EN 311: Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

Spring Semester 2012

Wednesday 11:00-1:30

Syllabus

Subject to revision

Wednesday 1/18: Introduction: Chaucer’s England, Chaucer’s English

 

Wednesday 1/25: The General Prologue

 

Wednesday 2/1: The Knight's Tale, Parts 1-2

Supplemental reading: Selections from Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy

 

Wednesday 2/8: The Knight's Tale, Parts 3-4

 

Wednesday 2/15: The Miller's, Reeve's and Cook's Prologues and Tales

 

Wednesday 2/22: The Man of Law's Tale

 

Wednesday 2/29: The Wife of Bath's Prologue

 

Wednesday 3/7: The Wife of Bath's Tale and The Shipman's Tale

Essay workshop.

 

[Spring Break]

 

Wednesday 3/21: The Friar's and Summoner's Prologues and Tales

Mid-term essay due.

 

Wednesday 3/28: The Clerk's and Merchant's Prologues and Tales

 

Wednesday 4/4: The Squire's and Franklin's Prologues and Tales

 

Wednesday 4/11: The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale

 

Wednesday 4/18: The Prioress's and Second Nun's Prologues and Tales

 

Monday 4/23 and Tuesday 4/24: Individual conferences on the critical research paper.

 

Wednesday 4/25: The Prologue and Tale of Sir Thopas; the Monk's and Nun's Priest's Prologues and Tales

 

Wednesday 5/2: (Last class meeting) The Parson's Prologue and Chaucer's Retraction

Critical research paper due.

 

Monday 5/7, 3:00 PM: Final exam.

Critical research paper returned with grades and comments.

Portfolio of response papers and summative essay due.

 

Friday 5/11: Revisions of critical research paper due.