FALL 2004
TIME: MW 2:00-3:15 PM
MCIVER 329
TISDALE
TEXTS:
ANONYMOUS, The Earliest English Poems, trans. Alexander (Penguin)
BOETHIUS, The Consolation of Philosophy, trans. Green (Macmillan)
HELOISE AND ABELARD, The Letters of Heloise and Abelard, trans.
Radice (Penguin)
ANONYMOUS, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, and Pearl,
trans. Boroff (Norton)
MALORY, Le Morte D'Arthur, ed. Baines (Dutton)
THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, VOL. I, 7TH ED.
Various Selections
LEARNING GOALS
1) Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature;
2) Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts;
3) Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing;
4) Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts
in which literary texts have been written and
interpreted;
5) Develop a sense of the influence of great works of literature in one period;
6) Exercise the use of literary study as a means of growth and self-discovery;
7) Learn how to write essays about literature, comparing themes and motifs
in several works.
8) Expose the student intensively to medieval culture and literature, mainly
that of England, but also Europe in general;
9) Learn how to write an essay about medieval literature, as a primary paper,
and then the incorporation of secondary
scholarship.
DATE ASSIGNMENT
August
16 Introduction: Syllabus, Dates, Slides of Anglo-Saxon Sites
Anglo-Saxon England: Mead, Middle-Earth, and Monks
18 The First English Poet: Caedmon’s Hymn
Old English Poetry and How It Works
23 Elegies: The Wanderer, The Wife’s Complaint
25 Christ as Hlaford: The Dream of the Rood and the Ruthwell Cross
Old English Riddles
30 Darkness and Light: Beowulf As A Young Hero (in Norton Anthology)
September
1 Not Right in His Heart: Beowulf As An Old King (in Norton Anthology)
6 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
8 Review of Old English Literature
13 In-Class Essay on Old English Literature
The Love of Learning and the Desire for God
15 Introduction to Boethius and The Consolation of Philosophy, Bk. I
20 Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy, Bk. II
22 Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy, Bk. III
Dream Vision and Allegory
27 The Structure of Pearl and Pearl, Stanzas 1-65
29 Pearl, Stanzas 66-101
October
4 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pts. I-II
6 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pts. III-IV
9-12 FALL BREAK
The Faces of Love
13 Who were Heloise and Abelard?
The Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Introduction, pp. 9-55
18 The Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Historia Calamitatum, pp. 57-106
20 The Letters of Heloise and Abelard: The Personal Letters, pp. 109-156
25 PAPER DUE (First Version––Primary Sources Only––See Note Below)
27 Middle English Lyrics and Ballads (in Norton Anthology)
November
1 RETURN PAPERS
3 Review of Medieval Love, Allegory, and Consolation Literature
8 In-Class Essay on Medieval Love, Allegory and Consolation Literature
Mysticisms and Miracles
10 The Book of Margery Kempe (in Norton Anthology)
The Showings of Julian of Norwich (in Norton Anthology)
15 The Wakefield Second Shepherd’s Play (in Norton Anthology)
The Romance: Sword and Grail
17 Legendary Histories of Britain: Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layoman, and the
Myth of Arthur’s Return
(in Norton Anthology)
Malory: The Tale of King Arthur, pp. 21-94
22 Malory: The Tale of the Sangreal, pp. 359-431
24-28 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
29 Malory: The Book of Sir Launcelot and Queen Gwynevere, pp. 432-471
December
1 Le Morte D’Arthur, pp. 472-507
6 PAPER DUE (Second Version––See Note Below––At least
four separate footnoted sources required)
Review for Exam
7 Reading Day
13 Final Exam: 12:00-3:00 PM
NOTES: 1) All assignments of individual authors and works include introductions
and biographical sketches.
2) Class participation: The instructor assumes that your presence in class
means that you have read the assignment. He will call on you from time to time
and expects you to contribute to discussion. If it is clear that you are consistently
not prepared then your final grade will be lowered. There may be times when
pressing duties or emergencies prevent you from completing the reading. Please
inform the instructor beforehand so that he will know not to call on you. Always
bring your text to class.
3) Attendance Policy: Students are allowed five cuts for whatever reason. After
that a letter grade is dropped from the final average. After ten cuts, then
two grades are dropped, and so on. Tardiness is counted as a cut.
4) Writing Intensive Course: This means that special attention in this class
is given to writing skills. Consult the syllabus for how this works. In addition,
students may voluntarily seek out individual conferences with the instructor.
As the syllabus indicates, there will be five writing assignments: Three in
class essays (including the exam) and a term paper in two versions. The first
version is to be written in response to a thesis you develop out of the primary
material. The second version involves both a revision and the addition of secondary
research from the library. You are to integrate at least four different secondary
sources into your paper. These must be documented properly.
5) All five of the writing assignments count as 20% of your grade.
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