Lifelong Learners Institute
The Lifelong Learners Institute offers open courses for the community independent of Canisius University degree programs. Our instructors come from a wide range of academic disciplines to give our courses a broad cross-section of knowledge, experience, and experience. No papers or tests are given! Just much good discussion!
Classes meet weekly for six weeks and are limited to 16 students. Cost is $60. Questions? Contact Yvonne Widenor at 716-888-2531.
Spring 2025
Adventure into the Heart of the Celtic World, Pt. 2: Tracing Celtic Mythological Traditions
March 18, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Online via ZOOM

This course offers a further discovery of Celtic stories and poems, this time featuring one of the most important texts of the Welsh medieval tradition, The Mabinogian. These tales are compiled from two late medieval manuscripts: The Red Book of Hergest and The White Book of Rydderech. This text was also representative of what is called the golden age of Welsh literature, one that flourished in the late Middle Ages. We will give attention to places in the stories where we find parallels to the three cycles of earlier Irish Celtic stories and consider how these stories shaped The Mabinogian. These are exciting stories, filled with adventure and magic. Experience the wonder of wizards (like Merlin) and knights, and of course the beautiful damsels that drive many of the interesting plots. No prior knowledge is necessary and one need not have attended Part I of this course.
Prof. Fisher will begin with some suggested approaches and observations and then time will be given for lively open conversation and sharing among the participants. Before we embark on The Mabinogian, we will begin with a reading and discussion of St. Patrick’s poetry from Part I of this course.
Week 1: Introduction to The Mabinogian
Week 2: Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
Week 3: Branwen
Week 4: Manawyden
Week 5: Math
Week 6: Celtic Myth, It’s Lasting Influence
Professor Johanna Fisher is an adjunct professor in the Department of English and Co-Director of the Women & Gender Studies Program at Canisius University. Professor Fisher has taught courses such as Romancing the Grail, High Adventures and Chivalrous Knights, and The Quest in Medieval Literature for over 20 years. She has also taught German and German literature courses with an emphasis on the contemporary era in fiction. She is originally from Bayern, Germany, and lives there part-time when she is not teaching at Canisius University.

2024-2025 Semester
Funny Things Happened in Greek Comedies
Johanna Fisher (English)
Adventure into the Heart of the Celtic World, Pt. 1
Johanna Fisher (English)
The Literature of the Bible
Johanna Fisher (English)
What’s in a Word?
John Kryder (English)


2023-2024 Semester
Boundaries of Wisdom: Reading Ancient Texts
Johanna Fisher (English)
Reading the Crusades in Literature: Negotiating War & Change
Johanna Fisher (English)
To Hell & Back: Reading Dante’s “Il Inferno”
Johanna Fisher (English)
The Power of Myth: Opening to the Mystery of the Universe
Johanna Fisher (English)


2022-2023 Semester
From Odysseus to Harry Potter: The Evolution of the Hero
Robert J. Butler (English)

2021-2022 Semester
Witches & Wives: Women in the Middle Ages
Kara Larson Maloney (English)
A Brief History of Byzantium
Jeff Brubaker (Classics)


2020-2021 Semester
The Plague in Medieval Literature
Johanna Fisher (English)
Arthur: The Once & Future King
Kara Maloney (English)
The Crusades
Jeff Brubaker (Classics)
Tempters & Temptresses: The Medieval Romance
Johanna Fisher (English)
