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Syllabi for "The Search for Arthur" by Linda A. Malcor


Supplies and Other Information for King Arthur Course

I use slides for all of my presentations. Maps are extremely useful, as are timelines and genealogies.

Whenever possible, I use books and other visual aids. Geoffrey Ashe's Discovery of King Arthur is a stand by, as is the Loomis and Loomis collection of Arthurian Legends in Medieval Art; however, there are many books available with great pictures.

The Brengle text book includes great study questions in the back for discussions on the various readings. I discuss each of the readings in class, commenting on what stays the same and what varies in the tradition, what reflects material from Late Antiquity and what elements are drawn from the medieval culture of the author. I also discuss the prejudices of the various critics.

I am limited to six weeks by the Learning Tree format. I suggest that the study of Arthur and Lancelot be split into two separate weeks and that the Holy Grail be split into two weeks as well.

The sixth week is a show-and-tell time. I bring part of my Arthurian collection into class. You could encourage your students to bring in anything Arthurian that they've collected or to find examples of the use of the Arthurian legends in our society today and bring those in to discuss.

If you have trouble locating any of the stories that I tell during these lectures, feel free to drop me a note, and I'll let you know where you can locate them.

Enjoy!

Dr. Linda A. Malcor
The Search for Arthur:
The "Real" Legend of the Round Table

Course Syllabus

This course surveys the diverse legends that belong to the Arthurian Tradition, the various types of evidence--manuscripts, tapestries, sculptures, etc.--through which we know these legends, and the myriad forms--books, films, comics, etc.--that these legends take today.

Students should read, at the very least, the pages assigned for the given week before attending class. Since all of the legends are inter-connected, the faster the students finish reading the complete text, the more enjoyment they will receive from the course.

Be prepared to discuss the reading assignments and the topic for the given week in class. I can talk about the Arthurian Tradition until we're all blue in the face, but it will be a lot more fun if we can discuss these materials together!

Assignments

WEEK 1: Introduction: The Historical King Arthur

General overview of the tradition, the characters, and the context in which they evolved.

Brengle, pp. 3-12, 325-348.

WEEK 2: The Legends of Arthur and Lancelot

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of Arthur and Lancelot.

Brengle, pp. 15-59, 127-141, 155-164, 193-309, 315-320, 348-355, 366- 374, 390-391.

WEEK 3: The Legends of Gawain and Tristan

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of Gawain and Tristan.

Slides; Brengle, pp. 67-71, 85-88, 90-91, 95-98, 110-127, 165-192, 311- 315, 357-365.

WEEK 4: The Women of the Round Table

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of Guinevere, Morgan Le Fey, the Lady of the Lake, and other women of the Round Table

Slides; Brengle, pp. 115-116, 141, 142-155, 309-311, 320-321, 375-378, 392-405.

WEEK 5: The Holy Grail

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of the Holy Grail and the Grail Knights: Perceval, Bors, and Galahad.

Slides; Brengle, pp. 103-109, 355-356.

WEEK 6: Conclusion: The Tradition Today

General overview of the modern mania over the Arthurian Tradition as illustrated by novels, plays, films, comic books, roll-playing games, and much more!

Show-and-Tell! No reading assignment!

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Dr. Linda A. Malcor
The Search for Arthur:
The "Real" Legend of the Round Table

Course Syllabus

This course surveys the diverse legends that belong to the Arthurian Tradition, the various types of evidence--manuscripts, tapestries, sculptures, etc.--through which we know these legends, and the myriad forms--books, films, comics, etc.--that these legends take today.

Assignments

WEEK 1: Arthur and Lancelot: History and Legend

General overview of the Arthurian tradition, the characters, and the context in which they evolved. An in depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of Arthur and Lancelot.

Slides; Brengle, pp. 3-12, 325-348; 15-59, 127-141, 155-164, 193-309, 315- 320, 348-355, 366-374, 390-391.

WEEK 2: The Knights of the Round Table

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of famous knights of the Round Table, including Kay, Bedivere, Gawain, Erec, and Tristan.

Slides; Brengle, pp. 67-71, 85-88, 90-91, 95-98, 110-127, 165-192, 311- 315, 357-365.

WEEK 3: The Women of the Round Table

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of Guinevere, Morgan Le Fay, the Lady of the Lake, and other women of the Round Table.

Slides; Brengle, pp. 115-116, 141, 142-155, 309-311, 320-321, 375-378, 392-405.

WEEK 4: The Holy Grail

In depth look at the medieval British and Continental legends of the Holy Grail and the Grail Knights: Perceval, Bors, and Galahad.

Slides; Brengle, pp. 103-109, 355-356.

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Last revised: June 19, 2011
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