EN211: The Age of Chaucer

Fall Semester 2012

Wednesday 11:00-1:30

Syllabus

Subject to revision

Wednesday 9/5: Introduction: Chaucer’s England and Chaucer’s English

Wednesday 9/12: Social Order and Disorder

• Introduction to the Middle Ages (Norton Anthology, Vol. A, pp. 1-3, 7-14)
• Boccaccio, Prologue to the Decameron (Norton Critical Edition of The Canterbury Tales, pp. 311-25)
• Boccaccio, Decameron: First day, first story; First day, second story (Sourcebook)
• Introduction to John Gower (Norton Anthology, pp. 346-48)
• John Gower, examples of "Estates Satire" from Vox Clamantis and Mirour de l'Omme
• Gower, “The Tale of Philomene and Tereus” (Norton Anthology, pp. 348-358)
• Introduction to William Langland (Norton Anthology, pp. 370-73)
• William Langland, Piers Plowman, Selections (Norton Anthology, pp. 373-395)

Wednesday 9/19: Social Order and Disorder

• Accounts of the Great Rebellion of 1381
• Introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer (Norton Anthology, pp. 238-241)
• Introduction to Canterbury Tales (Norton Anthology, pp. 241-243)
• Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, General Prologue

Wednesday 9/26: Mid-term Quiz

Wednesday 10/3: Social Order and Disorder

• Introduction to Sir Thomas Malory (Norton Anthology, pp. 480-482)
• Malory, The Tale of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guenivere (Sourcebook)

Wednesday 10/10: Romance

• Introduction to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Norton Anthology, pp. 183-85)
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Parts 1-3 (Norton Anthology, pp. 186-196)

Wednesday 10/17: Romance

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 4 (Norton Anthology, pp. 196-238)
• Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale, Part 1

Wednesday 10/24: Romance

• Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale, Parts 2-4

Wednesday 10/31: HURRICATION

Wednesday 11/7: Drama

• Introduction to Mystery Plays (Norton Anthology, pp. 447-49)
• "Noah" from the Wakefield Cycle (Sourcebook)
• "Noah" from the Chester Cycle (Sourcebook)

Monday 11/12, noon: First essay due.

Wednesday 11/14: Drama and Fabliaux

• "The Annunciation" from Coventry (Sourcebook)
• "The Second Shepherds' Play" from the Wakefield Cycle (Norton Anthology, pp. 449-77)
• "The Crucifixion" from the York Cycle (Norton Anthology, pp. 439-47)
• Canterbury Tales, The Miller’s Prologue and Tale

Thanksgiving Break

Wednesday 11/28: Women and Writing

• Note on “Christ’s Humanity” (Norton Anthology, pp. 395-396)
• Introduction to Julian of Norwich (Norton Anthology, pp. 412-413)
• Julian of Norwich, "Showings," (Norton Anthology, pp. 414-424)
• Introduction to Margery Kempe (Norton Anthology, pp. 424-425)
• Selections from The Book of Margery Kempe (Norton Anthology, pp. 425-438)
• Additional selections from The Book of Margery Kempe: Book 1, Chapters 5, 48, and 80 (Sourcebook)

Wednesday 12/5: The Wife of Bath

• Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale

Wednesday 12/12: Conclusions

• Canterbury Tales, The Franklin's Tale
• Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale

Second essay due.

Friday 12/21 at 3:00 PM: Final exam.

Portfolio of response papers and summative essay due.