The Medievality of Dungeons & Dragons

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Over the last ten years, cultural interest in the role-playing game known as Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) has increased sharply, perhaps in large part because of the medieval-esque fantasy escape that it offers. But what exactly is DnD, and how much does it actually represent the realities of the Middle Ages? This course examines the defining features of DnD and how it does and does not reflect the diversity of experiences within the Middle Ages—not just in Europe, but across the globe. In our studies of both DnD and the Middle Ages, we will discuss how both grapple with topics such as race, class, magic, religion, and the art of storytelling. Our readings will consist of a mix of modern and medieval writings, including but not limited to: twentieth-century works by J. R. R. Tolkien, H. P. Lovecraft, and Ursula K. LeGuin; medieval writers such as Miguel de Cervantes, Usama ibn Munqidh, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Isidore of Ceville; the anonymous medieval texts Arabian Nights, Shahnameh, Secret History of the Mongols, Epic of Sundiata, and Beowulf; and the fifth edition of the DnD Player’s Handbook. Prior experience with DnD, medieval studies, and twenty-sided dice is not required.