ENGL 203: Core I: Medieval
Winter, 2008 Dr. Debora B. Schwartz 
Class meetings: TR 9-11, Rm. 2-13 http://www.calpoly.edu/~dschwart
Office: 47-35G, tel. 756-2636  Main English Office:  756-2597
Office Hours: M 2:30-4:00, T 2:10-3:00, W 10:30-11:30, R 2:10-3:30, and by appt. e-mail: dschwart@calpoly.edu

Calendar of Assignments   PLEASE NOTE that the on-line syllabus (not any print-out you may make) is authoritative.  Assignments may be modified in the course of the quarter.  Check the on-line syllabus regularly (before each class) to ensure you are completing the correct assignment.

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Prerequisites: Completion of GE area A and ENGL 251; open to ENGLISH MAJORS ONLY.

Course Description and Objectives: ENGL 203 introduces English majors to the vernacular-language literature of medieval Britain as well as to influential Continental works--the foundation upon which modern English literature stands. In addition to presenting a number of important medieval authors and works, the course aims to familiarize you with medieval attitudes toward authorship and textuality, with medieval modes of textual production, and with specific textual practices relevant to the interpretation of medieval literature.

By the end of the quarter, you will be familiar with the most significant vernacular-language authors working in England between the 8th and 15th centuries and with key continental writers who illuminate the development of an English literary tradition. You will be able to identify and distinguish between significant medieval literary genres. You will have gained an understanding of how medieval literature differs from modern literature (and from modern notions of what literature is): e.g. the differences between manuscript and print cultures; the tension between Latin and the vernacular languages; the emphasis on literature as an on-going process rather than an end product, and thus the inappropriateness of modern notions of "originality" or "intellectual property" in the medieval context. 

Research Practicum:  A secondary goal of the course is to familiarize you with the basic research tools and methods that are most useful to students of literature.  You will be assigned to a group of 3-4 students with whom you will complete a series of guided research exercises.  You will take turns reporting the results of your research to the ENGL 203 Research Archive.  By the end of the class, you should know how to identify, locate and access secondary sources at Cal Poly and at other institutions, and know how to document them correctly. You will be aware of some of the pitfalls and pleasures of doing research at Cal Poly.  The skills which you learn will be applicable not only in upper-division English courses, but in any class with a research component, and in situations unrelated to your studies.

Finally, by the end of the quarter, you will have bonded with the classmates with whom you will be studying over the next two years!

Preliminary Remarks:  Much of what is presented in ENGL 203 will be new to most of you, and many of the readings reflect assumptions and ideas that appear strange to a 21st-century audience. For these reasons, several remarks are in order.

1) ENGL 203 is a READING-INTENSIVE COURSE. The material covered is unfamiliar, complex and challenging, the pace brisk. One week or another there will probably be a topic/author which you find difficult or simply do not enjoy. If and when this occurs, remember that we will soon move on to something else! Because ENGL 203 is a survey, you are not expected to master the material presented in the depth you would in an advanced course with a narrower focus.  So while you will need to keep up with the readings and should read carefully (using study guides), don't torture yourself if the details of a given text prove difficult to grasp. We are looking for the broad picture, not the close-up; the idea is to provide you with a sense of the way in which English literature--and English perceptions of what literature is--evolved during the course of the Middle Ages.  Readings will be considered as contextual evidence reflecting the "world view" of the author and period when they were  written.

2) Because literary production in the Middle Ages was largely controlled by the (Catholic) Church, many of the readings deal with Christian themes. We will approach these readings as cultural artifacts rather than as articles of faith, attempting to understand the society which produced them and the world view which they represent. While students familiar with portions of the Old and New Testaments may find this background useful, no prior knowledge of Judeo-Christian tradition is assumed or required. If something puzzles you, try the following (in this order!): a) check the footnotes and/or introduction to see if an explanation is provided; b) consult a dictionary or encyclopedia; and c) ask about it in class or office hours. (Chances are, someone else is just as puzzled as you are!)

3) Due to the time constraints under which we will be working, classes will focus on interpretation rather than description. Familiarity with the assigned readings (both background information and primary texts) will be assumed. Readings will NOT be summarized for you in class (which ideally should involve discussion as well as lecture). For these reasons, the success of the course depends largely on you. Please make a personal commitment to come to class regularly, punctually, and prepared. Without these preconditions, ENGL 203 will be of little or no use to you -- and no fun for any of us! SO: be prepared for an intense quarter. But also remember: ENGL 203 SHOULD be -- and usually is -- a lot of fun!

Communicating:

You are expected to have an email account and to check it regularly.  Important announcements will be sent over the class email aliases: engl-203-01-2082@calpoly.edu.  The class email alias is automatically generated using the email address of each enrolled student found in the Cal Poly Directory server. If your Cal Poly email account is NOT your preferred email address, you must

  • Log into http://my.calpoly.edu/ and click on "Grades and Personal Information" (the "Personal Information Channel") to change your Email Delivery Address. Once you have done so, any email sent to your <username@calpoly.edu> , including all postings to the class alias, will be forwarded to the address you have designated.
Remember: you are responsible for any information sent over the class email alias (e.g. changes in assignments; other class-related announcements), so be sure to check your email regularly.  You may also use the alias to send a query or comment to the whole class (including your instructor).  Please do not use the alias for matters unrelated to class.
 
 

Attendance Policy:  Due to the twice-weekly seminar format, any absence causes you to miss a substantial chunk of material. Regular and punctual attendance is required.  Please note that EVERY absence will affect the participation component of your final course grade.

Each student starts out with a 4.0 for attendance.  This component of your final grade drops by .3 for the first UNEXCUSED absence; the penalty increases by .1 for each subsequent unexcused absence (from A [4.0] to A- [3.7] to B+ [3.3], to B- [2.8], etc.).  Additionally, it drops .1 for the first EXCUSED absence (4.0 to 3.9) and .2 for the second excused absence (3.9 to 3.7).  Excused absences in excess of two (a full week, 10% of the class) count the same as unexcused absences.

Please note that only absences due to illness, family crisis, or circumstances which are truly beyond your control count as excused.  Deadlines for other courses, work conflicts and job interviews are NOT valid reasons for missing class.  FOR AN ABSENCE TO BE EXCUSED, YOU MUST SUBMIT A SIGNED, WRITTEN NOTE with course number and section/time, date missed and an explanation of the circumstances leading to your absence.  (While I do appreciate your courtesy in letting me know why you have missed class, an Email or phone message will not suffice for an absence to be excused.)

Field Trip: While there will be no required field trip this quarter to view the collections of the GETTY MUSEUM, which include medieval manuscripts and painting, students are encouraged to make their own "pilgrimages" there (and may write up an account of their visit for Extra Credit). Additionally, each Research Group will complete a Getty Database assignment researching medieval religious images in conjunction with our unit on Marian devotion.

Additionally, students are encouraged to undertake (on their own) another "pilgrimage," to the Huntington Library in Pasadena, to see the magnificent Ellesmere Chaucer manuscript (and other medieval manuscripts). Extra Credit may be arranged for a brief written assignment based on either of these excursions.

Required Texts:

  • The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th ed. (2006), vol. 1a, The Middle Ages, ed. Alfred David [=NA]
  • Chaucer, The Portable Chaucer, ed./tr. Theodore Morrison (Viking-Penguin) [=PC] OR The Canterbury Tales, tr. Nevill Coghill (Penguin Classics) [=CT]
  • Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances, tr. William W. Kibler and Carleton W. Carroll (Penguin Classics)
  • The Portable Dante, ed./tr. Mark Musa (Viking-Penguin)
  • Joseph Gibaldi and Walter S. Achtert, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed. (2003)
  • M. H. Abrams, A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. (1999)
(NOTE: you must use the specific text ordered for this class. Do NOT substitute another edition/translation!!)

Also Recommended:

  • The Selected Writings of Christine de Pizan, tr. Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski and Kevin Brownlee (Norton Critical Edition)Béroul, The Romance of Tristan, tr. Alan S. Fedrick (Penguin Classics)
  • The Lais of Marie de France, tr. Robert Hanning and Joan Ferrante (Baker Books)
  • Penguin History of Literature, vol. 1: The Middle Ages, ed. W. F. Bolton. Penguin, 1993. (Out of print but available from bookfinder.com.)
Other required readings are on my website or have been placed on "electronic reserve" as .PDF files in the Library Resources section of Blackboard. To access Blackboard, log in at MyCalpoly, go to "Blackboard Access" and select "ENGL 203-01" from the classes you are taking. Click on the link in the Electronic Reserves section (under "Library Resources") to download, read and/or print the file using Acrobat Reader. Other required readings (listed below as "Online readings") are .html files on my website which you can access by clicking on the link on the Calendar of Assignments.  Please note that ALL electronically accessed required readings should be PRINTED OUT AND BROUGHT WITH YOU TO CLASS.

Preparation:  Readings are to be completed BEFORE coming to class on the date assigned. Introductions and background handouts should be read first; they are the context within which primary readings will be most meaningful. The introduction to the Middle Ages in the Norton Anthology (pp. 1-22) provides an overview of historical developments. The NA also has good headnotes to individual authors and works as well as a useful appendix on "Literary Terminology" (NA pp. A23-A44). Specific introductory pages from other textbooks are assigned on the syllabus. Other background information is provided on handouts and study guides. Please note that this background material is an integral part of the course and will be covered on EXAMS (and on Reading Quizzes, should they be reinstated this quarter). When reading primary texts, refer conscientiously to the critical apparatus (footnotes, glossary, etc.).

Study Guides are provided to guide your reading. USE THEM!! To access study guides, click on the underlined links found on the class calendar or on the list of online study guides below. Study guides typically contain some background information for which you are responsible; regard them as an appendix to your text books.  They also may list some general questions for which you will find answers as you read the assigned background readings, as well as background information and study questions to guide you through the primary readings. Familiarize yourself with the study questions BEFORE you begin to read, and refer to the guide frequently AS you read, jotting down notes as you go along. Upon completing your readings, you are strongly advised to reread the questions and write up a summary of your ideas. This summary will NOT be collected or graded, but will be helpful in preparing for class  -- and for exams!  (Should Reading Quizzes be resinstated, they presuppose you have prepared for class using the online study guides!)

Be prepared to DISCUSS readings in class. Note that length and difficulty of assignments vary, so look ahead in the reading list when you are planning your time. You are responsible for ALL the assigned readings, whether fully discussed in class or not, as well as for material covered in e-reserve and online readings, lectures and discussions.

Research Reports:  Groups of students 3-4 will work together on a series of guided Research Exercises, taking turns submitting reports of their findings to a class Research Archive, located in a Blackboard "Discussion Board."  To access Blackboard, log in at MyCalpoly, go to "Blackboard Access" and select "ENGL 203" from the classes you are taking; then click on "Discussion Board" and link to the "forum" for the research topic you are interested in.  There will be a "forum" for the topic being researched by each group.  Keep a copy of your research reports in case of technological glitches. Be sure to check after each posting to verify that your submissions have made it into the archive.  If you have trouble posting to the archive, contact the Help Desk (756-7000) and let me know at our next class meeting. Your complete set of Research Progress Reports will factor into the participation component of your final course gradeRESEARCH EXERCISES are also listed in third column of course calendar
 
 

Graded Work:

-- WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS, e.g. Introductory Paragraph; Expanded Paper; Composite Bibliography (designed to demonstrate individual mastery of the Research skills covered in the group Research Exercises)

-- EXAMS:  a closed-book Midterm Exam in class week 5; and a three-hour, closed-book Final Exam on Thursday, March 16, from 10:10 AM - 1 PM. Exams will include both essay and objective sections. Final will be cumulative, but with emphasis on work since the Midterm.

-- POSSIBILITY OF READING QUIZZES: In the past, I have used Reading Quizzes in my Core classes, both to give students an incentive to keep up with course readings, and because returned quizzes can be of significant benefit as study guides when preparing for exams.  However, they also take up a significant amount of class time.  This quarter, therefore, I have decided to try an experiment.  Rather than devoting class time to Reading Quizzes, I will distributed copies of old quizzes to Research Exercise Groups to complete as a group homework assignment that can then be used for exam prep.  However, if I perceive that students are not keeping up with reading assignments, I reserve the right to reinstate Reading Quizzes; in that case, they will be worth 20% of your course grade.  Should reading quizzes be reinstated, the final course grade will be calculated as follows:  10% Participation; 20 % Reading Quizzes; 20% Writing Assignments (Introductory Paragraph and Expanded Essay); 10% Composite Bibliography; 40 % Exams (cumulative total for midterm and final). 

Grading: Unless reading quizzes are reinstated, your final course grade will be calculated as follows:
10 % Participation (attendance and group postings to the class research archive)
25% Written Work: Introductory Paragraph and Expanded Essay (expanded essay grade will reflect how well you responded to comments on Introductory Paragraph)
15% Composite Bibliography
50 %  Exams (cumulative total for midterm and final)



 
 
 
Study Guides: Online Readings:
Other Required Readings are available on e-reserve through the Library Resources sections of Blackboard.

Images: 

Contents of this and linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2008
[Last updated 1/15/08]