ENGL 330 / ENGL 512: Medieval Literature Dr. Debora B. Schwartz English Department, California Polytechnic State University Arthurian Romance II: Malory's Morte Darthur Specific Reading Assignments NOTE:  these readings are LONG, so skim where indicated, focussing on specific pages listed below. Because there is a lot of ground to cover, are advised to read ahead over the week-end, or you may find it difficult to get through the assignment for our second class meeting devoted to Malory -- and the best stuff is at the end!  You will NOT be able to complete either assignment easily in a single night. I suggest breaking the assignment for each of the two classes devoted to Malory into TWO PARTS.  We will spend approximately one hour of class time on each of the two parts of the reading assignment.   First Reading Assignment: for classes meeting twice weekly in two-hour blocks Second Reading Assignment: for classes meeting twice weekly in two-hour blocks ASSIGNMENT FOR FIRST CLASS DEVOTED TO MALORY:  As you read the assigned pages, keep in mind the STUDY QUESTIONS and look for the issues and themes noted as you read.  Also, you are strongly urged to start reading assignment for second class meeting on Malory over the week-end as well! PART ONE: SKIM MA 188-300, reading carefully the pages indicated in bold type: MA 188-205 (the engendering of Galahad, from "Tristram," part V in the Winchester MS); note how the boiling lady episode (188-189) identifies Lancelot as the "best knight in the world," but immediately thereafter we learn he will lose this status due to the arrival of the "lion" that will surpass the "leopard," his soon-to-be-engendered son, Galahad. As you SKIM MA 238-300 (beginning of the Quest of the Holy Grail, from "Sankgreall," part VI in the Winchester MS), pay particular attention to: 238-254, prophetic events surrounding Galahad's arrival at court and linking of Arthurian legend with Christian salvation history (references to Joseph of Arimathea); monks who explain knightly adventure and Galahad's superiority over other knights in Christian terms e.g. 260-261, 266 long paragraph; corresponding depiction of Lancelot as sinful knight 270-274; demonization of women and sexuality in adventures of Perceval, 282-290; and hermit's explanation that the sinful Lancelot is best possible earthly knight, surpassed only by his pure son, the heavenly knight Galahad, 296-300. Total to read with more care: about 52 pp. PART TWO: SKIM MA 301-372 (end of the Quest of the Holy Grail, from "Sankgreall," pt. VI in the Winchester MS). Note how Gawain is much inferior to Lancelot--he can't find any adventures, 301-302, and eventually goes home in disgust. Note continued didactic nature of hermits who pop up to explain everything (e.g. 305-309); continued demonization of female sexuality (e.g. 319-322) and concurrent idealization of Perceval's pure and virginal sister, who replaces a female love interest for both Perceval and Galahad (e.g. 332, 341-2 where Galahad says he will be "her knight"). She later allows herself to be bled to death like a martyr saint (347-353). Note that while Lancelot is a sinner, he alone of the sinners is worthy of seeing the Grail (355-359). Note how Galahad is praised for his virginity (361) just before achieving the Grail, being crowned Grail King, and dying in an air of sanctity (363-370). In skimming this section, don't worry about all the details; read for a sense of how tedious this can be relative to our notions of what Arthurian romance is all about! Total to read with more care: about 35 pp. ASSIGNMENT FOR SECOND CLASS DEVOTED TO MALORY: As you read the assigned pages, keep in mind the STUDY QUESTIONS and look for the issues and themes noted as you read. PART ONE: SKIM MA 373-455 ("Lancelot and Guenevere," pt. VII in the Winchester MS), which includes a retelling of Chrétien de Troyes's Knight of the Cart (427-446; on this romance, see translatio handout). Read carefully MA 373-376 and note how quickly things return to "normal": Lancelot and Guenevere are back together, the Grail is forgotten, and Lancelot is once again "the noblest knight of the world" (375--it's as if Galahad never existed!) Guenevere gets mad at Lancelot and sends him away, but when she is (falsely) accused of murder, he comes back to rescue her (384-387). Immediately thereafter comes the episode of Elaine le Blank, the "fair maiden of Astolat," 388-391, 400-407, 411-416. In order to attend a tournament in disguise, Lancelot agrees to wear Elaine's sleeve (which she gives him as a love token); Guenevere finds out and is furious. Lancelot refuses Elaine's love and she dies in despair. Note oddly positive description of Guenevere as a "true lover" who "therefore [has] a good end" (425-6). Read through Knight of the Cart episode 427-446. Note how it demonstrates Lancelot's prowess as a knight but has been transformed from Chrétien de Troyes's original version, in which Lancelot is a savior figure. Finally, read carefully the episode of Sir Urré, 446-453. Note how it once again pinpoints Lancelot as an almost saintly knight, the best knight in the world--as did the Boiling Lady episode before the engendering of Galahad. Total to read with more care: about 55 pp. PART TWO: SKIM MA 456-532 ("Morte Arthur," pt. VIII in the Winchester MS). Read carefully MA 456-476, noting how the lovers are betrayed through the spite of Agravain and Mordred, and how Lancelot accidentally kills Gawain's brothers Gaheris and Gareth while rescuing the queen, thereby earning Gawain's enmity and causing a civil war in Arthur's kingdom. Eventually a peace treaty is worked out, Guenevere is returned to the king, and Lancelot goes into exile. But Gawain pushes Arthur to raise an army and pursue Lancelot to avenge his brothers' deaths. While Arthur and his army are in France fighting Lancelot, Mordred declares himself King; Arthur and his army return home to fight Mordred. Read carefully 508-532. Note how Gawain repents his bitterness against Lancelot before dying and how his ghost tells Arthur that Lancelot will save him from Mordred. Read carefully account of Arthur's death and Guenevere 's decision to become a nun, as well as account of deaths of Guenevere and Lancelot. Read carefully Ector's eulogy, 530. Note how these final events "spin" our perception of the characters and of the story as a whole. Total to read with care: about 46 pp. Contents of this and linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2007 Click here to return to Malory's Morte Darthur Study Guide Return to ENGL 330 homepage Return to ENGL 512 homepage Return to Dr. Schwartz's Teaching Page Return to Dr. Schwartz's homepage Send me mail!