Tristan and Isolde

Catalog description

This seminar explores the rich and enduring tradition of the Tristan and Isolde story, from its medieval imagining to modern retellings. We will examine how different versions of the story - literary, visual, and operatic - construct and complicate the story's themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and fate, among others. Through close readings of key texts from authors such as Beroul, Gottfried of Strassburg, and Thomas of Britain, as well as the operatic adaptation by Richard Wagner, we will interrogate how different themes are shaped by cultural expectations and ideological tensions. Students are invited to consider critical perspectives from feminist, psychoanalytic, queer, and other theory to illuminate the texts. No prior knowledge of medieval literature is required, but a willingness to wrestle with challenging texts and complex questions is essential. Students are also encouraged to explore retellings of the Tristan and Isolde story in other cultural traditions. This seminar concludes with a one-day conference at which students will present their work.