| COURSE NUMBER: |
ENGL 319 |
| COURSE TITLE: |
Exploring Medieval British Literature |
| NAME OF
INSTRUCTOR: |
Brett Roscoe |
| CREDIT WEIGHT
AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: |
credits 3 (hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0) |
| COURSE
DESCRIPTION: |
The Middle Ages span roughly a thousand years (5th-15th
centuries) and boast an exciting array of authors (Geoffrey Chaucer,
John Lydgate, Margery Kempe) and genres (sagas, romances, mystery
plays, allegories). This course explores a specific medieval author,
genre, or theme.
Prerequisites:
ENGL 214, 215
|
| REQUIRED TEXTS: |
Benson, Larry D., ed. The
Riverside Chaucer. 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin, 1987. (also
called The Wadsworth
Chaucer) |
| MARK
DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT: |
|
| Participation |
10% |
| Reading Quizzes |
5% |
| Vocabulary Quizz |
5% |
| Translation Test |
15% |
| Annotated Bibliography |
10% |
| Essay (8-10 pages) |
30% |
| Final Exam |
25% |
|
|
|
100% |
|
| COURSE
OBJECTIVES: |
Students will …
- become familiar with the Chaucerian literary corpus,
thereby getting to know Chaucer as an author.
- gain a basic knowledge of Middle English
pronunciation and grammar and learn to read and translate Middle
English texts.
- be introduced to and wrestle with interpretive issues
surrounding Chaucer’s texts
- develop close reading skills by learning to
appreciate the relation between the form(s) and content of literature.
- be encouraged to read both sympathetically and
critically in a Christian framework.
- gain practice in academic essay writing and
presentations.
|
| COURSE OUTLINE: |
Introductory Material
- Jan. 9 Introduction to Course
- 11 Historical Backgrounds
- 14 Introduction to Middle English
- 16 Introduction to Middle English (cont.)
- 18 Shorter Poems: “Truth,” “Gentilesse”
- 21 Shorter Poems: “The Former Age” “Fortune”
- 23 IS Conference (regular classes canceled)
Dream Visions
- 25 The
Parliament of Fowls
- 28 The
Book of the Duchess
- 30 The
Book of the Duchess (cont.)
- Feb. 1 The
House of Fame (book 1)
- 4 The
House of Fame (book 2)
- 6 The
House of Fame (book 3)
Introductory Material (cont.)
- 8* Courtly love (reading TBA)
- * Vocabulary Quiz
Canterbury Tales
- 11 The General Prologue
- 13 The Knight’s Prologue and Tale
- 15 The Knight’s Prologue and Tale (cont.)
- 18-22 Reading Week (no classes)
- 25 The Miller’s Prologue and Tale
- 27 The Man of Law’s Prologue and Tale
- Mar. 1 The Wife of Bath’s Prologue
- 4 The Wife of Bath’s Tale
- 6 Translation Test
- 8 The Friar’s Prologue and Tale
- 11 The Summoner’s Prologue and Tale
- 13 The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale
- 15 The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale (cont.); The
Clerk’s Prologue and Tale
- 18* The Clerk’s Prologue and Tale (cont.)
- *Annotated bibliography due
- 20 The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale
- 22 The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale
- 25* The Prioress’ Prologue and Tale
- *Essay outlines and bibliographies due
- 27 Sir Thopas’ Prologue and Tale; The Tale of Melibee
(selections on Moodle)
- 29 The Nun’s Priest Prologue and Tale
- Apr. 1* Chaucer on Screen: Video (TBA)
- *Essay due
Troilus and Criseyde
- 3 Troilus
and Criseyde (bk. 1)
- 5 Troilus
and Criseyde (bk. 2)
- 8 Troilus
and Criseyde (bk. 3)
- 10 Troilus
and Criseyde (bk. 4)
- 12 Troilus
and Criseyde (bk. 5)
Concluding the Course
- 15 Chaucer’s Retraction
- 17 Review
|
THE KING'S UNIVERSITY