Students have been completing my Arthurian version of IAH 241c with projects that can be "anything but a research paper" since the Fall of 2013. Some of their outstanding work can be seen on my website for that class, here. If you drop by my office (6th floor of Wells Hall), you will see more of their work.
When I reimagined IAH 241c for my Lilly Project, I also reimagined the final project. Instead of "anything but a research paper," I asked students to tell the complete story of their heroes (incorporating all of our course's key concepts) in a creative way from beginning to end. Here are a few examples (students have given explicit permission for me to post their work):
An Arthurian Hero's Journey in the Format of an Academic Science Report
The Rhyming Tale of Arwen Snow
The Tale of Arwen Snow
There once was a lass named Arwen Snow
Whose house sigil is a mystical white crow
The Winter Keep has been her home since birth
She has never been anywhere else on earth
She dreams of adventure beyond the walls
And wants to get out of the lonely dark halls
Her father is strict, and wants her to stay home
Her only sister, much younger, leaves her alone
She dreams of adventure beyond the walls
It’s time for Arwen Snow to leave these halls
She decided one day, out of the blue
To leave the Winter Keep, without leaving a clue
Her call for adventure, is a great quest
She will have to fight hard, and do her best
Adventure is scary, she doesn’t know why
All she can do, is stand there and cry
She knows she can do this, she’s seen in her dreams
She is stronger than this, much more than she seems
Her life has been simple, but it was time that she ran
From her cold dreary life, listening to one man
Arwen’s adventure begins, she is in a hurry
She must find shelter, the snow is starting to flurry
She looked at a mountain, far far away
She squinted her eyes, and saw a small cave
As she came upon the small cave
She noticed a fire, lighting the way
“What a strange thing” she said with a smirk
“This cave should be dark, but I can see through the murk”
“Who’s out there!” she screamed, scared for a reply
“Is that you, princess Arwen?” came from a voice so shy
“Please, come to the light, I must see your face”
“You look just like your mother, so full of grace”
“How do you know?” Arwen said with a fright
“I’m your great Aunt Lumila, banished for my sight”
“They called me a witch, because I see things that haven’t been”
“My life has been hidden, because I’m a sin”
“I have something important for you, a secret kept from the kingdom too”
“You have an older sister; she was kidnapped at five”
“The Duke Devil of Cruelson, kept her alive”
“You must find your sister; she needs you more”
“You must find your strength, and keep your country safe from war”
“You are the prophecy child, your stronger than you know”
“Now you must go! Be strong, my dear Arwen Snow”
After a long day of travels, she found a great lake
This lake stretched for miles, In the shape of a snake
She was tired from her walk, she needed to rest
She found a pile of timber, and created a nest
Arwen woke with a freight, she heard a loud crack
She picked up her sword, and started to whack
She stopped for a moment, to see what was there
There were loud noises in the water, but couldn’t see where
Then up from the river, came a great beast
Nine heads on its neck, her one head was the least
The hydra attacked, with a great strike
Arwen lifted her sword, with all of her might
She swung at the beast, her strength at full power
This was a test, Arwen’s finest hour
She opened her eyes, scared what she would see
She beheaded the beast, she won! She is free!
She picked up the heads, all nine of them total
And took them to a village, to display her trophy
The villagers praised her, for her marvelous win
They wanted her to be knighted, to be covered in tin
Her adventure took her to Camelot, to meet with the King
She walked right up to him, and kissed his big ring
The Hydra was dead, she deserved a big reward
The king stood in front of her, moving his sword
He knighted Arwen, to reward her for her triumph
She will now be forever “Dame Arwen Snow of Winter Keep”
Being knighted was a dream, she wanted since she was a girl
Her life goal had been achieved, her head was in a whirl
“What do I do now, my life goal has been achieved”
“My sister needs me now; my adventure must be completed”
Arwen leaves the great city of Camelot, its time to face her foe
The Duke Devil of Cruelson, stands between Arwen and the forever snow
She makes it to his castle, its towers dark like the night sky
She is scared to break through, but she knows she must try
She breaks in through a window, she can’t see a thing
All of a sudden, she hears a loud ring
A hundred soldiers come running through the doors
Arwen’s fate is in her hands no more
The Duke comes from behind a curtain
A battle shall be had that is for certain
Arwen gathers all of her strength, to beat this devil
He has more training, they are not on the same level
The battle is finished fast, many moves came about
But Arwen bested the Duke, because love always wins out
The soldiers stand down, because their master was bested
It’s time to go home, and finally be well rested
Arwen is reunited with her sister; her grail has been met
She introduces herself “My name is Annette”
They make the journey home, the Winter Keep white with snow
They see the banners, covered with crows
Arwen’s adventure is finished, she achieved her goal
She left the Winter Keep, a discovered her soul
After her adventure, she realizes an important thing
Her sister was not her grail, conquering herself made her queen