Department of English

Mystic, pilgrim, madwomen, proto-feminist? The complete writings of Margery Kempe have sparked debate among scholars, clergy, analysts, and laity alike. A 15th century woman who, after childbirth, has a vision of God and then pursues this vision relentlessly on pilgrimage, Margery Kempe writes of her life and her times--and of the various struggles in which her visions of beingness were inscribed.  In this class we will read the entire "Book", as Margery called her work, in Middle English and consider it from a wide variety of medieval and modern perspectives. Class requirements: oral reports, teaching segments, class participation, and one 20-25 page research paper.