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Dates: July 13-August 11

Credits: 3 - ENGL 313, Arthurian Traditions
(LASAR HUM l, TIER 2)

Faculty: Queens College & Liverpool John Moores University

We, Knight Errants, set sail over the sea to ancient Brittania, on the trail of King Arthur. Our quest begins at John Moores University in Liverpool. There we study the early texts (to include some films) of Arthur from the Mabinogion (Welsh text, dating to 6th century, A.C.E.) to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur and sections of Tennyson's Idylls of the King.

For the next part of our quest, we set out and explore major Arthurian landmarks in Wales, Cornwall, and Glastonbury. We visit enchanted forests, magical wells and waterfalls, and medieval castles by starlight. We stand inside the Stonehenge circle at dawn (with special permission; visitors aren't allowed inside the perimeter fence!) We travel through the magnificent landscape of Wales, the inspiration for both Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis's Narnia. Onward, to the site of what is believed to be fabled Camelot . . . the site of Arthur's final battle with Mordred . . . look out at Arthur's reputed resting place, seek out the hilltop where Merlin's power was first revealed, and more.

We also receive a day's weapons training from a medieval arms master. We spend a day with a High Priestess of the pre-Druidic Mother Goddess religion. Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't stop at Stratford upon Avon to visit the birthplace of that other famous Bard. Finally, our quest brings us to London, where we study later Arthurian texts (to include films, operas, and musicals) T.H. White's The Once and Future King and Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon.