| ENGL
380: Love and Death: The Tristan Tradition
Dr. Debora B. Schwartz Calendar, Fall, 2004
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| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
Introduction and background; initial handouts. GWR evaluative writing sample administered by request during office hours. |
| Day 2 |
Joseph Bédier, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult (1900), pp. 1-85 |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
Joseph Bédier, The Romance of Tristan and Iseult (1900), pp. 86-203 |
| Day 2 |
Competing versions and medieval fragments: Marie de France, "Chevrefoil" (click on link and use your library barcode to print out the PDF file, 3 pp.); fragments of Thomas's Romance of Tristan (including Appendix 1, "A Note on Thomas's Tristan," and Appendix 2, "The Scene in the Orchard"; all of the Thomas readings are found in Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, pp. 301-364); the independent episode of Tristan's Madness (printed in Béroul, The Romance of Tristan, pp. 151-64). Follow link for a Required Online Reading with background information on the medieval Tristan tradition. Please note that you are responsible for the information in this background reading (and the information presented under "text info" on the course calendar) for quizzes and exams. |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
An episodic romance: Béroul, The Romance of Tristan. Reading assignment for today is ONLY Béroul's text, found pp. 39-148. Note that passages in italics are not from Béroul's poem -- they were added by the translator to "make ends meet" -- and that the episode of Tristan's madness printed in this book (and assigned for our previous class meeting) is NOT in fact part of Béroul's text. |
| Day 2 |
REQUIRED FILM: Tom Donovan's Lovespell (1979). NOTE: film (91 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by today's class. Directed by Tom Donovan, produced and written by Claire Labine (prior professional background of each was primarily in television soap operas); starring Richard Burton as King Mark, Kate Mulgrew as Isolt, Nicholas Clay as Tristan, and Geraldine Fitzgerald as Bronwen. Alternate titles: Summer of the Falcon (UK title); Tristan and Iseult; Tristan and Isolde. |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
An anti-Tristan: Chrétien de Troyes, Cligés (in Arthurian Romances, pp. 123-203). |
| Day 2 |
A mega-romance: Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, pp. 41-110. |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, pp. 111-239. |
| Day 2 |
Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, pp. 240-297. |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
MIDTERM EXAM |
| Day 2 |
REQUIRED FILM: Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde (based on Gottfried's Tristan). Click on link to read synopsis of opera BEFORE viewing video of extended scenes from Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (composed 1857-59; video presents excerpts from the 1976 production starring Jon Vickers as Tristan and Roberta Knie as Isolde, with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Franz-Paul Decker). NOTE: film (approx. 90 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by today's class. |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
The Victorians and Pre-Raphaelitism: Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Last Tournament" (1871) (PDF file, 11 pp.); Matthew Arnold, "Tristram and Iseult" (1852) (PDF file, 12 pp.) ; Algernon Charles Swinburne, "Queen Yseult" (1857-1858) (PDF file, 27 pp.). PRINT OUT readings and bring them with you to class! Note: if you have trouble accessing the PDF files from the links above, they can also be accessed directly from the Kennedy Library web page, where you will find them on the Electronic Reserve List for ENGL 380. |
| Day 2 |
Continue discussion of Tennyson, Arnold and Swinburne. New readings: Rethinking Isolde of the White Hands |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
Nancy McKenzie, Prince of Dreams (2004), pts. 1-2 (pp. 3-131). |
| Day 2 |
NO CLASS--HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY! (but read ahead--next assignment is LONG!) |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
Nancy McKenzie, Prince of Dreams (2004), pts. 3-5 (pp. 135-334) |
| Day 2 |
Nancy McKenzie, Prince of Dreams (2004), pt. 6 (pp. 337-416) |
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
REQUIRED FILM: Jean Delannoy's L'Éternel retour (1943; also released as The Eternal Return and Love Eternal; black and white, in French with English subtitles). Directed by Jean Delannoy from a screenplay by Jean Cocteau. Cast: Jean Marais as Patrice (the Tristan role); Madeleine Sologne as Nathalie la blonde (Blonde Nathalie, the Isolde the Blonde/of Ireland/Queen of Cornwall role); Jean Murat as Marc; Junie Astor as Nathalie la brune (Brunette Nathalie, the Isolde of the White Hands role); Piéral as Achille Frossin (i.e.Frocin the Dwarf); Alexandre Rignault as Morholt. NOTE: film (107 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by today's class. |
| Day 2 |
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Week 10b (November 30 - December 2)
| Topic and Readings | |
| Day 1 |
Steven Millhauser, "The King in the Tree" (2003; in The King in the Tree: Three Novellas, pp. 141-242). John Grosvenor Wilson, "Isolt at the Tomb of Tristan" (1886; link to file on the Camelot Project site; print out the reading, number every 4th line and bring it with you to class!) |
| Day 2 |
Selected short stories/poems. John Updike, "Tristan and Iseult" (1994; PDF file, 3 pp.) and "Four Sides of One Story" (1966; PDF file, 8 pp.) Other selections TBA. Note: if you have trouble accessing the PDF files from the links above, they can also be accessed directly from the Kennedy Library web page, where you will find them on the Electronic Reserve List for ENGL 380. |
Final
Exam Thursday, December 9, 1:10 - 4:00 PM. KEEP THIS DATE IN MIND
AS YOU MAKE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS!
PAPER 2 DUE.
Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz,
2004
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