230575 Fantasy Literature: The Modern Phase (S) (WiSe 2007/2008)

The exploits and adventures of Knights of the Round Table at the court of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere have not only fired the imagination of many medieval writers, they continue to work their magic on modern writers and audiences.

In this second class on Arthurian literature, we will look at how some 19th and 20th century British and American novelists have rewritten the old tales.

It is also planned deal with some modern adaptations of the Arthurian legends for the big (or small) screen, which will come at the end of class in the form of a weekend workshop in late January 2008.

Security Advice: Interested students should start reading (and taking notes - use the top, bottom and margin of pages!) NOW - White's and even more Bradley's book are extremely long novels.

Instead of a written exam at the end of class, seminar members will be asked to write short critical comments (thesis statements) for each session, which will count for their class mark.

Set texts (items marked by * are subject to availability):

Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court (1889)
T.H. White: The Once and Future King (1958; the complete tetralogy)

• Rosemary Sutcliff: Sword at Sunset (1963)
• Thomas Berger: Arthur Rex (1978)

Marion Z. Bradley: The Mists of Avalon (1979; the first edition)
Deepak Chopra: The Return of Merlin (1995)