ENGH 202: Texts and Contexts

ENGH 202-033: Arthurian Retellings
(Fall 2021)

03:00 PM to 04:15 PM MW

Peterson Hall 2413

Section Information for Fall 2021

Adventure, love, magic…a giant who steals kings’ beards to make them into a coat?

This is just some of what we’ll encounter as we study the so-called “Matter of Britain”—tales dealing with King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table.  We will pay special attention to two distinctive trends in medieval Arthurian literature: the Arthur of the chronicle tradition and the Arthur of the romance tradition.  We will trace the evolution of the Arthurian myth, studying differences in genre, audience, and ideology, as well as the myth’s relationship to cultural and religious history.

Works may include Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain, Chrétien de Troyes’ Knight of the Cart, the Quest for the Holy Grail, the alliterative Morte Arthure, and Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte Darthur, as well as more modern versions.  Medieval works will be read in translation when necessary, so no special language abilities are required. Required work will likely include regular response papers and/or quizzes, a presentation/paper, and a final exam.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Studies literary texts within the framework of culture. Examines texts within such categories as history, gender, sexuality, religion, race, class, and nation. Notes: Builds on reading and writing skills taught in ENGH 101. May be repeated within the term.
Mason Core: Literature
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: 3 credits of 100-level English.
Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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