*HIST+330+syllabus

Summer 2017

Robert C. Figueira Carnell Learning Center 368 phones: 864-388-8218 (o), 864-229-6391 (h) e-mail: figueira@lander.edu website: http://figueira.wikispaces.com office hours: after each class meeting

**HIST 330** **ROBIN HOOD: FACT, FICTION, AND FILMS** I. __Course Core Readings__

Texts noted * are available also in R.B. Dobson and J. Taylor, //Rymes of Robyn Hood// (on library closed reserve).
 * encyclopedia and newspaper articles on Robin Hood (handout)
 * ballad literature available for individual use on the internet at [] under subheading Knight, Stephen or subheading Ohlgren, Thomas H.
 * “A Gest of Robyn Hode”*
 * “The Death of Robin Hood”
 * “Robin Hood and the Monk”*
 * “Robin Hood and the Potter”*
 * “Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne”*
 * “Robin Hood and Little John”
 * “Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar”
 * “Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly”*
 * “Outlaw’s Song of Trailbaston” (modern English version available for individual use on the internet at [])
 * //The Tale of Gamelyn// (modern English version on library closed reserve; original version for individual use on the internet at [])
 * J.C. Holt, //Robin Hood// (Revised and Enlarged Edition on library closed reserve; or Second Edition)

Two other books are on library closed reserve for student reference, but they are not required in the course:
 * Maurice Keen, //The Outlaws of Medieval Legend//
 * Thomas H. Ohlgren (ed.), //Medieval Outlaws.// //Ten Tales in Modern English//

//Robin Hood// (2010) is on library closed reserve for the course written project.

A useful internet research bibliography can be found at: http://robinhoodbibliography.wikispaces.com/ by accessing the link Bibliography – master list on the right-side toolbar.

II. __Course objectives and content__

Fact, fiction, and films featuring the hero of Sherwood Forest (and elsewhere)! This course will explore Robin Hood from the standpoint of historical fact, literary ballad, and cinematic art. Students will read medieval popular literature, investigate medieval outlawry, critique various films dating from 1922 to 2010, and assess the reinterpretation of medieval times.

Successful completion of this course will enable students to analyze primary and secondary historical sources, to assimilate information, and to compose written essays and film reviews that assimilate course readings and viewings. Such competencies are preparatory for more extensive historical research projects, and their mastery by students also fulfills in part the following goals and objectives of history major programs at Lander University (//Catalog, 2016-2017//, p. 106): For the Lander University degree programs in History this course fulfills major requirements of 3 semester-hours of credit (in European history) at the HIST 300+ level. For the LanderUniversity minor program in History this course fulfills requirements of 3 semester-hours of credit (a) in European history at the HIST 200+ level, or (b) as an elective at the HIST 300+ level, or (c) as a free elective.
 * 1) critically evaluate a secondary source of history;…
 * 2) critically evaluate primary sources;
 * 3) narrate a series of events in the history of a country other than the United States...
 * 4) orally articulate and defend a position developed through research.

HIST 330 also fulfills requirements in the C.A.E.P.-approved and N.C.S.S.-approved Lander University matrix for Social Studies secondary education (History B.S. degree).

For General Education requirements (//Lander University Catalog 2016-2017//, p. 74) in Humanities this course will enable students to develop: HIST 330 fulfills the 3 semester-hours of general education credit requirement in Humanities in most, but perhaps not all, of Lander University’s degree programs.
 * 1) University-level knowledge and comprehension
 * 2) The ability to apply information
 * 3) The ability to analyze information
 * 4) The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately

III. __Course requirements__, __evaluation methods__, __and additional information__

The responsibilities of students in this course are: a) Attendance at class meetings and participation in discussions and class-meeting presentations. Please consult pp. 19-20 of the //Lander Student Handbook// //2016-2017// and p. 54 of the //Lander University Catalog 2016-2017// regarding official university policy on class attendance. **__Students absent from five class meetings are liable to receive a grade of “FA”__.** Habitual tardiness is not acceptable and will be counted proportionately as attendance absences. b) Reading scheduled assignments **__prior__** to class meetings. c) Completion of a midterm examination that will be open-book, open-notes, with the exception that use of laptop computers and other electronic devices is still prohibited during examinations. d) Viewing and critiquing no more than seven films shown in class. **The written critiques (see section VII below) will be due – if not otherwise directed by the instructor – at the first class period __after__ the viewing is completed!** e) Completion of a course project – each student submitting five double-spaced typewritten pages of work – reviewing //Robin Hood// (2010) __in light of the film and literary tradition of the Robin Hood legend__. First, how does this movie draw on or disagree with earlier movies viewed in the course (excepting //Robin Hood - Men in Tights// [1993])? Second, how does this movie draw on or disagree with the outlaw ballads read in the course? Third, what are the historical inaccuracies of the film? f) Completion of a final examination that will be open-book, open-notes, with the exception that use of laptop computers and other electronic devices is still prohibited.

The midterm examination shall count no more than 25% of the raw final grade. The assigned film critiques shall count no more than 15% of the raw final grade. The course project shall count no more than 10% of the raw final grade. The final examination shall count no more than 50% of the raw final grade. **Class attendance and participation in class-meeting discussions will be considered in the conversion of the raw final grade into the course mark.**

It is expected that all students abide by the rules of academic honesty detailed on pp. 7-11 of the //Lander Student Handbook 2016-2017//. See also p. 45 of the //Lander University Catalog 2016-2017// regarding the Academic Honor Code.

Audio recording of class meetings is prohibited without the explicit permission of the instructor. Use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited during all class meetings. Use of cellular phones, PDAs, and similar electronic media devices is prohibited during all class meetings. Use of computers is permitted, with one exception, during class meetings, but their use is limited to note-taking and accessing those websites which the instructor is using in instruction during that class meeting. __Use of computers is prohibited, however, during examinations__. The foregoing paragraph is not intended to negate the reasonable accommodations accorded by federal law to students with documented physical or learning disabilities.

A student who __without prior excuse__ does not take the midterm or final examinations at the appointed time earns an “F” for the exercise in question. Upon the student’s request, __it is the instructor’s prerogative__ whether to permit the hitherto unexcused student to take a make-up or receive a postponement (__with or without penalty__). Tardy submission of film critiques or course project __without prior excuse__ will be penalized.

On rare occasions extremely inclement weather might discourage road travel to and from the Greenwood campus in order to attend a class meeting. I encourage you __not to risk__ your safety in such cases of bad weather. You are also responsible for your learning in this course, and thus I am confident that you will treat such occasions in a responsible manner. Whenever LanderUniversity classes are cancelled due to inclement weather, the University will inform local public communications media. The easiest way to determine whether class meetings have been cancelled is to access LanderUniversity’s automated telephone system at 864-388-8000; any cancellation message will be announced first on the system.

Grading scale - The midterm examination and final examination will each receive a precise numerical grade, percentage-based. The film critiques and collaborative student project will be graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. The operative scale for the course as a whole is thus: “A” = 90% and above; “B” = 80-89%; “C” = 70-79%; “D” = 60-69%; “F” = 59% and below.

If you have now or develop during this semester a physical or a learning disability and you want me to make reasonable accommodations according to federal law, you must contact the Lander University Student Wellness Center (Genesis Building, phone: 864-388-8885, email: studentwellness@lander.edu) and provide that office with appropriate documentation unless you have done so in the past. Once that office is aware of your disability, it will inform all of your instructors each semester you attend LanderUniversity unless you ask in writing that this not be done.

__The instructor does not use Blackboard in this course__. Students wishing to email the instructor should carefully note his e-address above and use instead their internet email capability outside of Blackboard. Students should also __regularly__ check their official Lander email addresses for communications from the instructor.

IV. __Teaching strategies used__

The course will meet in lecture and discussion format whereby student oral participation will alternate with text explications, question-and-answer by instructor and students, student presentations, and film viewing. Discussion will focus on the reading and viewing assignments. After class meetings, students will reflect upon their class-meeting experiences in preparation for their future assignments. Students should consult periodic e-mail messages from the instructor for the syllabus and any posted study materials in this course.

V. __Course schedule__

17 May reading: encyclopedia and newspaper articles; film viewing: //Biography: Robin Hood Outlaw of the Forest// (1995) [c.50 min.] - __no critique required__ 18 May reading: “A Gest of Robyn Hode,” First and Second Fyttes; film viewing: //Robin Hood// (1922) [part - c.60 min.]

22 May reading: Holt, preface, chapters I and II; film viewing: //Robin Hood// (1922) [part - c.60 min.] 23 May reading: “A Gest of Robyn Hode,” Third and Fourth Fyttes; film viewing: //The Adventures of Robin Hood// (1938) [part - c.50 min.] 24 May reading: Holt, chapter III, “A Gest of Robyn Hode,” Fifth Fytte; film viewing: //The Adventures of Robin Hood// (1938) [part - c.50 min.] 25 May reading: Holt, chapter IV, “A Gest of Robyn Hode,” Sixth and Seventh Fyttes; film viewing: //The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men// (1952) [part - c.30 min.]

29 May **UNIVERSITY CLOSED – MEMORIAL DAY -- NO CLASS** **MEETING!** 30 May reading: “A Gest of Robyn Hode,” Eighth Fytte, “The Death of Robin Hood”, “Robin Hood and the Monk”; film viewing: //The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men// (1952) [part - c.30 min.] 31 May reading: “Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne”; “Robin Hood and the Potter”; film viewing: //The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men// (1952) [part - c.30 min.] 1 June reading: “Robin Hood and Little John”; “Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar” (Knight/Ohlgren text, __not__ Child Ballad 123A); film viewing: //The True Story of Robin Hood// [50 min.] - __no critique__ __required__

5 June **MIDTERM EXAMINATION:** Each student will make a two-hour appointment between 8am-12noon, 3pm-7pm to take their mid-term examination reading: “Outlaw’s Song of Trailbaston”; //The Tale of Gamelyn// (first half); film viewing: //A Challenge for Robin Hood// (1967) [part - c. 55 min.] 6 June reading: //The Tale of Gamelyn// (second half), Holt, chapter V; film viewing: //A Challenge for Robin Hood// (1967) [part - c. 55 min.] 7 June reading: “Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly” (first half); film viewing: //Robin Hood// (1991) [part - c.30 min.] 8 June reading: “Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly” (second half); film viewing: //Robin Hood// (1991) [part - c.55 min.]
 * CLASS MEETING**

12 June reading: Holt, chapter VI (first half); film viewing: //Robin Hood// (1991) [part - c.30 min.] 13 June reading: Holt, chapter VI (second half); film viewing: //Robin Hood Prince of Thieves// (1992) [part - c.70 min.] 14 June reading: Holt, chapter VII, film viewing: //Robin Hood Prince of Thieves// (1992) [part - c.70 min.] 15 June film viewing: //Robin Hood - Men in Tights// (1993) [part - c.55 min.]

19 June **STUDENT COURSE PROJECT DUE** film viewing: //Robin Hood - Men in Tights// (1993) [part - c.50 min.] 20 June reading: Holt, chapter VIII, discussion of course project 21 June endterm summation – readings, films, and course project 22 June **FINAL EXAMINATION**

VI. __Partial Filmography__ [* viewing in class meetings required]

//Robin Hood of El Dorado// (1936) //Robin Hood of the Pecos// (1941) //Robin Hood of Monterey// (1945) //The Bandit of Sherwood Forest// (1946) //Prince of Thieves// (1948) //Rogues of Sherwood Forest// (1950) //*The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men// (1952) //Sword of Sherwood Forest// (1960) //The Triumph of Robin Hood// (1962, //Il trionfo di Robin Hood//) //Robin and the Seven Hoods// (1964) //Robin Hood// (1973 Disney cartoon) //Robin and Marian// (1976) //*Robin Hood// (1991) //The Legend of Robin Hood// (1994 UAV cartoon) //Robin Hood// (1994 UAV cartoon) //Princess of Thieves// (2001) //Robin Hood// (2010) [viewing outside of class meeting is required] //The Real Robin Hood// (2010) //Robin Hood: The Ghost of Sherwood// (2012)
 * //Robin Hood// (1922)
 * //The Adventures of Robin Hood// (1938)
 * //A Challenge for Robin Hood// (1968)
 * //Robin Hood Prince of Thieves// (1991)
 * //Robin Hood - Men in Tights// (1993)
 * //Biography: Robin Hood Outlaw of the Forest// (1995)
 * //The True Story of Robin Hood// (2000)

The above list does not include several television series on Robin Hood dating from the 1950s into the 21st century.

VII. __Questions for Film Critiques__ **Please answer questions 1-9 in complete sentences that do not involve lists; only question 10 should be answered in list fashion.**


 * 1) Can you pinpoint the historical frame of the movie in English history?
 * 2) What is Robin Hood’s social background in the movie?
 * 3) What are the social contexts or “messages”, if any, of Robin Hood’s outlaw activities in the movie?
 * 4) What practices, customs, or values of the so-called “Middle Ages” are illustrated in the movie? Are the depictions historically accurate?
 * 5) Describe the circumstances in the movie whereby the King cannot uphold justice and order in England.
 * 6) What are the origins and characteristics of the other members of Robin Hood’s band in the movie?
 * 7) Who are the “bad guys” or villains of the movie and what do they want?
 * 8) Identify any cinematic details of this movie that were borrowed from or inspired by other earlier movies on Robin Hood.
 * 9) Identify any cinematic details of this movie that were borrowed from or inspired by the earliest ballads on Robin Hood and other medieval outlaws.
 * 10) Identify the actors/actresses who depict the major characters in the movie.

Please note: a useful electronic reference source for Robin Hood cinema is //The Internet Movie Database// ([|http://www.imdb.com]).