English 555/755-01
Arthurian Literature

Course Syllabus

Spring Semester 2009
MWF 12:00 - 12:50, Grubbs 312
Instructor:  Dr. K. Nichols
E-Mail:  knichols@pittstate.edu

Course Description:

This course will investigate Arthurian literature and its adaptability to the changing values and revisionist viewpoints of different eras (Celtic, Medieval, Victorian, Modern). We will cover themes such as chivalry, courtly love, and the grail quest, as well as the tensions between the secular and the religious, between Celtic and Christian mythologies, and between competing loyalties and the imperatives of desire in politics and gender relationships. The readings should be enjoyable but rather heavy at times, so make plans accordingly. Some attention will also be paid to Arthurian art and film. This course is offered for both undergraduate and graduate credit.

Texts:

• Patrick K. Ford, ed., The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales, 2nd edition (University of California Press)
• Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances, revised edition (Tuttle)
• Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur : The Winchester Manuscript, abridged edition (Oxford University Press)
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King (Signet Classics)
• Joseph Bédier, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult (Vintage)
• Marion Zimmer Bradley, Lady of Avalon (Roc Trade)
• Gardner Dozois, ed., Isaac Asimov’s Camelot (Ace)

This list will be supplemented by several hand-outs or online copies of some shorter texts, as noted on the Daily Reading Schedule.

Grading:

• Three take-home exams (Undergraduates: 20% each; Grad. students: 14.2% each)
• Report (written and oral) (Undergraduates: 20%; Grad. students: 14.2%). See directions here and here.
• Paper 1 (Undergraduates: 20%; Grad. students: 14.2%). See Paper #1 Directions.
• Paper 2 (Grad. students only: 28.4%). See Paper #2 Directions.

NOTE: All major assignments must be completed to pass the course.

Extra Credit:

You can earn a half-letter grade credit (added on to your final grade) by watching four of the following Arthurian movies and writing a short report on each one: Jerry Zucker's First Knight (1997); Terry Gilliam's Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); John Boorman's Excalibur (1981); Uli Edel's The Mists of Avalon (2001); Antoine Fuqua's King Arthur (2004); and/or Terry Gilliam's The Fisher King (1991), all available in our departmental video collection or your nearest rental store. Use this online Cultural Event Report Form for each report.

Attendance:

Regular attendance is required. Everyone has four pre-excused absences for those difficult times in life that interfere with class attendance, so you do not need to clear absences with me. However, it is a good idea to check with me (or a classmate) to make sure an assignment was not changed while you were gone.

Students who miss more than four classes may be dropped from the roster for "excessive absences."

Late Paper/Exams Policy:

Late papers and exams will be graded down one letter grade for each day they are late.

Oral presentations must be given on the assigned day unless you get special permission from me to change the day.

NOTE: If you live out-of-town, you may e-mail papers to me at
knichols@pittstate.edu, but make sure they are attached as a .doc file.

Plagiarism Policy:

Academic honesty is expected of all students. I support the stated policies of the University and the English Department on penalties for plagiarism. Passing off anyone else's work (whether your roommate's or a published article) as your own may result in an "F" for that paper or an "F" for the course.

Since most students are here to learn, I am happy to help anyone who is wants to learn how to avoid plagiarism.

Class Web Pages:

The class syllabus and research/writing assignments can be accessed online in the following ways:

• My home page: members.cox.net/academia/nichols.html --scroll down to the link for our class.
  
  
• Class home page/index: faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/camelot.html.
  Click on the links at the top or bottom of this page to access the Daily Reading Schedule and other class pages. Click the BACK BUTTON (upper left corner) one or more times to return to your starting page.
  
  

The assumption is that the internet assignments will be done in the Computer Lab downstairs in Grubbs Hall 101 or elsewhere on campus, although you can probably do some of the assignments on your personal computer if you wish.

Return to Nichols Home page

Painting top of page:
"Godspeed" by Edmund Blair Leighton

Background images by Devonshire Designs