pp. 209-277
M 4/13: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books XI-XII, pp. 608-654
W 4/15: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books XIII-XV, pp. 655-715
F 4/17: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books XVI-XVII, pp. 716-784
M 4/20: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XVIII, pp. 785-837
W 4/22: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XIX, pp. 839-864
F 4/24: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XX, pp. 865-911
M 4/27: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XXI, pp. 912-938
W 4/29: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur; “Divisions” by Felicity Riddy (handout)
F 5/1: William Morris, “The Defence of Guinevere” (handout); Second paper due (5-6 pages).
Final exam: date to be determined.
Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances, trans. William W. Kibler (Penguin)
Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, trans. Michael Faletra (Broadview)
The Mabinogion, trans. Sioned Davies (Oxford University Press)
Thomas Malory, Le Morte D’Arthur, ed. Elizabeth J. Bryan (Modern Library)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, trans. James Winny (Broadview)
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
Part One: Arthurian Legend in the Early Middle Ages
M 1/26: Introductions: the “historical” King Arthur
W 1/28: 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 1/30: Mabinogion: The First Branch (pp. 3-21) and The Second Branch (pp. 22-34)
M 2/2: Mabinogion: The Second Branch (pp. 35-46) and The Fourth Branch (pp. 47-64)
W 2/4: Mabinogion: How Culhwch Won Olwen (pp. 179-213)
Part Two: Arthurian Legend in the Twelfth Century
F 2/6: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 41-58, pp. 112-129, and skim pp.131-42
M 2/9: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 143-162
W 2/11: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 163-196; and De Vera Historia (handout)
F 2/13: Geoffrey of Monmouth, pp. 197-217; Short Paper due (2 pages).
M 2/16: Texts on Merlin, including The Life of Merlin (in Geoffrey of Monmouth book, Appendix B, pp. 239-277)
W 2/18: Mabinogion: Rhonabwy’s Dream (pp. 214-226)
F 2/20: Marie de France, Lanval (handout); Arthur and Gorlagon (handout)
M 2/23: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 37-79
W 2/25: Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide, pp. 80-122; and “On Courtly Love” by Georges Duby (handout); [and optional, read in The Mabinogion: Geraint Son of Erbin, pp.139-78]
F 2/27: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 207-225
M 3/2: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 226-265
W 3/4: Chrétien de Troyes, Lancelot, pp. 266-294; Paper #1 due (5-6 pages).
F 3/6: Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 295-328
M 3/9: Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 329-358
W 3/11: Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 359-380; and read The Mabinogion: The Lady of the Well, pp. 116-138
F 3/13: Grail Day: Mabinogion: Peredur (pp. 65-102); excerpts from Chrétien’s Perceval (pp. 418-423), and from The Quest of the Holy Grail, (handout)
Part Three: Arthurian Legend in the Later Middle Ages
M 3/23: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, introduction and pp. 3-27
W 3/25: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 31-63
F 3/27: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 67-111
M 3/30: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 115-141
W 4/1: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book I, pp. 1-48
F 4/3: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books II-III, pp. 49-99; and read “How to Read the Morte Darthur” by Terence McCarthy (handout)
M 4/6: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book IV, pp. 102-148
W 4/8: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book VI, pp. 175-208
F 4/10: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book VII, pp. 209-277
M 4/13: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books XI-XII, pp. 608-654
W 4/15: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books XIII-XV, pp. 655-715
F 4/17: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Books XVI-XVII, pp. 716-784
M 4/20: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XVIII, pp. 785-837
W 4/22: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XIX, pp. 839-864
F 4/24: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XX, pp. 865-911
M 4/27: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Book XXI, pp. 912-938
W 4/29: Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur; “Divisions” by Felicity Riddy (handout)
F 5/1: William Morris, “The Defence of Guinevere” (handout); Second paper due (5-6 pages).
Final exam: date to be determined.