ENG32740 King Arthur: History & Romance

Academic Year 2023/2024

King Arthur is probably the most well known figure of the early English period. His marriage to Guinevere, her adulterous affair with Launcelot and, of course, the high-standing of his Knights of the Round Table are cultural reference points in English literature and history. First mention of him occurs in Celtic and Welsh literature, but it was in Geoffrey of Monmouth‘s History of Britain that the Arthurian myth established itself, creating a cultural hero that plays a significant part in the emergence and later reconfigurations of English identity. Half mythical, half historical, Arthur and his knights are at the epicentre of cycles of knightly adventures, romance tales, songs, poetry and drama and, even in the past century or so, film. If you ever have wondered how the myth of Arthur began and developed, this is the module for you. In this course, we will examine the origins of the Arthurian myth and its representation across a number of genres and texts, paying particular attention to the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, as well as closing with a look at Arthur’s afterlives in modern literature and film. We will consider the ways in which the Arthurian myth was reimagined continuously to address socio-political events, exploring matters of national identity; gender; the relationship between the past and present; fin amour; chivalry; the tension between ideals and reality; and the individual and the common good.