ENGL 510

ENGL 510.1 Maymester 2011: Medieval Literature and Film Revised Schedule Page references and titles are to works in Longman unless indicated otherwise by hyperlinks; read all literature and critical arguments BEFORE class on the date assigned! Calendar last updated 05/17/2011
Date	LITERATURE	CRITICAL ARGUMENTS WE’LL DISCUSS IN DETAIL	FILMS/DISCUSSION/ ASSIGNMENTS DUE
May 16	Course introductions and discussion. Discussion of assignments and division into teams for film presentations.	If you have time after class, look at Ander Monson, "Geas," Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction 11.2 (Fall 2009): 43-54. http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/fourth_genre_ explorations_in_nonfiction/v011/11.2.monson.pdf	Review paper assignments and pair up for filmographies. Watch and discuss Darkon (93 mins). Filmography for Darkon
May 17	Longman 3-32; Lament for the Makars (574); Charles d’Orleans, 584-587.	Umberto Eco, from Adventures in Hyperreality; if you have time, look at ch. 5 of John Aberth's A Knight at the Movies on reserve--excellent background on the plague and The Seventh Seal.	Watch The Seventh Seal (91 mins). Here's a filmography from the 2008 class. Discuss the stereotype of medieval warriors.

Starting on May 18, class starts at 6 PM.
May 18	The Wanderer (Longman 172); start Beowulf (Longman 32-52).	Martha Driver, "Teaching the Middle Ages on Film: Visual Narrative and the Historical Record."	Movies, Literature, & History Discuss how folk epics work. Discuss basic terms for film analysis
May 19	Continue Beowulf (Longman 52-74); selections from Ibn Fadlan’s Risala or Russiyah	James Montgomery, "Ibn Fadlan and the Russiyah." Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies 3.2 (2000): 1-25. Hugh Magennis, "Michael Crichton, Ibn Fadlan, Fantasy Cinema: Beowulf at the Movies."	Continue discussion, focusing on character of the medieval hero (well-documented handout from the Luminarium). The 13^th Warrior (102 mins) (here is the 2008 filmography) Discuss The Thirteenth Warrior and Beowulf (the text). In what ways are cultural perspectives (medieval and modern) reflected in these works?
May 20	No Class. Make sure you have finished Beowulf (Longman 74-111)		E-mail me your paper question and chosen major works by noon today.
May 23	Arthurian materials: Longman 182-218; 277-308;	William F. Woods, "Authenticating Realism in Medieval Film" (in Driver)	Watch Beowulf (113 mins). Filmography by Tynisha and Audrey. Discuss Beowulf and The 13^th Warrior.
May 24	Francis Brett Young, "Hic Jacet Arthurus Rex Quondam Rexque Futurus"	Raymond H. Thompson, “Conceptions of King Arthur in the 20^th Century”.	Short Take #1 due due by 6:30 PM in www.turnitin.com. Discussion of the Arthurian legend and stereotype. Slideshow on historicity of Arthur. Begin discussing the notion of what constitutes a medieval king or ruler. How do “high medieval” stereotypes differ from “primitive medieval” stereotypes? (Think about Jokinen on the hero here!)
May 25	Sample some additional Lancelot material and Malory’s The Healing of Sir Urry	Harty, "'Arthur? Arthur? Arthur?' Where Exactly Is the Cinematic Arthur To Be Found?" ; Shippey: "Fuqua's King Arthur: More Mythmaking in America." For reference: My transcript of the script of the Director's Cut of Fuqua's King Arthur.	Watch King Arthur (Director’s Cut; 150 mins). Filmography by Jessica and Pam. Discuss King Arthur and analyze differences between theatrical and director’s releases.
May 26	Sample some additional Guinevere material and review Longman 288-312.	Susan B. Sainato, "Not Your Typical Knight" (in Driver). Barbara Miller, "'Cinemagicians': Movie Merlins of the 1980s and 1990s."	Discussion (led by Pam) of the literary notion of *fin ‘amor* (sometimes called ‘courtly love’—see Longman 22). Discuss how literary/artistic works may incorporate or comment on contemporary events. More discussion of writing about film. Watch *Excalibur* (140 mins). Filmography by Allison and Scott.
May 27	No class. Over the weekend, read A. J. Pollard, from Imagining Robin Hood.
May 30	Robin Hood in the chronicles (Wynton, Bower, Major, Grafton); A Gest of Robin Hood	Stephen Knight, from Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography.	Finish discussing the two Arthurian films and compare/contrast their “take” on the notion of medieval rulers and leadership. More discussion of writing about film. Discussion (led by Scott) of the stereotype of the picaresque; the rogue hero; the swashbuckler. Watch *The Adventures of Robin Hood (*102 mins). Filmography by Courtney.
May 31	Robin Hood and the Potter; Robin Hood and the Monk; Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne; Robin Hood and Little John	Rough Draft Conferences today and tomorrow on your research paper. A. J. Pollard, more from Imagining Robin Hood	Short Take #2 due by 6:30 PM in www.turnitin.com. Watch Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (143 mins) . Filmography by Jade and Nicole.
June 1	The Ballad of Robin Hood and MM.	Lorinda Cohoon, "Transgressive Transformations: Representations of Maid Marian in Robin Hood Retellings;" Sherron Lux, "Maid Marian’s Transgressive Identities."	Research paper due. Take-home final given out. Discuss Adventures of Robin Hood and Prince of Thieves. Again, reconsider how contemporary events and artistic works may reflect each other. Time permitting, watch snippets of the recent BBC series Robin Hood (here's one featuring Maid Marian and here's a real spoiler) and Robin of Sherwood (1980s) (though maybe this clip is better). [Ray Winstone watch: he's Will Scarlet in this one.]
June 2		David Day, *"Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Madness with a Definite Method"*. Revisit Eco and the class questions list.	Watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail (91 minutes). Filmography. And Bugs Bunny will have the last word. Finish discussion of Robin Hood (if time is needed). Summation, evaluation, carbohydrates.
June 3	Take-home final must be uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 9 AM. There are absolutely no extensions to this deadline!