EN211:
The Age of Chaucer
Fall Semester 2012
Wednesday 11:00-1:30
![](pilgrims-s.jpg)
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.