Course info

King Arthur and his legendary Knights of the Round Table have been held as exemplary figures of chivalry since their first documented appearance in medieval romance in the twelfth century. Bold, brave, and beautiful, each of the knight protagonists embody a mixture of heroic and courtly traits that represent a depiction of idealised masculinity. However, the Arthurian world itself does not function perfectly. Each of the texts explored on the module explores different anxieties that exist within depictions of Arthurian chivalry. Through detailed analysis of the primary texts, the module will trace the development of the Arthurian legend against the politics of medieval England, paying particular attention to areas of conflict, tension, and criticism. The aim of the module is to focus on close analysis and to study the chosen texts in depth to encourage students to explore the literary and critical issues that these texts raise.