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Module Catalogue

EN3C1-30 Arthurian Literature & its Legacy

Department
English and Comparative Literary Studies
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Sarah Wood
Credit value
30
Module duration
18 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

EN3C1-30 Arthurian Literature & its Legacy

Module web page

Module aims

The module will explore the evolution of Arthurian myth from the mid twelfth up until the mid fifteenth centuries. Several major works from Middle English literature will be studied in their original language, along with French, German and Latin works in modern translation. In study-ing these texts particular attention will be paid to the fol-lowing topics: the nature of different national responses to the myth of British imperialism, the representation of women, the literary construction of knighthood, and the way in which the medieval church attempted to regulate and redirect the chivalric ethos. The last 6 weeks of the module will examine the characteristics of the Arthurian revival in Victorian and twentieth-century Britain.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Autumn term
The Early Arthur of History and the Chronicles
Spring Term
The Late Medieval Arthur: theories of downfall

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a coherent and detailed understanding, informed where appro-priate by recent scholarship, of the evo-lution of the Arthurian myth from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, some of its principal genres, and the reasons behind the Arthurian revival in nine-teenth and twentieth century Britain and America.
  • Deploy accurately in relation to particu-lar texts their knowledge of the rela-tionships between different genres and of the historical and cultural contexts in which the texts studied were produced.
  • Develop an independent and creative response to primary texts studied on the course.
  • Describe and comment on particular aspects of recent research and scholar-ship
  • Apply their knowledge and understand-ing in order to initiate and carry out an extended piece of writing

Subject specific skills

To understand the evolution of Arthurian myth from the mid twelfth to the mid fifteenth centuries; to understand some of the genres and voices of medieval Arthurian narratives to further knowledge of Middle English lan-guage through a study of several major works of Middle English literature contemporary with or later than those studied in EN121; to examine the reasons behind the Ar-thurian revival in nineteenth and twentieth-century Brit-ain and America, together with the ways in which the myth has been rearticulated to encompass Victorian, modern and post-modern concerns.

Transferable skills

No transferable skills defined for this module.

Study time

Type Required
Seminars 18 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (9%)
Other activity 1 hour 30 minutes (0%)
Private study 271 hours 30 minutes (90%)
Total 300 hours

Private study description

Reading & research.

Other activity description

Revision seminar.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
5000 word final essay 60% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
3500 word first essay 40% No
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Tabula & face to face.

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 3 of UENA-Q300 Undergraduate English Literature
  • Year 3 of UENA-QP36 Undergraduate English Literature and Creative Writing
  • Year 4 of UENA-QP37 Undergraduate English Literature and Creative Writing with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UENA-Q301 Undergraduate English Literature with Intercalated Year
  • Year 3 of UENA-VQ32 Undergraduate English and History
  • Year 4 of UENA-VQ33 Undergraduate English and History (with Intercalated year)
  • Year 4 of UENA-QW35 Undergraduate English and Theatre Studies with Intercalated Year
  • Year 4 of UFIA-QW26 Undergraduate Film and Literature (with Study Abroad)

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 3 of UCXA-QQ37 Undergraduate Classics and English
  • Year 3 of UFIA-QW25 Undergraduate Film and Literature

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 3 of UTHA-QW34 Undergraduate English and Theatre Studies

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 3 of UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
  • Year 4 of UPHA-VQ73 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature with Intercalated Year