Englisches Seminar
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster

LEKTÜREÜBUNG:
SIR THOMAS MALORY: LE MORTE DARTHUR

Oliver M. Traxel

WS 11/12
6 Feb-10 Feb 2012
Mo-Fr 9-11, 11-13, 14-16

Room: ES 2


During the second half of the fifteenth century Middle English Arthurian literature reached its high point in the work of Sir Thomas Malory, which can still be seen as the most important reference point for all later stories about the legendary King Arthur. Moreover, its popularity at the time becomes evident in the printed version by William Caxton (1485), who also modernised the language of Malory's text.

In this seminar we will read several key passages of Malory's Le Morte Darthur in its original Middle English and translate them into German. We will also use these to discuss particular linguistic features of Middle English. Some previous basic knowledge of Middle English is therefore essential for all participants. Finally, we will discuss the literary context as well as some later adaptations of the subject matter in modern culture.

Textbook:
E. Vinaver, ed., Malory: (Complete) Works, 2nd ed. (Oxford, 1977).

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