The Legend of King Arthur

The Legend of King Arthur English 348U - 01

Spring 2002

Dr. Rosalind B. Reilly

january 7

Introduction to the course: Welcome to Camelot!

january 14 – Geoffrey of Monmouth

v Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (this edition contains an excellent index!)

Available on-line at: http://www.InPar.dhs.org/inpar/files/geoffrey_thompson.pdf

“The House of Constantine” (Part 4; Chapter 6) read all: pp. 149-169 – Vortigern & Merlin

“The Prophecies of Merlin” (Part 5; Chapter 7) read the first 2 pages: 170-171

“The House of Constantine, cont.” (Part 6; Chapter 8) read all: pp. 186-211 – Ambrosius;

Stonehenge; Utherpendragon; Arthur’s birth

“Arthur of Britain” (Part 7; Chapter 9) read pp. 212-218 top; pp. 237-261 – Arthur’s rise to power;

treachery of Mordred

january 21 – Sir Thomas Malory

v Malory’s: Le Morte d'Arthur:

pp. 9-27 (Book I, Chapters 1-10) - Arthur's birth; the sword in the stone

pp. 45-59 (Book I, Chapters 19-27) - Birth of Mordred; Excalibur

pp. 92-99 (Book III, Chapters 1-5) - Marriage to Guenever

pp. 115-116, last paragraph of chapter Book III, Chapter 15 - Code of chivalry

v John Steinbeck’s The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights--handout. Merlin & Nimue; Morgan's treachery (This excerpt from Steinbeck's redaction of Le Morte follows Book IV, Chapters 1-16, pp. 117-141, fairly closely. If you would prefer to read it straight from Malory, you may.)

REPORT: John Boorman's Excalibur

january 28 – Sir Thomas Malory

Malory’s: Le Morte d'Arthur:

pp. 188-207 (Book XI, Chapters 1-10) - Launcelot & Elaine of Corbin

pp. 215-230 (Book XII, Chapters 1-10) - Launcelot & Elaine of Corbin, continued

pp. 373-532 (Books XVIII - XXI; you may skip chapters 21-24 of Book XVIII)

Launcelot & Elaine of Astolat (Shallot); Guenever's abduction by Meliagaunt; Launcelot's healing of Sir Urre; Launcelot & Guenever's entrapment; Guenever's rescue; War between Launcelot & Arthur; Mordred's treachery.

REPORT: Chrétien de Troyes

REPORT: The Story of Balin and Balan (Read Tennyson’s poem or Malory, Chapter II)

february 4 – Victorian Camelot

v Tennyson’s Idylls of the King, “The Coming of Arthur,” “Lancelot and Elaine”

v Tennyson's “The Lady of Shallot” (on handout)

v “Elaine” by Edna St. Vincent Millay—handout.

Victorian paintings/photographs

february 11 – Victorian Camelot

v Tennyson’s Idylls: “Guinevere,” and “The Passing of Arthur”

REPORT: The Story of Tristan & Isolde

february 18 – The Historical arthur

v Test on Monmouth, Malory, and Tennyson

v Begin reading The Once and Future King : Book I (The Sword in the Stone)

REPORT : Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

REPORT: Evidence of the Historical Arthur (include Geoffrey Ashe’s theory of Rhiothamus)

february 25 – T. H. White and Hollywood

v The Once and Future King

Finish Book I (The Sword in the Stone)

REPORT: Important Sites in England

Glastonbury --describe the history and the bogus story of Arthur’s grave; show pictures

Tintagel – Tell about the site and show pictures or film clip

Cadbury/ Camelot (tell about the archeological excavation)

Movie excerpts: Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot.

Spring break—March 4

March 11 – Rosemary Sutcliff

v Rosemary Sutcliff’s Sword at Sunset: Chapters 1-17 (pp. 1-238); Do study questions.

REPORT: Medieval Armour and Techniques of Warfare

Describe amour

March 18 – Rosemary Sutcliff

v Sutcliff’s Sword at Sunset: Chapters 18-27 (pp. 239-369); Do study questions.

REPORT: The Mabinogion

REPORT: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

March 25 – Rosemary Sutcliff

v Sutcliff’s Sword at Sunset: Chapters 28-end (pp. 370-498); Do study questions.