ENGL 330: Medieval Literature
Course Calendar, Winter 2005


Winter, 2005 Class Meetings:
TWRF 2:10-3:00, 10-126
Office: 47-35G, tel. 756-2636 
Office Hours: T 5-6, WR 3-4, R 1-2, and by appt.		 Dr. Debora B. Schwartz 
http://www.calpoly.edu/~dschwart
Main English Office:  756-2597
e-mail: dschwart@calpoly.edu


Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Click on underlined link words to access online readings or study questions for a given unit, topic or text. Textbooks are referred to by abbreviations listed under "Required Texts" on class homepage.
 
 
DATE AND TOPIC READINGS

WK 1: T 1/4  General Introduction; course requirements.  
W 1/5 Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, including transcription of Caedmon's "Hymn." NA 1-6; 14; 19-26.
Th 1/6 The Dream of the Rood. NA 1-6; 19-21; 25-28.
F 1/7 Beowulf  I (to "Beowulf Returns Home"). NA 1-6; 19-21; 29-71.
WK 2: T 1/11 Beowulf  II (conclusion). NA 71-99.
W 1/12 The Middle English world view; women and Romance. Online readings: "Translatio studii et imperii" and Courtly Love. NA 7-11; online readings: "Translatio studii et imperii" and Courtly Love.
Th 1/13 Introduction to Chaucer. Chaucer, "Trouthe" and "Gentilesse"; "Gentilesse" (online reading); and e-reserve readings (Shoaf's Introduction to Troilus and Cressida; the opening stanzas of T&C in Middle English verse). CH 1-13, 602-4; NA 210-13 and 315; "Gentilesse" (online reading); and e-reserve readings (follow links at left).
F 1/14 Chaucer, Troilus and Cressida, Book 1; review e-reserve readings (Shoaf's Introduction to Troilus and Cressida and the opening stanzas of T&C in Middle English verse). CH 345-379 and e-reserve readings (follow links at left).
WK 3: T 1/18 T&C Bk. 2. CH 379-426.
W 1/19 T&C Bk. 3. CH 426-471.
Th 1/20 T&C Bk. 4. CH 472-511.
F 1/21 T&C Bk. 5; introduction to the Prologue to The Legend of Good Women, PC 599 and on e-reserve with the text of the prologue. CH 511-555; 599; and e-reserve reading (follow links at left).

 
WK 4: T 1/25 Hali Meidhad ("A Letter on Virginity").  Medieval Allegory (online reading). NA 9 (on Middle English religious prose); PW xi-xx; xxxviii; xli-xliii; 2-43. Online reading: Medieval Allegory.
W 1/26 Seinte Margarete. PW xx-xxv, xxxiv-xxxviii, 44-85. 
Th 1/27 The Pearl (link at left is to study guide; click links at right to access and PRINT OUT the translator's introduction and the poem itself, both of which are on e-reserve). 

Background: The Alliterative Revival.  Review Medieval Allegory.

 NA  9-12 ("The Fourteenth Century"), 156 (on the poet); PRL vii-xxi, 1-39 (both on e-reserve). Online readings: The Alliterative Revival; review Medieval Allegory.
F 1/28 Finish discussing The Pearl.
PAPER 1 DUE MONDAY

PAPER 1 DUE by NOON on Monday 2/1 AT THE LATEST; turn in to my mailbox in the English department -- DO NOT LEAVE ON BULLETIN BOARD OR SLIP UNDER MY DOOR!
 
 

  MIDDLE ENGLISH 3: THE SECULAR, PT. 2 (14TH-15TH CENTURIES)--ARTHURIAN ROMANCE


WK 5: T 2/1  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, parts 1-2. Review Translatio, Courtly Love and The Alliterative Revival. NA 12, 156-81. Review Translatio, Courtly Love and The Alliterative Revival.
W 2/2 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, parts 3-4. NA 181-210.
Th 2/3 Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur. Background to Malory: NA 12-14 ("The Fifteenth Century"), NA 419-21 (on Malory); review Translatio; read handout (on e-reserve) containing Caxton's preface and the divisions of Malory's Le Morte D'arthur (PRINT OUT and bring with you to class).

Primary readings: Approximately 52 pages to read carefully while skimming the rest of MA 188-300. See link for specific pages.

 Background to Malory: NA 12-14 , 419-21; review Translatio; e-reserve handout: Caxton's preface and the divisions of Malory's Le Morte D'arthur (PRINT OUT and bring with you to class).
Morte D'arthur readings: passages assigned on study guide (follow link for specific pages) from MA 188-330. 
F 2/4 Malory, cont. Approximately 35 pages to read carefully while skimming the rest of MA 301-372.  See link for specific pages. NA 12-14, 419-21; assigned passages from MA 301-372 (follow link for specific pages).
WK 6: T 2/8 Malory, cont. Approximately 55 pages to read carefully while skimming the rest of MA 373-455. See link for specific pages. NA 12-14, 419-21; assigned passages from MA 373-455 (follow link for specific pages).
W 2/9 Malory, cont. Approximately 46 pages to read carefully while skimming the rest of MA 456-532. See link for specific pages. NA 12-14, 419-21; assigned passages from MA 456-532 (follow link for specific pages).

 
Th 2/10  MIDTERM EXAM PT. 1 (OBJECTIVE). MIDTERM EXAM
F 2/11  MIDTERM EXAM PT. 2 (ESSAY).  POSSIBILITY OF GWR CERTIFICATION. MIDTERM EXAM

 

WK 7: T 2/15 Background to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales: Frame Narrative. Read the whole General Prologue, the Introduction to the Parson's Tale and Chaucer's Retraction in modern translation.  In NA, read GP lines 1-42, headnote on the "Close of the Canterbury Tales," the Parson's Prologue and Chaucer's Retraction (in Middle English).  For all readings from the Canterbury Tales, BEGIN by reading the modern translation (in the Portable Chaucer=CH). You are ALSO expected to read through the Middle English texts (hint 1: try reading aloud! hint 2: tapes available in book store). YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MIDDLE ENGLISH PASSAGES assigned on study guides.  Also consult e-reserve handouts about the Medieval Humors and the Map of the pilgrimage route. CH 53-75, 339-341; NA 10-11, 210-16, 310-13. 
For all CT readings, review NA 15-18 (on the Middle English language) and the e-reserve reading on pronunciation; use your modern translation to help you read the assigned Middle English passages.
W 2/16  The Pilgrim portraits in the General Prologue: Estates Satire. Three Idealized Portraits: First Estate (Parson), Second Estate (Knight), Third Estate (Plowman). Another Idealized Portrait: the Clerk; contrasting portrait: the Squire. The rising Middle Class:  the Wife of Bath, the Franklin. Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 1 (as applicable). CH 53-75; NA 213-35 (Middle English text, lines 43-860; specific lines assigned on General Prologue study guide). Online reading: The Three Medieval Estates.
Th 2/17 More General Prologue pilgrim portraits: Estates Satire, continued.  Ecclesiastical pilgrims: the Prioress, the Monk, the Friar, the Pardoner. Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 1 (as applicable). CH 53-75; NA 213-35 (Middle English text, lines 43-860; specific lines assigned on study guide).
F 2/18  The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale. Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 2.  CH 207-40; NA 252-81 (specific lines assigned on  Wife of Bath study guide).
WK 8: T 2/22 The Franklin's Tale. Click on the link to download and PRINT OUT the text of Chaucer's Franklin's Tale (online .pdf file). Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 3. CH 292-314; print out Middle English text of Chaucer's Franklin's Tale (online .pdf file); specific lines assigned on Franklin's Tale study guide.
W 2/23 The Miller's Tale. Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 4. CH 123-43; NA 235-52 (specific lines assigned on Miller's Tale study guide).
Th 2/24 The Nun's Priest's Tale. Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 5. CH 186-206; NA 296-310 (specific lines assigned on Nun's Priest's Tale study guide).
F 2/25 The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale. Specific Middle English lines assigned on study guide. Student Readings, Group 6. CH 316-35; NA 281-96 (specific lines assigned on Pardoner's Prologue and Tale study guide).

 
WK 9: T 3/1 Ancrene Wisse ("Guide for Anchoresses"), parts 7 and 8.  Review Medieval Allegory. NA 9, 153-154; PW xxix-xxxviii; 110-49. Review Medieval Allegory.
W 3/2 Women Mystics:  Julian of Norwich, A Book of Showings; Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe. NA 12-13, 355-79.
Th 3/3 Women mystics, wrap up (as needed).  Medieval lyrics (NA 349-55 and handouts) NA 349-55 and handouts. 
F 3/4 Medieval lyrics, conclusion.  Introduction to liturgical drama:  read NA Headnotes on "Mystery Plays" and on The Chester Play of Noah's Flood (but not the play itself); background information (only) on guide to The Second Shepherds' Play (we will read the play itself next week).  NA 349-55 and handouts; NA 13, 379-80. PAPER 2 DUE MONDAY.

 
 
WK 10: T 3/8 Liturgical Drama 1: Mystery play cycles. Review introductory Headnotes on "Mystery Plays" and on The Chester Play of Noah's Flood (but don't read the play itself); then read The Second Shepherds' Play. NA 13, 379-80, 391-419. 
W 3/9 Liturgical Drama 2: Morality Plays. New reading: Everyman. Continued discussion of The Second Shepherds' Play; comparison of Mystery and Morality Plays.  NA 13, 445-67.
Th 3/10 Liturgical Drama, conclusion.  
F 3/11 Wrap-up and Review for exam.  PAPER "2" DUE.  Be sure to turn in your revision WITH THE ORIGINAL, MARKED UP PAPER AND CHECKLIST.  Without the original paper and checklist, I will *NOT READ YOUR REVISION* and your paper "2" grade will be a "0."

NOTE: I have reinstated our final class meeting on F 3/11 because at this point I do NOT anticipate being out of town for a conference.  Should I end up cancelling the class, PAPER 2 will be due TO MY MAILBOX IN THE MAIN ENGLISH OFFICE by 3 PM at the latest.  DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PAPER ON MY BULLETIN BOARD OR SLIP IT UNDER MY DOOR! 

  PAPER "2" DUE.  Paper "2" is the revision of Paper 1; turn in the rewrite WITH THE ORIGINAL, MARKED UP PAPER AND CHECKLIST.  Without original paper and checklist, I will *NOT READ YOUR REVISION* which will be graded "0."  

FINAL EXAM: Monday, 3/14/05, 1:10-4:00 PM.  NO EXCEPTIONS!!

Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2005