EN210A: Special Topics:

The Age of Chaucer

Spring Semester 2011

Monday and Thursday 2:00-3:15

Syllabus

Subject to revision

Thursday 1/20: Introduction: The Age of Chaucer

• Selected medieval lyrics.

Monday 1/24: Romance

• Introduction to the Middle Ages, Norton Anthology, Vol. A, pp. 1-3, 7-14
• Christine Chism, "Romance," Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Literature, pp. 57-69
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Introduction and Part 1, Norton Anthology, pp. 160-172

Thursday 1/27: Romance

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Parts 2 and 3, Norton Anthology, pp. 172-202

Monday 1/31: Romance

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 4, Norton Anthology, pp. 202-213

Thursday 2/3: Romance

• Helen Cooper, Introduction to Le Morte Darthur, pp. vii-xxii
• Sir Thomas Malory, "The Tale of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guenivere,” Le Morte Darthur, pp. 403-467

Monday 2/7: Romance

Thursday 2/10: Romance

• Sir Thomas Malory, "The Death of Arthur," Le Morte Darthur, pp. 468-527

Monday 2/14: Drama

• Sara Beckwith, "Drama," Cambridge Companion, pp. 83-94
• The Chester "Noah's Flood," Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays, pp. 33-47
• The Wakefield Play of Noah
• The Brome "Abraham and Isaac," Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays, pp. 49-64

Thursday 2/17: Drama

• "The Annunciation," from the Coventry Shearmen and Tailors' Play, Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays, pp. 65-73
• The Wakefield Second Shepherds' Pageant, Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays, pp. 75-104

Monday 2/21: [No class meeting]

Tuesday 2/22: [Monday classes meet]: Drama

• The York "Crucifixion," Everyman and Medieval Mystery Plays, pp. 137-148

Thursday 2/24: Mystical writing

• "Christ's Humanity," Norton Anthology, pp. 355-356
• Selected Middle English Incarnation and Crucifixion Lyrics, Norton Anthology, pp. 367-370
• Julian of Norwich, "Showings," Norton Anthology, pp. 371-382

Monday 2/28: Mystical writing

• Selections from The Book of Margery Kempe, Norton Anthology, pp. 383-397
• Additional selections from The Book of Margery Kempe: Book 1, Chapters 5, 48, and 80

Thursday 3/3: Social Order and Disorder

• Selections from Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron: Author's Introduction; First Day, First Story; First Day, Second Story
• Diane Watt, "John Gower," Cambridge Companion, pp. 153-164
• John Gower, Selections from Vox Clamantis
• Accounts of the Great Rebellion of 1381
• John Gower, "The Tale of Philomene and Tereus" from Confessio Amantis, Norton Anthology, pp. 319-331

Monday 3/7: Social Order and Disorder

• Ralph Hanna, "William Langland," Cambridge Companion, pp. 125-138
• William Langland, Piers Plowman, Selections from the Prologue and Passus 1, 5, 6, Norton Anthology, pp. 331-350

Thursday 3/10: Social Order and Disorder

• William Langland, Piers Plowman, Selections from Passus 7 and 18, Norton Anthology, pp. 350-367

Monday 3/14: The Canterbury Tales

• The General Prologue

Thursday 3/17: The Canterbury Tales

• The General Prologue

First essay due.

[SPRING BREAK]

Monday 3/28: The Canterbury Tales

• The Knight's Tale, Parts 1and 2

Thursday 3/31: The Canterbury Tales

• The Knight's Tale, Parts 3 and 4

Monday 4/4: The Canterbury Tales

• The Miller's Prologue and Tale

Thursday 4/7: The Canterbury Tales

• The Wife of Bath's Prologue

Monday 4/11: The Canterbury Tales

• The Wife of Bath's Prologue

Thursday 4/14: The Canterbury Tales

• The Wife of Bath's Tale

Monday 4/18: The Canterbury Tales

• The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale

[EASTER BREAK]

Thursday 4/28: The Canterbury Tales

• The Franklin's Tale

Monday 5/2: The Canterbury Tales

• The Nun's Priest's Tale
• Second essay due.

Tuesday 5/10, 11:30 AM: Final exam.

Portfolio of response papers and summative essay due.