Adapting the Arthurian Legends for Children

Essays on Arthurian Juvenilia

Kenneth A. Loparo

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2004
• ISBN:
  9781403982483
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Medieval & Early Modern Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

For centuries, the Arthurian legends have fascinated and inspired countless writers, artists, and readers, many of whom first became acquainted with the story as youngsters. From the numerous retellings of Malory and versions of Tennyson for young people to the host of illustrated volumes to which the Arthurian Revival gave rise. From the Arthurian youth groups for boys (and eventually for girls) run by schools and churches to the school operas, theater pieces, and other entertainment for younger audiences; and from the Arthurian juvenile fiction sequences and series to the films and television shows featuring Arthurian characters, children have learned about the world of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• List of Illustrations
• Introduction
• 1 Le Morte Darthur for Children: Malory’s Third Tradition
• 2 Text, Image, and Swords of Empowerment in Recent Arthurian Picture Books
• 3 The Case of the Disappearing Text: Connecticut Yankee for Kids
• 4 Deceptive Simplicity: Children’s Versions of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• 5 The Sense of Place in Arthurian Fiction for Younger Readers
• 6 Susan Cooper’s "The Dark Is Rising"
• 7 Interview with Susan Cooper
• 8 Swords, Grails, and Bag-Puddings: A Survey of Children’s Poetry and Plays
• 9 Arthurian Youth Groups in America: The Americanization of Knighthood
• 10 Good King Arthur: Arthurian Music for Children
• 11 Once and Future Kings: The Return of King Arthur in the Comics
• 12 Camelot on Camera: The Arthurian Legends and Children’s Film
• Contributors
• Index