FRE 335 Aurthurian Romance in France
This course explores the cultural significance of the Arthurian Romance in medieval France through the lais of Marie de France and the romances of Chrétien de Troyes. We will study courtly love and social critiques of court culture by discussing conceptions of love, fidelity, class, power, and gendered sexuality in medieval France. Students will further develop their vocabulary as well as research and oral presentation skills while exploring the cultural significance of such tropes as wily women, mismatched marriages, and seductive strangers. We will translate and perform these romances, engage with digital archives of medieval art and literature, and produce creative contemporary adaptations of Arthurian courtly love.