This course focuses on the most popular medieval literary genre, the romance. This genre encompasses a hero’s quest, including knights, battles, magic and damsels in distress or otherwise. Participants read both French Breton lais and Middle English verse romances (in translation) that flourished in 13th- and 14th-century England, with particular attention to the Arthurian legend as well as social, cultural and historical factors that gave rise to this literature. Some attention is given to the attraction of contemporary audiences to elements that had their genesis in medieval romance.
Offered: Every other year, Fall
UC: Humanities
