Date: Sat, 17 Sep 1994 12:37:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: Deborah Everhart <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Teaching Arthuriana
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I am pleased to announce a new moderated discussion on the list, 
constructed and guided by Miriam Miller. Her opening statement is below.

--Deborah Everhart
Assistant Editor, _Arthurian Interpretations_
Listowner, ArthurNet
____________________________________________________________________

Teaching Arthuriana: Opening Statement
by Miriam Y. Miller, University of New Orleans

For the next month, ArthurNet will be sponsoring an electronic 
discussion of pedagogical approaches to the legend of Arthur.  Since 
many ArthurNet subscribers teach and all have been taught, we hope that 
this discussion will enable all who are interested to exchange ideas 
about course development, syllabi, theoretical approaches, bibliography,
assignments and other means of presenting Arthurian materials 
effectively to our students at all levels from grade school through 
graduate school.

While there are useful pedagogical resources available, including Watson 
and Fries's _Approaches to Teaching the Arthurian Tradition_ (1992) and
Miller and Chance's_Approaches to Teaching Sir Gawain and the Green 
Knight_ (1986), both published by the Modern Language Association, these 
works do not, of course, exhaust the topic.  I would like, therefore, to 
suggest the following specific areas of discussion:

        1.  Considering the possibility/desirability of forming a canon 
        of Arthurian
        works (particularly of the twentieth century) for teaching 
        purposes--and what works ought/ought not to form part of the 
        canon. 

        2.  Updating the list of secondary readings recommended for both
        teachers and students as background for Arthurian studies.  
        (Note:  Both MLA volumes above contain secondary bibliographies,
        but neither is up-to-date, given the constraints of the MLA 
        format.)

        3.  Applying current critical methodologies to Arthurian 
        material in the classroom:  which methodologies are appropriate 
        and how should they best be introduced.

        4.  Incorporating Arthurian material in all artistic media into 
        the syllabus.

        5.  Teaching Arthurian works in non-traditional contexts.

Of course, ArthurNetters should feel free to raise any other issues 
relevant to the teaching of Arthuriana during the course of this 
discussion.

A reminder:  All contributions to this discussion should be posted to 
ArthurNet in the usual way.  Please maintain the original subject line 
so that this discussion can be kept distinct from postings on other 
topics.