LIT-132 I Need a Hero! Reading National Myths in Europe
In this course, we will examine the origins of modern European national myths in the heroic tales of the medieval period. In so doing, we will ask how premodern literary forms, figures, and devices influenced the formation of national myths and identities in Europe. How are these epic stories of bloody battle, bitter rivalries, ingenious intrigues, fantastical beasts, noble princes, and pious monks adapted in the founding narratives of the nation? Does the process of adaptation change them or are they fundamentally the same? We will read a selection of texts ranging from medieval epics and fairytales to their literary, theatrical, and film adaptations in modern Europe.
First Year Course (18)
Credits
1
Notes
(History)