English 4/5/6 Arthurian Lit and Comp

Course Catalog ID:

3897

Subject Categories:

English Language Arts, Literature and Media, Writing and Composition

Description

Explore Europe’s ultimate legend, the Arthurian cycle of stories, whose impact on writers, artists and musicians has lasted for over a thousand years and into the present day. Students in this course will investigate the origins, development, and major texts of Arthurian literature, from early Celtic fantasy to high medieval romance, from Renaissance and Victorian poetry to the twentieth-century retellings of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and T.H. White. Students will also hone and increase their analytical reading and composition skills through composition assignments, a research project, and in-class discussions and lectures. Uncover the legend’s roots in ancient Celtic mythology, and learn how the figure of Arthur first emerged in the shadow of the fall of the Roman Empire; travel through the Arthurian world, from Camelot to the Isle of Avalon, from the Forest of Broceliande to Annwfyn the Otherworld; become acquainted with the stories of Lancelot and Guinevere, the Lady of Shalott, Parzival the Grail Knight, the traitor Mordred, Saint George and the dragon, and Olwen the giant’s daughter; discover how the legends of the shape-shifting poet Taliesin and the mad prophet Myrddin developed into the figure of Merlin; and much more!

Prerequisites

Grade Levels*:

10, 11, 12

* Enrollment restricted based on Date of Birth and Grad Year (whichever is more limiting). Enrollment outside these levels requires written concurrence from TPS Support.

Readiness

• Successful completion (75% or higher) of TPS English 3 Lit and Comp (or higher)

━ OR ━

• Successful completion of Readiness Test

Notes and Conditions

Transcript Planning: Students typically take two or more English 4/5/6 courses. They may generally be taken in any order, though some sequences may be better for some purposes (e.g., preparation for a particular AP course).

California A-G: This course has CA A-G approval.

“I LOVE THIS CLASS!! The instructor teaches with a flow that can grasp my attention from beginning to end. In this class, information is conveyed in a story-like way, with funny pictures and casual chats. I’ve always disliked English, yet this course really displayed the beauty and strength of words through the carefully chosen reading materials and follow-up explanations. Throughout the school year, the course never bored me. Although it is midnight when I’m in class, all fatigue is washed away and I’m soaked in excitement from traveling with knights and discovering all sorts of magic done by wizards.”

Grace W

Student

“This was the first class I took from The Potter’s School, and I really enjoyed it. I knew nothing about Arthurian legends before this class, but the teacher makes the material super interesting and easy to learn! This class really opened a door to a whole new area of literature that I never really knew about. The teacher is amazing and I was so sad when this course came to an end!”

Kiera M

Student

“This course was fascinating! Learning about the Arthurian legends and stories made this class fun and interesting! The teacher did a fantastic job of engaging the class and made the entire learning experience exciting! Highly recommend this course.”

Richard H

Student

“I loved this course because of the adventurous works we read and the deep analysis shared through class discussion and written assignments. The professor is amazing and his lectures are informative as well as intriguing.”

Luke M

Student

“I absolutely loved the reading for this class! It’s an amazing class to develop your understanding of Arthurian legend as well as furthering your writing skills!”

Joy B

Student

“The Arthurian legend is one of the most interesting fields of mythology, and this course has hands down been my favorite of all of the high school courses I’ve taken. I 100% recommend this if you are even remotely interested in mythology.”

Carver T

Student