RICE UNIVERSITY

Fall, 2004

ENGLISH 317/WTSG 317/MDST 301: ARTHURIAN LITERATURE:

The “Reel” Arthur                                                               

DR. JANE CHANCE

10:50-12:05 TTH   117 Huma 

Distribution I course

                                                                                               

DESCRIPTION:

A survey of the origins and development of the 

Arthurian legend from the earliest chronicles in

the sixth century and later medieval

French, Welsh, Irish, and English Arthurian poems

to modern adaptations of Arthurian material,

especially films.

 

PURPOSE: This course will investigate the major

traditions associated with King Arthur and his

knights of the Round Table. We will witness the

growth of the Arthurian legend and investigate

some of the reasons for its continuing allure. The

course has the additional purpose of helping us

see the way legends are developed and understand

the forces which seem to contribute to their

growth and popularity.

 

GRADES:  midterm and second examinations = 50%

Two papers/presentations/discussion = 50%

Attendance is mandatory and highly desirable; students are expected and encouraged to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned reading. Participation counts for borderline grades.

 

TEXTS (all in paper, on reserve): In order of assignment (prices by amazon.com)

Excerpts from early (6th-9th c.) Arthurian Chronicles and Histories (Hand-out)

“The Dream of Rhonabwy,” from the Mabinogion (Penguin) (Hand-out)

Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain, trans. Lewis Thorpe (Penguin) 0140441700 $11.16 DA140 .G353 1966

Wace, Layamon, Arthurian Chronicles, trans. Eugene Mason (University of Toronto) (Hand-out of select passages)

Marie de France, Lanval, trans. Robert Hanning and Joan Ferrante (Baker Books) (Hand-out) PQ1494.L3 E5 1982

Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances, trans. William Kibler (Penguin) 0140445218 $11.20PQ1447 .E5 K53 1991

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, trans. James Winney (Broadview) 0921149921 $9.95 PR2065.G31992

Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, ed. Stephen H. A. Shepherd (Norton) 0-393-97464-2

            See Shepherd’s Website: http://faculty.smu.edu/sshepher/MorteDarthur.htm

 

FILMS (all on reserve) Viewings TBA

Camelot (1967), dir. Joshua Logan PN1997 .C2434 1997  V.1-2  227 mins.

Lancelot of the Lake (1974), dir. Robert Bresson PN1997 .L348 1995  80 mins.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), dir. Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones 90 mins. PN1997 .M68 1991

Excalibur (1981), dir. John Boorman 141 mins. PN1997 .E92 1991 

The Natural (1984), dir. Barry Levinson  PN1997 .K387 2001 138 mins.

The Fisher King (1991), dir. Terry Gilliam PN1997 .F573 1992 137 mins.

First Knight (1995), dir. Jerry Zucker PN1997 .F572 2000 134 mins.

Mists of Avalon (2001), dir. Uli Edel PN 1997 .m632 2001 178 mins.

King Arthur (2004), dir. Antoine Fuqua (at local theatres)

 

Films will be shown on Sundays 6:30-9:30 (time depending on length) in 117 HUMA 6:30-10 from 10-3 to 11-28

 

SYLLABUS:

 

I. Introduction

First Week

Aug. 24 Tues.  Topic: Introduction—An Historical or Legendary Arthur?

            Read Excerpts from Early Chronicles and Histories (Hand-out)

            Gildas, De Excidio et Conquesto Britanniae [On the Fall and Conquest of Britain] (c. 540), pp. 3-4

Bede, Historia Ecclesiastics Gentis Anglorum [Ecclesiastical History of the English People] (c.751), pp. 4-5

 

II. The Literary Backgrounds and Traditions

Aug. 26 Thurs. Topic: The Legendary Arthur

            Read Excerpts from Early Chronicles and Histories (Hand-out):

            Nennius, Historia Brittonum [History of the Britons] (c. 800), pp. 5-6

            Annales Cambriae [The Annals of Wales] (c. 950), p.7

William of Malmesabury, Gesta Regum Anglorum [History of the Kings of the English] (c. 1125), pp. 7-8   

Giraldus Cambrensis, De Principis Instructionae [On the Education of a Prince]  (c. 1195), pp. 9-11

 

Second Week

Aug. 31 Tues.  Topic: Arthur of Camelot: Fact or Fiction? The Archaeology

            Videotape on King Arthur: In Class

            Topic: Geoffrey of Monmouth and the History of Arthur

Read Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historiae Regum Brittonum [History of the Kings of Britain] (ca. 1129-1151), dedication & part I, Brutus, pp. 51-74; part IV, The Boy Merlin, pp. 166-69; part V, Merlin; 170-85; part VI,  Merlin, Vortigern, Uther Pendragon, pp. 186-211

Sept. 2 Thurs. Topic: Geoffrey of Monmouth and the History of Arthur

Read Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historiae Regum Brittonum (ca. 1129-1151), part VII, Arthur of Britain, pp. 212-61

                       

Third Week

Sept. 7 Tues.  Topic: Vernacular Arthurs:  French and English Chronicles by Wace and Layamon

            Read Wace and La3amon (hand-outs)

Sept. 9 Thurs. Topic: Welsh Romance and the Battle of Camlann

            Read “Dream of Rhonabwy” from the Mabinogian (hand-out)

 

 Fourth Week

Sept. 14 Tues. Topic: Gendering the Round Table through Alterity

            Read Marie de France, Lanval (hand-out)

Sept. 16 Thurs. Topic: Chrétien, Lancelot, or Knight of the Cart: Parody or Romance?

            Read Chrétien, Lancelot, or Knight of the Cart, in Kibler 

 

 Fifth Week

Sept. 21 Tues.

Sept. 23 Thurs. Topic: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Romance or Ritual?

            Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Winney’s trans., Fitts 1-2

            MID-TERM ID'S AND ESSAY QUESTIONS DUE FOR STUDY GUIDE

 

Sixth Week

Sept. 28 Tues. Topic: Gay Gawain?

            Read Fitts 3-4

Sept. 30 Thurs. Topic: Malory and the Creation of the Round Table

            Reading: Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, “Fro the Maryage of Kynge Uther Unto King Arthure that Regned after Hym,” pp. 1-112

Sunday viewing: Camelot

 

Seventh Week

Oct. 5  Tues. Topic: Malory and the Fall of the Round Table, or The Flight from Eden

             Reading: Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, “The Tale of  Sir Launcelot and Quene Gwenyvere,” pp. 588-645

Oct. 7 Thurs. Topic: Malory and the Death of Arthur

            Reading: Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, “The Dethe of Arthur,” pp. 646-98

Oct. 8 Fri. MID-TERM EXAMINATION due 9 A.M. at 235 Herring Hall or by e-mail

 

Eighth Week

Sunday viewing: Lancelot of the Lake (1974), dir. Robert Bresson

Oct. 11 & 12 Mon. and Tues. MID-TERM RECESS

 

III. Individual Works: The Masterpiece and the Reinterpretation, into the Twentieth Century

 

Oct. 14 Thurs. Topic: The Postmodern Lancelot

            Film: Lancelot of the Lake (1974), dir. Robert Bresson

            Read: Excerpts from the Prose Lancelot and “Lancelot at the Perilous Chapel,” Perlesaus, in Shepherd, ed. Le Morte d’Arthur, pp. 720-25

Oct. 15 Fri. Short Paper Due at 9 a.m.

 

Ninth Week

Sunday viewing: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Oct. 19. Tues. Topic: Monty Python and the Postmodern Arthur

            Film: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), dir. Terry Gilliam

            Read: Malory, “The Tale of the Sankgreal,” Morte d’Arthur, pp. 496-587

Oct. 21 Thurs. Topic: Monty Python and the Postmodern Grail

            Film: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), dir. Terry Gilliam

           

Tenth Week

Sunday viewing: Excalibur

Oct. 26 Tues. Topic: The Postmodern Sword

            Film: Excalibur (1981), dir. John Boorman

            Read: Excerpts from The Prose Merlin and the Suite de Merlin, in Shepherd, pp. 705-713

Oct. 28 Thurs. Topic: The Postmodern Sword

            Film: Excalibur (1981), dir. John Boorman

 

Eleventh Week

Sunday viewing: The Natural

Nov. 2 Tues Topic: The Postmodern Perceval

            Film: The Natural (1984), dir. Barry Levinson

            Read: Malory, “The Tale of the Sankgreal,” Morte d’Arthur, pp. 496-587, esp. pp. 521-31, 544-87

Nov. 4 Thurs.            Topic: The Postmodern Perceval

            Film: The Natural (1984), dir. Barry Levinson

 

Twelfth Week

Sunday viewing: First Knight

Nov. 9 Tues. Topic: Postmodern Guenevere

            Film: First Knight (1995), dir. Jerry Zucker

            Read: Excerpts from the Stanzaic Morte and the Morte le Roi Artu, in Sjepherd, pp. 740-58

Nov. 11  Thurs. Topic: Postmodern Guenevere

            Film: First Knight (1995), dir. Jerry Zucker

LONG PAPER TOPICS DUE

 

Thirteenth Week

Sunday viewing: The Fisher King

Nov. 16 Tues. Topic: Monty Python Redux, or The Postmodern Grail

            Film: The Fisher King (1991), dir. Terry Gilliam

            Read: Excerpts from The Queste del Saint Graal, in Shepherd, ed. Morte d’Arthur, pp. 733-39

Nov. 18 Thurs.  Topic:  Monty Python Redux, or The Postmodern Grail

            Film: The Fisher King (1991), dir. Terry Gilliam

 

Fourteenth Week

Sunday viewing: Mists of Avalon, Part 1

Nov. 23  Tues. Topic: Postmodern Morgan?

            Film: Mists of Avalon (2001), dir. Uli Edel

            Read: “The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lac,” in Malory, Morte d’Arthur, pp. 151-76

Nov. 25 Thurs.  Thanksgiving Vacation

 

Fifteenth Week

Sunday viewing: Mists of Avalon , Part 2

Nov. 28 Sun SECOND PAPER DUE 6 pm

Nov. 30 Tues. Topic: Postmodern Morgan?

            Film: Mists of Avalon (2001), dir. Uli Edel

Dec. 2 Thurs.

            Summary and Evaluations

Dec. 3 Fri. SECOND EXAM DUE 9 a.m.

 

Note: Grades are due in the Registrar’s office Dec. 22 @ 5 p.m.

 

Requirements:

 

I. Short Paper (5-7 pp.) Due: Oct. 15 (Fri.)

 

Write a short paper on some aspect of any of the medieval works we are reading or

on one of the following selected topics (a research bibliography follows). In the first instance, check your idea with me. In the second, you don't need to check with

me unless you have questions, or you'd prefer a different topic.

 

 List of Possible Topics

            The Figure of Morgan le Fay

            The Lady of the Lake

Merlin the Magician

Wace's Contribution to the Story of Arthur: The Round Table

The Legend of the Return of Arthur

The Origin and Significance of the Isle of Avalon

Chrétien and romance as a genre

Andreas Capellanus: The Meaning of Courtly Love

Chrétien's Concept o