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Pre Requisite Comment

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Co Requisite Comment

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Aims

This module introduces students to medieval literature, 1100-1500. This period saw the expansion of myths such as that of King Arthur and the rise of authors such as Chaucer, professed Father of English literature. Despite its seeming ‘Englishness’, the culture of the period was a melting pot of languages and traditions from home and abroad. The period saw numerous wars, the Black Death, the growth of political and religious dissent, the technological innovation of print, and the expansion of literacy and scientific enquiry. Authors were prompted to ask deep questions about the nature of the world, of the self, about religion, and of love and often did so using frameworks through which they imagined worlds that reflected or challenged their own.

The literature of this period has had immeasurable influence on the centuries of texts that have come after it. Through close textual analysis, students will develop an understanding of medieval literary conventions, thematic approaches, and stylistic innovations while gaining an appreciation for the cultural, social, and historical contexts that helped shape these texts. Students will also be exposed to the ongoing legacy of medieval literature, its influence on contemporary scholarship, popular culture, and critical discourse, as well as its continued relevance to modern concerns.

Outline Of Syllabus

The texts studied in this module provide a broad historical survey of Middle English literature encompassing a diverse range of themes, genres, and textual forms. Students will engage with alliterative and lyric poetry, works that may include tales of chivalry, courtly love, religious devotion, travel narratives, dream visions, and drama.

The course will study the texts in their original Middle English language, with workshops designed to equip students with the skills necessary to read these texts themselves. Modern editions will be employed to facilitate understanding and interpretation, and students will gain a nuanced understanding of the ways in which editions present texts, and the complexities of medieval textual transmission.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module students should:
- have gained knowledge of a wide range of medieval texts
- be aware of different theoretical, conceptual, and contextual approaches to reading medieval literature
- have an awareness of the ways in which editions shape our understanding of texts

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:
- read Middle English texts in the original to a high standard
- analyse medieval texts carefully using suitable approaches
- support claims about medieval texts with appropriate sources in a clear and accessible manner
- critically compare and contrast different texts and contexts

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce students to the contexts of the texts they will study in the module, including linguistic and literary background. The language workshops will provide time for language work and student practice in reading Middle English. The discussion workshops give students an opportunity to build on the topics introduced in the lectures and practice skills including close textual analysis of literature in Middle English, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and the synthesis and presentation of textual material.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Student Edition project (mid-module, formative): students will produce a student edition of a passage of Middle English text. This is a close reading, translation, and commentary on that passage.

Essay 1 (end-of-semester, summative; 3000 words, 100%): students will write a comparative, thematic piece on at least two different Middle English texts from the module.

The mid-module exercise will enable students to demonstrate their awareness of textual editing and their understanding of Middle English poetics. They can use this understanding from the formative work directly in their end-of-semester essay to provide detailed textual evidence for a broader thematic analysis which demonstrates their knowledge of medieval texts and approaches to reading them. The modes of assessment enable combinations of close reading and comparative/contextual analysis, demonstrating of their skills across a good selection of texts, and encourage students to focus on detailed aspects of the module materials, connecting their ideas with the module's broader themes.

General Notes

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