ENG 516 Arthurian Literature from Geoffrey of Monmouth to Thomas Malory
This course examples the development of the Arthurian legend in the British Isles during the medieval period. It traces the legend's continuous reinvention, emphasizing its function as a focal point for reflecting on pivotal issues such as national identity, human virtue, Christian holiness, and gender relations. The readings provide an in-depth genre study of chivalric romance, tracing its formal development and its affiliations with related genres such as lai, chronicle, and hagiography.