Medieval English Literature
Siegfried Wenzel profile
TR 12-1:30
Reading and discussion of several major works of English literature written
during the medieval period: Beowulf, several shorter Old-English poems, Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, selections from Malory's Morte D'Arthur,
several Middle English plays, and three additional works for comparison and
contrast. Most of the works will be read in modern translations; the
selections from Malory and the drama are in the original. The course
aims at giving a sense of the variety of Old and Middle literature and will introduce
students to such topics as epic and romance, the ethos of chivalry, courtly
love, dream visions, medieval allegory and symbolism. We will study the
masterpeices of the period exclusive of Chaucer in some depth, by means of
lectures and class discussions, and keep an eye on the social or moral
function of these works as well as their literary merits. Midterm and final
examinations of an objective nature; two essays. (Note: See also English
220.)
updated 2006-02-19
