Britain and Ireland have a rich heritage of myths and legends that merits comparison with the better-known Greek and Norse cycles. From medieval epics like the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf and the Irish Torchmarc Étaíne or The Táin, to nineteenth and twentieth-century retellings by the likes of Yeats, Morris and White, they help reveal the values, history and cultural practices of ‘Merlin’s Isle of Gramarye.’

On this course, we will explore stories of shapeshifters, knights, giants and spectres. We will encounter King Arthur in his many iterations through the ages, and compare this aristocratic figure with Robin Hood, a hero of the people. And we will meet British myths’ more recent additions, and see how modern authors have adapted some of these legends for different audiences. Through the course, you will become familiar with a broad range of legendary narratives that inform much of anglophone popular culture.

Related study trip

Day trip to Cadbury Castle and Glastonbury. Includes a walk up to the magnificent Tor, and a visit to the ruins of the Abbey that is reputed to be the burial place of King Arthur.

ASE reserves the right to change the content of course-specific study trips where necessary.