* First Things
- You will be working into the Middle Ages while I'm gone. All instructions will be here on the blog.
- When I return on Tuesday, we will (Lord willing) have our binder check.
- Here are the requirements (under course documents)
- If you have been absent, scroll through the blog entries (or ask a friend) for grammar and notes to make up
- I will also be looking for the notes you will be taking these next two days and nights on Arthurian legend and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
- You need to enter a contest by Tuesday; here are some to choose from.
- You may print a screen shot or picture of your entry and put it in the essay section of your binder. I will see it and give you credit when I check your binders.
- Please work wisely into our Middle Ages background, Arthurian legend and main text ("Sir Gawain and the Green Knight") while I'm gone these two days.
- As long as I get a good report from the substitute, we will have a class party at the end of next week (quarter's end). Consider what you might like to bring to the feast (and how you might like to dress up). Here is my party page for ideas and instructions. You will not have a memorization (or other) quiz on that day; we already had our memorization quiz.
* The Middle Ages
- Read our Overview of the Middle Ages
- Take notes on the following (it's too bad they marred C. S. Lewis' quote; just read "He was" instead of "Was was").
- Major ideas in bold
- Major wars
- Courtly Love
- Characteristics of the Middle Ages
- The Great Happenings
* Arthurian Legend
- The King returns!
- Before you read our story, I want you to get a broader feel for Arthurian legend. To do so, you will explore The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester. You may work together comparing notes, if you wish.
- Read and note at least five important ideas or facts concerning Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, the Fisher King, Gawain and any two of your choice.
- Read and note at least one sentence for each of the six themes and motifs.
- Read and note at least one sentence of notes on Avalon, Camelot, and two other places of your choice.
* And the tale begins!
- It is time to read our glorious tale, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
- Here is a good prose edition inserted into the blog.
- Here is the same edition online.
- I think you will find the prose edition above the best to read and easiest to follow; however, I would like you to read at least the opening 100 lines in verse as well (so read the opening twice). Here is a verse edition at Harvard. The verse edition is closer to the original but harder for a modern student to follow. If you like this better, please read the prose translation first, then read the verse translation.
- Journal 4 (Due Thursday, Oct. 17)
- Note elements of the story you find interesting. What is the style like? How does the author describe things?
- Identify what you believe might be any symbols in the story, taking a stab at what you think they might mean.
- Since numerology had an enormous impact on and in medieval and Renaissance works, take note of any numerological elements (also, check out the link here to help you make sense of numerological meanings in the poem).
- Note juxtapositions you encounter in the narrative and consider their dramatic effect.
- How do Beowulf and Gawain compare, both as heroes and as examples of the heroic narrative?
HW: For Tuesday
- Binder in order
- Contest entered with evidence in your binder (such as a printed screen-shot or picture)
- Reading and notes: You should have all the Middle Ages and Arthurian Legend background reading and notes completed, and you should be at least half-way through the story of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight."
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