PS-Medieval English Literatures: Medieval Literature in/and Children’s Books: Modern Re-Tellings of Beowulf and Arthurian Legend
Peter Löffelbein
Kommentar
Medieval literature is constantly being adapted for modern readerships. Very popular, but often neglected, are retellings for children. Contrary to assumptions of simplicity, such adaptations present particular challenges related to adaptation theory, to the interplay between text and image/illustrations, and to the difficulties that reimagining the medieval past entails. The perceived didactic nature of children's literature draws special attention to questions about the cultural and ideological paradigms these adaptations endorse or critique.
Exploring these challenges, this seminar will focus on two of the most famous English literary works from the Middle Ages: the Old English verse epos Beowulf and Thomas Malory's Middle English Le Morte D'Arthur. Together, we shall familiarise ourselves with these texts and compare them with select modern versions for children. In what ways do they transform medieval literature for a child readership, and to what effect? How do they incorporate or modify tropes, narrative structures, and distinct aesthetic or poetic qualities? How do they navigate the presumed educational goals for their young audience? What ideological underpinning do they uphold or criticize? How do they relate themselves to the medieval past, and what understanding of the Middle Ages and medieval literature in general may they (re-)produce?
Please note that course participation is limited.
14 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung