English 431

Chrétien De Troyes. Arthurian Romances. Ed. and trans. William W. Kibler. New York: Penguin

Geoffrey of Monmouth. History of the Kings of Britain. Ed. and trans. Lewis Thorpe. New York:

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Ed. and trans. James Winny. Peterborough, Ontario, Canada:

egend has it that upon King Arthur’s tomb are written the words “Hic iacet Arthurus, rex quondam rexque futurus”; “Here lies Arthur, the once and future king.” However, medieval mythographers expected Arthur’s second coming to be in a ship sailing from the Isle of Avalon, not in summer blockbusters for the big screen. Yet contemporary film, fantasy novels, comic books, cartoons, and video games testify to the enduring popularity of Arthurian narrative. In this course we will examine the formative years of Arthuriana, exploring the shrouded historical evidence for the prototype of Arthur, then going on to look at Arthur and his Knights in medieval chronicle and romance literature. Our texts will be Geoffrey of Monmouth’s important chronicle narrative, Sir Thomas Malory’s influential compendium of the most prominent Arthurian tales, selected French romances of Chrétien De Troyes, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, perhaps the best romance treatment of Arthurian themes, and a candidate for the finest poem in the English language.

For those of you pursuing your teaching certification, this course will help you:

Ø Emphasize the social, philosophical, aesthetic, and historical dimensions of literature.

Ø Understand regional, colloquial, cultural, and national diversity in language and literature.

Ø Know a wide range of literature from many periods and various genres and relate that knowledge to class

Ø Make connections among various literary selections and between literature and other fine arts.

Ø Relate a wide range of print and visual texts, both classical and contemporary, to students’ lives.

If you are absent while representing Union in an official capacity, you may have this absence excused with a written statement from an appropriate authority. If you are absent due to illness, I will excuse the absence provided that a physician or nurse provides a statement saying that you were too ill to attend class. Even excessive excused absences may prevent you from fulfilling basic requirements of this course, so please stay healthy!

Critical Essay 1..................................................................................................20%

Critical Essay 2..................................................................................................25%

Exam 1................................................................................................................20%

Exam 2 (Final)....................................................................................................25%

Attendance, participation, and study questions……………..........……….........10%

The grading scale for this course is detailed in the Union University Undergraduate Catalogue (A 95-100; B 85-94; C 75-84; D 65-74; F 64 and below). All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late assignments are penalized 1/3 letter for each school (not class) day late. You are responsible for getting me your papers regardless of unfavorable circumstances such as computer glitches. All work must be submitted in order to pass the course. Notify me if accommodations need to be made for disabilities of any kind.

Plagiarism can be broadly defined as using the ideas or words of others in your paper without proper acknowledgment. Using information from other term papers, websites, or even standard research tools without source citation is a serious breach of academic integrity, and ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism is no excuse. When in doubt, please consult your instructor about the appropriate use of quotation marks, paraphrase, and parenthetical citation. Flagrant acts of plagiarism (e.g., downloading all or portions of a paper from the Internet without proper citation, handing in the work of another as your own, repeated instances of plagiarism, etc.) shall result in a failing grade for the course and possible further disciplinary action taken by the University. Punishment for other forms of plagiarism may range from failing the assignment to failing the course. Union University “upholds the highest standards of honesty” (2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalogue 22), and the English department’s policy regarding plagiarism is an attempt to preserve these standards.

You will write one 5-7 pp., typed and double-spaced critical essay, and one 7-10 pp. researched critical essay in this course. Details on these assignments are to follow, but some tips and samples can be found at my homepage at the “If you're going to write a paper for me, click here” link.

Exams will likely consist of objective short-answer questions, passages to identify and comment upon, and a take-home essay. A portion of the final will be cumulative, as required by the University. There will be no alternates given for these exams. If you anticipate that an excused absence will conflict with an exam, please speak with me well ahead of time. You are responsible for furnishing your own bluebooks (exam booklets), which can be purchased at Lifeway.

In lieu of pop quizzes, I will assign a study question per class meeting to help guide your reading and make sure all students are keeping up. On occasion I will ask to see your responses, which will be graded on a √-,√, and √+ basis, roughly equivalent to an C, B, and A. However, the Study Question is not merely a policing measure; often the question will deal with a core concern, a critical term, or a key passage which will help you better engage the text and which you will see again on an exam or as part of a writing assignment option. Study questions also serve as springboards into class discussion. If you are absent on the day I take up these questions, you may hand in a late assignment only if your absence is excused.

This class is a “No Cell Phone Zone.” Please turn off all cell phones. If you must have your phone on, please set it to buzz/vibrate.

As per a departmental requirement, I keep all exams and papers for one year. You should also keep a copy of all out-of-class work in case I lose anything. This syllabus and first-day handout may be revised as necessary. I encourage you to call me in my office or at home (668-4888; 8:00 am-10:00 pm, please) if you need anything. If you have any concerns about this course, don’t wait until the last minute to voice them--talk to me while we can take steps to make this course a positive experience for you.

Day	Assignment	Study Question
WEEK 1	THE ARTHUR OF THE CHRONICLES
Monday, June 5	Lecture: King Arthur, Fact & Fantasy. Excerpts from Gildas, Nennius, Jordanes (supplied).
Tuesday, June 6 Last day to add a class.	Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain part 4. Excerpts from Gildas, Nennius, Jordanes.	In these books we catch our first glimpses of Merlin. Even as a child, Merlin is surrounded by an aura of the supernatural. To what extent does Geoffrey of Monmouth present Merlin’s supernaturalism as a force for good or evil?
Wednesday, June 7	Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain parts 6-7.	Compare and contrast Geoffrey of Monmouth’s chronicle portrayal of King Arthur with the romantic version of Arthur you may know from films and television.
Thursday, June 8	Hollywood vs. History: King Arthur. Read: http://www.smu.edu/arthuriana/roundtable/RT_14-3.pdf	In this film there’s a brief reference to Pelagius, an early Christian writer condemned as a heretic. Do an Internet or print search on Pelagius and write 5-7 sentences summarizing why he was condemned as a heretic. Comment specifically on his views concerning free will and original sin. Review also the brief reference to Germanus in Geoffrey of Monmouth, p. 160. Germanus is a historical figure who came to Britain to combat the Pelagian heresy.
Friday, June 9	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “Merlin,” pp. 3-37.	Compare and contrast Malory’s Merlin with Geoffrey of Monmouth’s.
WEEK 2	KNIGHTHOOD
Monday, June 12	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “Balin, or The Knight with the Two Swords,” pp. 37-59. Critical Essay 1 Due.	Arthurian critic Terence McCarthy asserts, “Knights are devoted to adventure, to seeking the events that fortune will bring. They put themselves at the mercy of chance: their lives are dedicated to risk, not prudent domesticity, for their readiness to face the unknown means flaunting prudence.” Yet Balin’s devotion to adventure leads him to tragic action: striking the Dolorous Stroke and killing his own brother. Discuss how culpable Balin is for the tragedy which befalls him.
Tuesday, June 13	CATCH-UP.
Wednesday, June 14 Last day to drop a class.	First hour: .EXAM 1; Bring a bluebook. Second hour: Chrétien de Troyes, The Story of the Grail (Perceval).
Thursday, June 15	Chrétien de Troyes, The Story of the Grail (Perceval).	In the opening pages of this narrative we learn that Perceval’s mother has kept his knightly lineage from him; indeed, the opening pages can be read as a kind of referendum on knighthood itself. Is Chrétien implying that knighthood is a noble institution which calls for sacrifice, or one that is deeply flawed?
Friday, June 16	Perceval, continued. Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “Lancelot & Elaine,” pp. 477-506.	In these pages Lancelot will beget Galahad upon Elaine. (This Elaine is sometimes called “Elaine of Corbenic” so as to not be confused with Elaine of Astolat). Galahad (in Malory’s narrative) will become the Grail Knight. Discuss why Lancelot should be the father of the Grail Knight given Lancelot’s spectacularly sinful nature?
WEEK 3	QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL
Monday, June 19	University Holiday; no class.
Tuesday, June 20	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; The Tale of the Sankgreal: “The Departure”; pp. 516-24; “The Miracles” selections: pp. 535-40; “Sir Launcelot,” pp. 551-558, “The Miracle of Galahad,” pp. 600-608.	One critic has written that the Grail is not something to be “carried off in a saddlebag.” Indeed, the Grail seems to be more than artifact. But what? Write a paragraph discussing what the Grail means to Malory.
Wednesday, June 21	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “The Knight of the Cart,” pp. 648-63.	Malory’s “Knight of the Cart” episode is directly based on passages found in the French prose romance Le Mort Artu. However, the tale was originally written by the most famous medieval French writer Chrétien de Troyes (12th c.). In his Le Chevalier de la Charrette (sometimes simply called Lancelot), Chrétien displays an interest in courtly love unparalleled by other Arthurian writers. Compare and contrast the events in Malory with excerpts from Chrétien’s account on pp. 207-12; 262-66 (only).
Thursday, June 22	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “The Poisoned Apple,” pp. 611-21; Works; “The Fair Maid of Astolat,” pp. 621-42.	So often we approach medieval literature from the perspective of its sources. In contrast, let’s examine a later “reflex” of medieval thought—Tennyson’s poem “The Lady of Shalott,” which is based on “The Fair Maid of Astolat” portion of Malory’s Works. Read Part IV of the poem and discuss the significance of Lancelot’s final words. How does your knowledge of Malory’s Lancelot affect your interpretation of these lines? See: http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/tennyson/los1.html
Friday, June 23	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “The Most Piteous Tale of the Morte Arthur Saunz Guerdon”; pp. 673-700.	To what extent is Gawain culpable for the demise of Camelot?
WEEK 4	LE MORTE DARTHUR
Monday, June 26	Sir Thomas Malory, Works; “The Most Piteous Tale of the Morte Arthur Saunz Guerdon”; pp. 700-726. Critical Essay 2 Due.	The fall of Camelot is pretty unedifying, marked as it is by adultery, betrayal, crossed loyalties, and the effects of incest. Why do you think the story of Camelot was and is so popular and held in high regard given these unsavory elements?
Tuesday, June 27	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ll 1-762.	Compare and contrast the Gawain of this romance with Malory’s Gawain.
Wednesday June 28	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ll 763-2530.	If you were to insert this romance episode in Malory’s chronological order of the rise and fall of Camelot, where would it be?
Thursday, June 29	Catch-up/TBA.
Friday, June 30	FINAL EXAM; Bring 1-2 Bluebooks

et som men say in many partys of Inglonde that kynge Arthure ys nat dede, but had by the wyll of oure Lorde Jesu into another place; and men say that he shall com agayne, and he shall wynne the Holy Crosse. Yet I woll nat say that hit shall be so, but rather I wolde sey: here in thys worlde he chaunged hys lyff. And many men say that there ys wrytten uppon the tumbe thys: