ENGL 240 - Arthurian Legend

FDR: HL
Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Winter 2014 and alternate years

Prerequisite: Completion of FW requirement. Why does King Arthur continue to fascinate and haunt our cultural imagination? This course surveys the origins and histories of Arthurian literature, beginning with Celtic myths, Welsh tales, and Latin chronicles, followed by medieval French and English traditions, as well as modern Arthurian medievalisms. In addition to historical and literary contexts, we explore theoretical issues surrounding the texts, especially the relationship between history and fantasy, courtly love and adultery, erotic love and madness, romance and chivalry, gender and agency, and Europe and its Others. All texts are read in modern English translation. Kao.