Literature: The Matter of Britain: Malory and the Arthurian Legend

In this short course learners will explore some of the most beautiful and evocative prose of the Middle English period, in Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. We will hope to look at this work in both manuscript and printed editions, as one of the first works of English literature to appear in printed form. We will focus both on the language of the text and the wider reach of the narrative, as it explores the tragedy of Arthur and his kingdom, in a work which has been called the first English novel. As this is a short course, we will use extracts from this very comprehensive work, and through analysis and discussion will attempt to determine if the place of Malory’s account in the canon of literature is deserved. If time, we will also try to address the ongoing debate over Sir Thomas Malory’s identity. Tutor Roberta Dewa studied Old and Middle English texts and Medieval Studies to PhD level at university, developing a lifelong interest in medieval texts, and she has a particular passion for Malory’s work. She has taught Old English with the WEA for four years.