Eng.427-01, Medieval Literature
TTh 9:30-10:45, FH 207, Spring, 2000
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Visit Dr. Lorrah's Website
Visit The English 427 Website
Dr. Jean Lorrah
FH 7B-15
Tel. 762-4720
e-mail jean.lorrah@murraystate.edu
Office Hours:
MWF 8-8:30, 11:30-12:30
TTh 11:00-12:30
Tuesday 11:00-2:00
Catalogue Description: European Literature from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance, read in translation.
Required Texts and Materials:
The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, ed. Murfin, Ross, and Ray
Dante, The Divine Comedy: Hell, Trans. Dorothy Sayers
DeLorris & DeMeun, The Romance of the Rose, Trans. Harry W. Robbins
Luria & Hoffman, eds. Middle English Lyrics
Thiebaux, Marcelle, The Writings of Medieval Women, 2nd Edition
Tuso, Joseph F. , ed. Beowulf
Wilhelm, James J., ed. The Romance of Arthur
Purpose:
1. To examine Medieval literary works from a variety of perspectives.
2. To improve students' ability to read, analyze, and compare literary works, themes, and techniques, and to discuss and write about the questions they suggest.
3. To introduce students to significant works of the Medieval Period, and the traditions from which they emerged.
Course Objectives:
To receive credit, a student should be able to
1. Identify the major works of the Medieval Period, and be able to place them in a historical and literary context.
2. Understand and compare themes, issues, genres, and techniques used in literature.
3. Communicate that understanding effectively, using any modern method.
4. Work in concert with other people.
Content Outline:
Unit One: The Fall of Rome
1/18-1/28, Medieval Women, pp. 3-69.
Unit Two: The Dark Ages
1/31-2/11, Medieval Women, pp. 135-170; Beowulf.
Unit Three: Arthurian Legend
2/14-3/3, The Romance of Arthur, pp. 59-108, 121-199, 399-487. EXAM, Tues., Feb. 29.
Unit Four: Love Poetry
3/6-4/7, The Romance of the Rose, assigned poems from Middle English Lyrics.
Unit Five: Religious Life
4/10-5/5, The Divine Comedy: Hell, Medieval Women, pp. 441-523. PAPER, Tues., April 11.
Final Exam Thursday, May 11, 8:00-10:00am.
Throughout Semester
Group Projects will be presented to the class as assigned, approximately one every two weeks.
Instructional Activities:
Medieval literature is so fascinating and diverse, it’s a shame that all that will fit onto a syllabus is the dry outline of the course! Class activities include discussion of readings and background lectures. Only major works will be covered as a class, but all students are responsible for all the readings. Works that cannot be fit into the course will be covered in Group Projects.
Field, Clinical, and/or Laboratory Experiences:
Students are encouraged to use the world and the Internet as their laboratory, as well as the university library. All students will participate in Group Projects. With two fellow students, each student will do an informational and interpretive presentation on a medieval work not otherwise covered in the course. The presentation may take the form of a written handout with graphics (the group has the responsibility of making copies for the entire class), an oral presentation with graphics (may include handouts), or a website on your choice of domain or the Murray State server.
Resources:
The library is obviously a primary resource for the work in this course, but so is the Internet. There are numerous free computer labs on campus where students may do word processing, access e-mail, work on website building, or do research on the Internet. The instructor provides her own website, and may occasionally provide audio or video material in class.
Written Work:
Exams will be at least 50% essay, and there is a Term Paper of 1500 words (no graphics) required of all students. Some groups may choose to have papers (with graphics) as their group projects, while websites on the kinds of topics we are working on will obviously include a good deal of text.
Attendance Policy:
Obviously you will want to attend all class meetings. This is a 400-level course for English majors and minors, and other students interested in Medieval Literature. There is no specific penalty for absences; you penalize yourself by missing lectures and discussion. Exam questions come from discussion and group projects as well as readings and lectures. Attendance does thus affect grades.
College of Humanistic Studies Statement on Academic Integrity
Makeup Policy:
Papers drop 10 points per day that they are late (that is per day, not per class meeting—a paper due Monday, turned in Friday, has lost 40 points). The next day begins at the end of each class meeting. If members of your group project cannot be trusted to come to class the day you present, make your project a handout or a website. Talk to me (telephone, e-mail) before you miss an exam, not afterward. I am very easy about making arrangements for any sensible reason as long as you let me know ahead of time. After you miss, you must provide evidence of illness, hospitalization, or some equal emergency in order to make up the exam. Oversleeping is not an emergency. Your roommate's emergency is not your emergency.
Grading Procedures:
How your papers are graded
You have the opportunity to earn 400 points in this course, as follows:
| |
2 exams @ 100 |
200 |
| |
Term Paper @ 100 |
100 |
| |
Group Project @ 100 |
100 |
| |
TOTAL |
400 |
FINAL GRADES:
340+ A
315+ B
280+ C
230+ D
Below 230 E
If you are taking 400-level courses and have not yet arranged a regular and reliable means of obtaining Internet access, it is time to do so. The university computer labs are available all over campus a variety of hours every day. If you plan to use the university degree you are working toward, you need to be familiar with this common resource.
Sources for Help:
Basic Medieval Resources
Medieval History
If you have a sound card, listen to14th Century Music at this site.
The Medieval Review
Roget's Thesaurus
Elements of Style
Guide to Grammar and Writing
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Arachnophilia.