ENG 332 - The Legends of King Arthur

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This course will examine a remarkably influential and long-lived set of narratives, the legends of King Arthur and his court. Centering on the most important medieval legendary accounts, we’ll read the pseudo-historical account by Geoffrey of Monmouth; the Celtic tales of Marie de France; the verse romances of Chrétien de Troyes and the ‘Gawain poet’; and, lastly, the prose romances of Robert de Boron and Sir Thomas Malory, whose Morte d’Arthure provides the foundation of most modern versions of the story. While our discussions will be focused primarily upon the literary texts, we will also explore the historical conditions that shaped this literature’s production. Among the topics we will explore are the ideals of chivalric knighthood, attitudes towards violence and public order, the psychology of love as expressed in courtly literature, artistic illustrations of Arthurian literature, and the role of women as writers, readers and patrons of Arthurian legend. No prerequisites. Spring. Group III: Humanities