ENG 608: Chaucer: Canterbury Tales and Critical Theory Fall 2002 Mr. Stallcup Course Information and Expectations

Instructor	Stephen Stallcup 127 McIver Hall (336) 334-4694 sbstallc@uncg.edu
Time and Place	Th 6:30-9:15
Description and Learning Goals	This course provides an in-depth study of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales through the lens of modern literary critical theory. By applying a number of current theoretical practices (New Historicist, gender studies, psychoanalytic, post-colonial, etc.) to Chaucer’s multi-faceted story collection, we will interrogate not only the medieval text, but also some of the critical paradigms that inform literary study today. This course is designed for medievalists and non-medievalists alike and assumes only a willingness to be immersed in fourteenth-century England for the semester. We will read the Tales in the original Middle English at the rate of one per week. By the end of this course, participants will be able to: (1) Read texts written in Middle English; (2) Relate basic facts of Chaucer’s life and literary career and major cultural and historical events of fourteenth-century England; (3) Describe several major literary critical theories and practices; (4) Identify the theoretical position(s) of a scholarly piece of literary criticism; (5) Apply one or more critical/theoretical approach to a Chaucerian text; (6) Evaluate the efficacy of contemporary theory as a tool for analyzing medieval literature.
Evaluation	one class presentation and handout (10%) two group presentations (two @ 30% each = 60%) one final 10-12 page paper (30%)
Attendance	Regular and prompt attendance is required of all students. Students missing more than THREE classes (20% of total) for whatever reason will be dropped from the course.
Participation	Seminar participants should come having read the assigned primary and secondary readings and be prepared to discuss them. Group projects cannot be “made up”; participants are expected to meet with their groups and contribute fully to the projects.
Group projects	Twice during the semester, participants will divide into groups of three. Each group will apply an assigned critical perspective to a set Canterbury tale. Each group will produce a “position paper” and post it on the course website. Each group will then critique the position papers of the other groups and post those critiques. On the class day devoted to the group projects, each group will make a formal presentation defending and refining its own position in light of the critiques.
Article presentation	Each participant will give a brief (no more than ten-minute) presentation on one of the assigned secondary readings. The presentation should include a summary of the reading’s argument (thesis); outline of argumentation; and critique (positive or negative). The presenter should compile a one-page handout to accompany the presentation.
On-line discussion	Participants are expected to contribute regular comments to the online Blackboard discussion forum.
Academic integrity	UNCG’s policies on academic integrity (in the 2002/2003 Student Calendar/Handbook pp. 213-222) will be enforced rigorously. Students should especially familiarize themselves with UNCG’s definitions of cheating and plagiarism as well as the associated penalties for violations.
Disability policy	In order to receive special accommodation because of a legitimate physical or learning disability, affected students must register with the Office of Disability Services (334-5540) as soon as possible. The instructor will be happy to work out any necessary arrangements provided he is notified in a timely manner.
Required materials	*These are the only acceptable editions for use in this class. The Riverside Chaucer, gen. ed. Larry Benson, 3^rd ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987). The Wife of Bath, ed. Peter G. Beidler, Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism (Boston: Bedford Books, 1996). Paul Strohm, Theory and the Premodern Text, Medieval Cultures 26 (Minneapolis: U. of Minnesota P, 2000). Texts on e-reserve at Jackson Library website (download and print) E-texts on course Blackboard website (download and print)

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Syllabus for ENG 608

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and Critical Theory

(B) Blackboard website (E) Jackson Library electronic reserve

Date	Primary reading	Secondary Reading
R 8/22	Introduction, etc.
R 8/29	Chaucer; the challenge of Middle English; the challenge of Critical Theory	“Introduction,” Riverside Chaucer, pp. xv-xlvii. Beidler, pp. 3-16; 28-41; Barthes, “The Death of the Author” (B); Dane, “Unbooking Chaucer” (handout)
R 9/5	Historicisms (old and new) General Prologue	Beidler, pp. 115-126; Mann, pp. 37-54 (E); Strohm, pp. 65-79
R 9/12	Ways of reading Chaucer; Formalism Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale	Beidler, pp. 89-114; Kittredge, “The Marriage Group” (B); Lumiansky, pp. 117-129 (E)
R 9/19	Feminist criticism The Clerk’s Tale	Beidler, pp. 255-261; Hansen, pp. 121-146 (E)
R 9/26	Marxist criticism The Merchant’s Tale	Beidler, pp. 155-166; Aers, “Chaucer: Love, Sex and Marriage” (B)
R 10/3	Deconstruction The Franklin’s Tale	Beidler, pp. 221-229; Wheeler (E)
R 10/10	Group Project 1: Shipman’s Tale
R 10/17	Psychoanalysis The Miller’s Tale	Beidler, pp. 189-198; Leicester, pp. 473-99 (E); Strohm, pp. 201-14
R 10/24	Space The Man of Law’s Tale	Strohm, pp. 3-19; Schildgen, pp. 48-68 (E)
R 10/31	Masculinities TBA	TBA
R 11/7	Post-colonialism The Prioress’s Tale	Cohen, “Introduction: Midcolonial” (E); Tomasch, “Postcolonial Chaucer and the Virtual Jew” (E)
R 11/14	Violence The Tale of Melibee	Das and Kleinman, “Introduction” (E); Wallace, pp. 212-246 (E)
R 11/21	Group Project 2:
R 11/29	Thanksgiving Holiday: No class
R 12/5	TBA	TBA
M 12/9	Paper due for December graduates
W 12/18	Final paper due for everyone else

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