Just to let you know, proposals and projects should be done separately and please title them like project and
proposal. Here are the instructions. I put the link on the text it blue and underlined. If it wont open I can email
you instructions on google doc! Thank you!
1.Proposal Instructions:
Read these three Wikipedia articles: the Matter of Britain, the Matter of France, and the Matter of Rome.
Pick a literary work listed under one of these “Matters†on the pages below that follow.
Read the Wikipedia article on the literary work.
Summarize the relevant “Matter†(Britain, France, or Rome) in 2 sentences.
Write a 2 sentence summary of the of main subject or contents of the work in your own words based on the
Wikipedia article.
Explain what interests you about the work.
The Matter of Britain
Choose one of the following works in the Matter of Britain:
The Lais of Marie de France (composed in Anglo-Norman French) See Wikipedia article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lais_of_Marie_de_France
Le Morte d’Arthur (“The Death of King Arthurâ€) by Thomas Malory, volume 1 or volume 2 (composed in Middle
English) See Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Morte_d%27Arthur
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (composed in Middle English) See Wikipedia article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight
Perceforest: The Prehistory of King Arthur’s Britain See Wikipedia article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceforest
The Matter of France
Choose a work from the Matter of Rome:
Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer (composed in Middle English) See Wikipedia article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troilus_and_Criseyde
The Romance of Octavian See Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavian_(romance)
The Matter of Rome
Choose a work from the Matter of Rome:
Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer (composed in Middle English) See Wikipedia article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troilus_and_Criseyde
The Romance of Octavian See Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavian_(romance)
Then: pick an episode/section and read it!
Choose an episode or section of the work (you may wish to consult with your professor) and read it. Links
below:
Le Morte d’Arthur (“The Death of King Arthurâ€) by Thomas Malory, volume 1 volume 2
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Perceforest: The Prehistory of King Arthur’s Britain
La Chanson de Roland
Valentine and Orson
Troilus and Criseyde
The Romance of Octavian
Project Instructions
2-page Essay + Bibliography + Appendices 1-3 (+ Appendix 4 )
20%: pick a passage or section of significant length (1-5 pages) from the episode/section and copy and paste
into the end of your document as Appendix 1
45%: Write 2 pages (typewritten, 500 words minimum, using Grammarly) on your selected passage. 1) Explain
how the passage represents an important moment in the work and why (20%). 2) Explain what the passage
reveals about the characters in the work, focusing on how the characters embody or challenge chivalric ideals
(20%). 3) Make appropriate reference throughout to the two Wikipedia articles (5%).
5%: Bibliography: list the two Wikipedia articles on your literary work; include them in your bibliography,
together with the version/translation of the primary text you consulted. (MLA FORMAT)
30%: find 1) an interesting image online that connects to the work or your passage and paste it in your
document (Appendix 2) (15%); AND 2) find a work of medieval art that reminds you of the work (explain how in
a caption) OR make your own illustration and paste it in the document (Appendix 3) (15%).
For Appendix 4 watch a relevant popular film you haven’t yet seen and provide a 1 paragraph discussion of its
approach to chivalry or how it deals with medieval romance or its subject matter. Include at the end of
document
Here are the film options!
A Knight’s Tale (2001): very amusing, has Chaucer! and chivalry but almost no other relevance to an actual
medieval text
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): entertaining search for the Holy Grail; some chivalry and romance
but not much medieval
Gawain and the Green Knight (1973 or 1991) or Sword of the Valiant (1984): 3 versions of the Green Knight!
1984 is loosely based on the text and has synthesizer score; 1991 is faithful to the text; 1973 is playful but
doesn’t stick to the text
El Cid (1961): epic classic, a favorite of Martin Scorsese
Song of Roland (1978 or 2006): 1978 is in French w/subtitles; 2006–not much info
Troilus and Cressida (1966 or 1981): You’re watching Shakespeare’s play which is based on Chaucer—so a
Renaissance version of a medieval romance based on Greek myth
The Sword in the Stone (1963): Disney animation of the T.H. White novels on King Arthur
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975): a cult favorite comedy!
Camelot (1967): a comedy musical!
Excalibur (1981): visually compelling, great music (Richard Wagner), and closely based on Le Morte d’Arthur
Knights of the Round Table (1953): classic Hollywood extravaganza, based on Le Morte d’Arthur
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017): more action, less substance—little connection to a medieval text
King Arthur (2004): gritty and “realisticâ€: fiction based on Arthur as if he had been a real person
Kingdom of Heaven (2005): The siege of Christian Jerusalem by Muslim armies under Saladin in 1187