OLKING - King Arthur in Medieval Literature

Course Description

Was King Arthur a real person? How did the character of Merlin develop? The answers to these questions and others will be discovered as we examine the rich array of literature about King Arthur in the Middle Ages (410 to 1485 C.E). We'll discuss how Arthurian literature serves as a looking glass for examining chivalry, romance, the crusades, Christianity, and other issues that characterized Medieval Europe. Students will read a few important works in contemporary English translation, while discussing several others, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the Arthurian storyline. Lessons will be illuminated with maps, pictures, and detailed discussion of the physical manuscripts on which the literature was written. The course will conclude with a complete discussion of Thomas Malory's The Death of Arthur, which is the principal story responsible for modern understandings of the legendary king, Queen Guinevere, Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table.

For more information about this course, contact: OLLI at LSU at 225-578-2500 or email OLLI@outreach.lsu.edu