King Arthur: From the Middle Ages to the Modern Day



Overview

Who was King Arthur, what is his place in British culture, and why have we spent more than 1,000 years telling stories about him? This course gives an overview of the Arthurian legend, from its beginnings in the Middle Ages through to the present day. Students will read and discuss short extracts from Geoffrey of Monmouth, Thomas Malory, Alfred Tennyson, and Rosemary Sutcliff. Each day will focus on Arthur in a different age, context, and literary form, enabling students to see how the figure has been interpreted differently over time. 

This course is part of the Inspiring Oxford summer school.

Programme details

Seminars meet each weekday morning, with afternoons free for course-related field trips, individual study, or exploring the many places of interest in and around the city.

Monday

  • Reading and discussion of extracts from Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, books 8–11, written in Oxford c. 1136: the earliest full narrative about King Arthur still extant. 

  • Short presentation: Geoffrey of Monmouth’s life and work, and the relation between legend and history. The theoretical framework will come from Oxford scholar R.G. Collingwood. 

  • Class discussion: the importance of storytelling and the possible meaning(s) of the Arthurian legend. 

Tuesday

  • Reading and discussion of extracts from Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte D’Arthur, 1470: the most important and influential version of the Arthurian legend. 

  • Short presentation: Sir Thomas Malory’s life and work, and how the political context for Arthur had changed since Geoffrey’s time. 

  • Class discussion: what do we like about Malory? What is the appeal of the Arthurian legend? 

Wednesday

  • Reading and discussion of extracts from Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King, 1859 and 1885: the most important and influential version of the Arthurian legend in the 19th century. 

  • Short presentation: Tennyson’s life and work, and the explosion of interest in King Arthur in the 19th century after a long period when Arthur wasn’t written about. 

  • Class discussion: poetry vs prose 

Thursday
Field trip to Glastonbury. 

Friday

  • Reading and discussion of extracts from Rosemary Sutcliff, Sword at Sunset, 1963: the most important historical-setting novel about King Arthur. 

  • Short presentation: Rosemary Sutcliff’s life and work, the importance of women writers in the Arthurian legend; the historicity of Arthur. 

  • Discussion: which version of Arthur do we prefer, and why: Geoffrey’s, Malory’s, Tennyson’s, or Sutcliff’s? What is gained or lost in each version? What is each writer trying to achieve? 

Field Trip
Destination: Glastonbury (Abbey, Chalice Well, and Tor) and Cadbury Castle

Website: www.glastonburyabbey.com

www.chalicewell.org.uk

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

www.visitsomerset.co.uk

Excursion Rating: Demanding - More than two hours’ walk on even ground or up to two hours’ walk on an uneven/unpaved surface and/or steep/hilly ground including lots of stairs and steps in houses and gardens. 

Fees

Description Costs
Fee option 1 (single en suite accom and meals per person) £2365.00
Fee option 2 (single standard accom and meals per person) £2035.00
Fee option 3 (twin en suite accom and meals per person) £2215.00
Fee option 4 (no accom; incl lunch and dinner per person) £1680.00

Funding

Please note there are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc) available for applicants.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

Payment terms

If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking.

If submitting an enrolment form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date.

Extended stay fee

Participants staying multiple, consecutive weeks will be charged an additional bed and breakfast fee for the cost of the Saturday night between courses.

Cancellations and refunds

1. Cancellation by you

Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email to inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk, or by post to Inspiring Oxford, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.

The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:

  • Cancellation within 14 days of online enrolment / payment of fees – full refund of all fees paid. 

  • Cancellations received up to and including 30 April 2024 – OUDCE will retain an administration fee of £100 per week booked; all other fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received between 1-31 May 2024 – OUDCE will retain 60% of the fees paid; the remaining 40% of fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received on and after 1 June 2024 - no refunds will be made under any circumstances.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

2. Cancellation by us

Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2024. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2024, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.

OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, and if we are unable to find a replacement tutor, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Inspiring Oxford course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

3. Travel insurance

All participants must purchase travel insurance to cover the programme fee, travel costs, and any other expenses incurred. OUDCE cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. 

Tutor

Dr Gabriel Schenk

Tutor

Gabriel Schenk teaches fantasy literature at Signum University and is the Projects and Partnerships Manager for Ashinaga UK, a charity that enables orphaned youth to access education. 

He completed his D.Phil. at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, in 2014. His thesis analyses depictions of King Arthur, focusing on a period spanning the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries when the figure of Arthur became increasingly protean and multifaceted. 

He has taught in Uganda, Poland, Turkey, and across the UK. He is one of the founders and organizers of the Pembroke Tolkien Lecture on Fantasy Literature, and works for the Owen Barfield and the P.H. Newby literary estates. 

Teaching methods

Participants will be taught in seminar groups of up to 16 people, teaching methods used during this course may include:

  • Short lectures/Presentations
  • Physical handouts
  • Seminars/group discussions
  • Written exercises in-class
  • Field Trip

Assessment methods

There are no assessments for this course.

Application

Registration closes on 29 May 2024. Courses can fill up fast so early registration is recommended.

Single accommodation may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page. 

If you would like a twin en suite room, please send us a completed enrolment form that names the other course participant you will be sharing with. Please note these rooms have limited availability.

If you experience any difficulties enrolling online please contact the Programme Administrator at inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Level and demands

Inspiring Oxford is aimed at non-specialists: no prior knowledge is required, and classes are pitched at an introductory level. The courses are designed for an international audience aged 18 and over.

Accommodation

During your course you will stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Brasenose College, in the heart of the city in buildings overlooked by the iconic Radcliffe Camera. Please note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning. 

You can find out more about Brasenose by visiting their website.

The following types of accommodation are available:

  • Single en suite
  • Twin en suite: shared between participants that apply to the programme together
  • Standard single: bathrooms are shared between, on average, four participants

  • a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have lunch and dinner at Brasenose, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.

    Non-residential participants are encouraged to attend all aspects of the academic and social programme, and they have equal access to Brasenose as residential participants.
     

En suite rooms include private bathroom facilities (shower, washbasin and toilet).

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support