Stories about King Arthur and his knights have been told, adapted, translated, and turned into visual media for more than a millenium. The portrayal of the characters has been shaped and re-shaped through historical events and changes in society and literary culture. In this class, we will look at the medieval origins of Arthurian literature and its Romantic revival, as well as the enduring appeal of the Once and Future King in the 20th and 21st century.
Two novels will be discussed in detail and are required reading: T.H. White, The Once and Future King (use modern edition with all five books) and Kazuo Ishiguro, The Buried Giant (2015). Additional literature will be made available via Learnweb.
A useful introduction to the topic is Helen Fulton, A Companion to Arthurian Literature (2009, available as eBook through the university library).
- Lehrende/r: Eva Schaten