Research Guides: Literature: Arthurian Literature (ENG-356)

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Search by title, author, or keyword in the box above, or explore resources available at Shenandoah University Libraries using these subject links:

To find resources on characters from the legends, search for the name plus the phrase "legendary character." For example, Merlin (Legendary character).

Criticism and Interpretation on Video

Arthur: the Once and Future King (PBS) DESCRIPTION In this program, Michael Wood explores the greatest of British myths: the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Traveling through the Celtic world from Cornwall and Wales to Brittany, Ireland, and Scotland, Wood uncovers the extraordinary story of how a shadowy Welsh freedom-fighter became a medieval superman, and eventually the model of a Christian hero. On the way we discover the real stories behind the Round Table, Excalibur, and the Holy Grail itself. A part of the series In Search of Myths and Heroes.
Tracing the Arthurian Tradition (Films for the Humanities and Sciences) The legend of King Arthur holds a place of honor in the collective imaginations and mythic traditions of both Britain and America. In this captivating three-part series, some of today’s leading Arthurian experts discourse on the history, literature, and cultural impact of one of Western society’s most pervasive icons—a ubiquitous symbol of mystery, honor, enchantment, and passion. 3-part series, 24–26 minutes each.
Malory's Le Morte D'arthur: Anatomy of a Legend (Films for the Humanities and Sciences) The richly embroidered story of King Arthur as set down by Sir Thomas Malory during the Middle Ages has unfailingly intrigued generations of readers. P. J. C. Field, one of the world’s top authorities on Malory and president of the British branch of the International Arthurian Society; Helen Cooper, editor of the Oxford World’s Classics edition of Le Morte Darthur; and medievalist Kevin J. Harty, of La Salle University, begin this survey by assessing the historical and apocryphal underpinnings of the Arthurian legend. Then, supported by reenactments, location footage, and works of art, the program examines each section of Malory’s archetypal Le Morte Darthur.
The Knights of Camelot (A&E) King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table inspired legends, best sellers, and movies. Romantic and magical, the tales of Merlin the magician and the inhabitants of Camelot continue to fascinate after centuries. But could such a wondrous place as Camelot have once existed in reality? Was King Arthur merely a legend or a real historical figure? This episode of Ancient Mysteries interviews prominent British archaeologists and historians to discover the truth.
The Legend of Arthur An examination of the blend of history, mythology, religion, and prophetic dreams that constitutes the Arthurian legend. The program shows us Glastonbury and other sites where the legend is set, illuminations and other illustrations of the Arthur stories, and covers both the principal stories and their meanings, particularly the search for the Holy Grail and for purity—a search that must end within the searcher himself.
The Myth of the Holy Grail The Holy Grail may be history’s most legendary artifact, but did it ever really exist and, if so, was it a chalice or something very different? Filmed at key locations in England and France, this program follows the intriguing efforts of two modern-day Grail hunters, providing along the way a concise account of the Grail story, its role in Arthurian legend, and its enduring fascination. Dramatic reenactments, paintings, and original manuscripts are blended with commentary from scholars, archaeologists, and experts, including Graham Phillips, author of The Search for the Grail, and Henry Lincoln, author of Key to the Secret Pattern and co-author of Holy Blood, Holy Grail.
Camelot: Ancient Mysteries (A&E) Camelot’s court was home to lords and ladies, knights and sorcerers. The mythic tales of King Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere inspired stories, books, movies, and a Broadway classic. In this episode of Ancient Mysteries, historians and archaeologists lead us throughout England and Wales in search of Camelot and the truth behind one of the Western world’s most beloved legends.

Other Resources

Arthuriana
Quarterly journal of the International Arthurian Society - North American Branch (subscription covers 1994 to 4 years ago). Visit the Article Databases page on this guide to search for articles on your topic.

The Camelot Project | University of Rochester
Provides valuable bibliographies and freely downloadable versions of Arthurian texts.

Literature: Arthurian Literature (ENG-356)

Legends and Adaptations

Sword Stone Table

Half Sick of Shadows

The Book of Merlyn

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

The Crystal Cave

Excalibur (DVD)

The Fisher King (DVD)

The Green Knight (DVD)

The History of the Kings of Britain

Idylls of the King

Lancelot

The Mabinogion

The Mists of Avalon

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (DVD)

Le Morte d'Arthur

The Once and Future King

Perceval

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Modern Verse Translation

Song of the Sparrow

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

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Criticism and Interpretation on Video

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