ENGL 439: Love in Medieval Literature
Dr. Debora B. Schwartz

Schedule of Oral Presentations, Fall 2007

There are 28 potential presentaton slots listed over 14 presentation days, below.  Please note that no more than TWO students should sign up to present on a given presentation day.  Also, no more than TWO students should sign up to present on a given text which will be considered on two consecutive class days (e.g. Jean de Meun's Rose, Chaucer's Troilus and Cressida).

Before signing up for a research presentation topic, follow the link to familiarize yourself with the Oral Presentation Guidelines.

All students should meet with me to discuss possible angles and report any problems they are having with research assignments ASAP and by the end of week 3 at the latest!  Failure to do so will cause an "F" to be averaged into the Research Report component of your final course grade.

NOTES: 1) Senior Project students have first pick of presentation topics.  2) Two students may sign up to present the same reading on days where only one primary reading is scheduled. In these cases, the two students should coordinate with one another AND Dr. Schwartz to ensure they focus on different aspects of the work.  On days on which more than one reading is assigned, each student should present a different reading.  3) Unless you have discussed the matter with me and obtained prior approval, you may not sign up to present a work on which you have previously completed a research project (e.g. for another class).  4) Students with prior experience using the research tools are encouraged to sign up for topics which fall early in the quarter.
 
Week  3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Week 4 (10/8 - 10/10)
 
Day 2 The Tristan tradition.  See Tristan study guide
  1. Béroul, The Romance of Tristan
  2. "Tristan's Madness," printed pp. 151-164 of Béroul, The Romance of Tristan.
  3. Fragments of Thomas's Tristan (on electronic reserve). 
Possible Research Presentation(s) (should focus on a single motif, character or work; not recommended unless you have prior familiarity with texts and/or all other days are full):
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Marie de France, selected Lais: Guigemar, Equitan, Bisclavret, Lanval, Yonec, Chevrefoil. ( Short and fun readings; note that "Chevrefoil" is another Tristan text!) 
Consultation of the Engl 203/252 Study Guide is highly recommended; includes comments on all assigned lais except Equitan).

Research Presentations  (each should focus on a different specific lai; no more than TWO unless all other presentation topics/days have at least one presentation): 

  •  Kirstin Vinther (on Lanval) (conf. 10/2/07)
  •  Lizzie Gilbert (on Yonec) (conf. 10/2/07)

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Week 5  (10/15 - 10/17)
 
Day 1 Chrétien de Troyes, The Knight of the Lion (Yvain).  Arthurian Romances 295-380. 

Research presentation(s): 

  •  Jack LaPorte (conf. 10/1/07)
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Day 2 Chrétien de Troyes, The Knight of the Cart (Lancelot) Arthurian Romances 207-294.  READ WHOLE TEXT BY CLASS TIME.  Consultation of study guide strongly advised!

Research presentation(s): 

  •  Katie Smith (conf. 10/1/07)
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Week 6    (10/22 - 10/29)
 
Day 1 Guillaume de Lorris's Romance of the Rose, "chapters" 1-3 (pp. 3-61).   Consult study guides:  Rose I (general background -- what is the Romance of the Rose, anyway?); Rose II (contexts for the Wife of Bath); and Rose III (contexts for Christine de Pizan) -- but note that page numbers don't refer to our text.

Research Presentation(s) on Guillaume de Lorris's Rose (no more than one recommended, unless other dates all have at least one presentation)

  •  Lea Therianos (conf. 10/3/07)
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Day 2 Jean de Meun's Romance of the Rose, "chapters" 4-7 (pp. 62-224). Consult study guides:  Rose I (general background -- what is the Romance of the Rose, anyway?); Rose II (contexts for the Wife of Bath); and Rose III (contexts for Christine de Pizan) -- but note that page numbers don't refer to our text. See also plot summary, Introduction,  pp. x-xii.

Research presentation(s): on Jean de Meun's Rose (or related topic); must focus primarily on reading assigned for today.  Suggested:  The Old Woman as source of the Wife of Bath.  Only one presentation unless all other presentation days already have at least one presentation. 

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Week 7    (10/29 - 10/31)
 
Day 1 Jean de Meun's Romance of the Rose: "chapters" 8-12 (pp. 225-335). Consult study guides:  Rose I (general background -- what is the Romance of the Rose, anyway?); Rose II (contexts for the Wife of Bath); and Rose III (contexts for Christine de Pizan) -- but note that page numbers don't refer to our text. See also plot summary, Introduction,  pp. x-xii.

Research presentation(s): on Jean de Meun's Rose on Jean de Meun's Rose (or related topic); must focus primarily on reading assigned for today.  Only one presentation unless all other presentation days already have at least one presentation. 

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Day 2 Christine and the Rose: The God of Love's Letter  (The Selected Writings of Christine de Pizan, pp. 15-29), the debate on the Romance of the Rose (The Selected Writings of Christine de Pizan, pp. 41-45), and The Book of the City of Ladies (The Selected Writings of Christine de Pizan, pp. 116-137, 144-155).  Consult study guide

Research presentation(s):  on Christine de Pizan's reactions to the Rose (if there are two presentations, each presenter should focus on only ONE of the three assigned texts;  no more than TWO presentations possible, unless all other topics/days have at least one presentation): 

  •  Jackie Gehrke-Jones (conf. 10/3/07)
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Week 8    (11/5 - 11/7)
 
Day 1 MIDTERM EXAM
Day 2 Chaucer, Troilus and Cressida, pts. I-II (Portable Chaucer, 345-426).  You are strongly advised to consult Troilus and Cressida study guideResearch Presentation(s) on an aspect of pts. I-II (no more than TWO presentations possible, unless all other topics/days have at least one presentation).
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Week 9    (11/12 - 11/14)
 
Day 1 NO CLASS
Day 2 Chaucer, Troilus and Cressida, pts. III-V (Portable Chaucer, 427-555). Use Troilus and Cressida study guide to guide your reading!  Research Presentation(s) on an aspect of pts. III-V  (no more than TWO presentations possible, unless all other topics/days have at least one presentation).
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  • Week "10a"  (11/19 - 11/21)
     
     
    Day 1 Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales I: The Knight's Tale (Portable Chaucer, 76-123) and The Miller's Tale (Portable Chaucer, 123-143).  Consultation of The Knight's Tale study guide and The Miller's Tale study guide strongly advised! Two Research Presentations (one on each tale):
  • The Knight's Tale: Erin Scott (conf. 10/5/07)
  • The Miller's Tale: Brady Sullivan (conf. 10/3/07)
  • Day 2 NO CLASS
    Week "10b" (11/26 - 11/28)
     
    Day 1 Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales II: The Nun's Priest's Tale (Portable Chaucer, 186-206) and The Merchant's Tale (Portable Chaucer, 264-291).  Consultation of The Nun's Priest's Tale study guide strongly advised.  For information on the fabliau (the genre of the Merchant's Tale), consultation of The Miller's Tale study guide strongly advised.  Two Research Presentations (one on each tale):
  • The Nun's Priest's Tale: Carla Benevedo (conf. 10/4/07)
  • The Merchant's Tale: Kat Gibbs (conf. 9/27/07)
  • Day 2 Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales III: The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale (Portable Chaucer, 239-240) and The Franklin's Tale (Portable Chaucer, 292-314).  Consultation of the two study guides is strongly advised!  Two Research Presentations (one on each tale):
  • The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale: Erin Kelly (conf. 10/8/07)
  • The Franklin's Tale: Kaela Mulvaney (conf. 10/5/07)
  • Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2007