Kenneth J. Tiller
Zehmer 130
Office Hours: MWF 10-11; 12-1; TTH 12-3:15 and by appointment
Phone: 376-4587 / e-mail: kjt9t@mail.wise.virginia.edu
Department of Language and Literature
Oral Report and Final Paper
The oral report will be based on one work of Arthurian literature or
film not covered in class. You should prepare a brief (five minute) discussion
of the work to be presented for the class. This work will also serve as
the subject of your final paper. The final paper should be somewhat longer
(five pages) than the other two and should incorporate at least twooutside
sources (three if you choose a film). A reading list will be provided.
Because of the limited number of materials, there should be no more than
one student working on any one text.
Note: This is by no means a comprehensive list; it is a list of suggested works for your final project, including both medieval and modern sources, as well as film. The liberary owns some of the film titles, but not all of them. Texts and films will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, with a limit of two students for each title. Please let me know when you have decided upon one. Feel free to use Arthurian materials not included on this list, but give me the title and a brief description of the work before you go forward.
Medieval sources
Marie de France, any three Arthurian Lais
Short Arthurian and non-Arthurian poetic romances
The Alliterative Mort Darthur
Fourteenth-century version of the "epic" Arthurian narrative
The Stanzaic Morte Arthure
Fourteenth-century version of the "romance" Arthurian narrative
Chrétien de Troyes, any two romances not covered in class
Malory, the Tristram book
The other "famous lovers" of medieval legend; tangential to the Arthur
story.
Wolfram von Eschenbach, Parzival
German version of the story of Percival and the Grail.
Breoul, Tristan
Early episodic version of the romance of Tristan and Iseult.
Modern sources: texts
T. H, White, any book not covered in class.
John Steinbeck, The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights
Not complete but interesting: a "realist" treatment of Arthur and the
Arthurian cycle
E., A. Robinson (Any two Arthurian Monologues)
Offers psychological insight into the various figures of Arthur's court,
including Merlin and Gawaine.
C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength
Third in the Perelandra Trilogy: a "potboiler" featuring Merlin
and the return of Arthur to combat modern industrialism.
Marion Zimmer Bradley, Mists of Avalon
A feminist portrayal of the Arthuriad, offering detailed (and sympathetic)
portrayals of Morgan and Guinevere; shows the mutli-facetednous of the
Arthurian legend. (I haven't read any of the sequels to this book and can't
vouch for their quality; if you wanted to do a report on one, I would probably
allow it).
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Not strictly "Arthurian," but borrows heavily from the tradition, especially
in the "lost king" topos. If you chose this one, you would probably want
to focus on books 1-2; 3, and 5. (I could also let two or three students
team up on this one)
Geoffrey Ashe, The Discovery of King Arthur
This is not a work of fiction, but of archeology. Nevertherless, his
theories about the real "King Arthur" make for interesting reading and
have drawn a lot of attention.
Howard Pyle, Arthur and his Noble Knights
Arthur for young readers. It's interesting to see the ways in which
he modifies Malory and other sources.
Modern Sources: Film ("Grades" are based on my own humble judgment).
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (A+)
Spoof, but well-researched and intelligent spoof. Successfully mocks
most of the conventions of romance and film representations of the Arthur
story.
Excalibur (A-)
Still the best "serious" treatment of the Arthur story. Combines graphic
violence with pop mysticism; great visual effects, even if the storyline
is chaotic in places.
First Knight (C)
Richard Gere as Lancelot; Sean Connery as Arthur. Uneven and highly
anachronistic account of the Lancelot and Guinevere story. No tragedy here,
as everyone is reconciled in the end.
Knightriders (B)
A cult classic I couldn't resist including: modern "Arthurian knights"
in a sort of SCA-on motorcycles outfit. Does cover many of the important
themes and motifs of the Arthurian legend, though. May be hard to find.
Sword of the Valiant (D-)
A dismal attempt to do Sir Gawain and the Green Knight on film.
After the first scene, any semblance between this howler and the poem on
which it is based is purely coincidental. Even Connery in the title role
can't save it. May be hard to find.
Disney's Sword in the Stone (C+)
Typical Disney: Based on White, it might be interesting to compare
the two accounts.
Quest for Camelot (Haven't seen it)
Disney or Disneyesque: A loose "Arthurian" story centering on an effort
to steal (or recover) Arthur's Sword
Merlin (C-)
Made-for-TV account of Merlin's life combining a number of Arthurian
texts and, unfortunately, some original additions. Twists the Lancelot
and Guinevere story beyond recognition. Adds the character of Queen Mab,
who sounds like a gecko with a sore throat.
Guinevere (C+)
Also difficult to find: a "romance" retelling of the story from her
point of view. Some updates to the story remnicent of Bradley. Slow in
places (mainly between the opening and closing credits).
The Fisher King (A)
Robin Williams as a modern-day Perceval, a homeless man seeking for
the "grail": a successful update of the grail legend with the attendant
themes of healing and redemption.