ENG 349-01 - Medieval Literature

4 credits (Spring)

Cross-listed as: GLS 349-01. This seminar will explore various versions of Beowulf, from its Norse and Old English origins to its modern adaptations. We will look at the historical and archeological record to situate the poem in its Danish and English contexts, and we will use virtual reality experiences to help us understand the types of real and imagined spaces in which Beowulf emerges as a Viking (?) hero. The class will study various adaptations of the Beowulf story, including J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Maria Dahvana Headley’s The Mere Wife, as well as graphic novels and films. Students will have the opportunity to develop their own research projects using their preferred media as well as their own creative adaptations of an aspect of the Beowulf legend.

Prerequisite: ENG 223 with grade S, C, or better.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Arner