Syllabus Spring 2001
| Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Topic | Readings | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Course format and requirements. Introduction to Medieval
Textuality.
Old English: the Anglo-Saxon Tradition. |
In class: Bede's
Ecclesiastical
History of the English People, including transcription of Caedmon's
Hymn. NA 16-19.
Background: NA 1-5; 14-15; W. F. Bolton, "The Conditions of Literary Composition in Medieval England" (handout). Complete these readings before second class. |
|
| Day 2 | Heroic Values: Pagan and Christian in dream vision
and epic.
Sign-up for Research Presentations. |
The Dream of the Rood,
NA
19-21; Beowulf 1 (up to "Beowulf
Returns Home") NA 21-50.
Background: NA 1-5; 14-15. |
Explore Dr. Schwartz's Home Page; look ahead to familiarize yourself with research assignments for the next several classes and begin work on them if you have time. |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Heroic Values, Conclusion.
Transition: the effects of the Norman Conquest. |
Beowulf,
conclusion: NA 50-68. Online reading (print-out for easy reference):
Translatio
handout.
Additional background on the Middle English period: NA 5-9, Anglo-Norman England and the Fourteenth Century. |
Explore Links on "Translatio"
page.
Use Polycat to do subject, keyword, author and title searches on your research topic. Try all of the the following search terms: title in modern English spelling; title in medieval spelling if different; author if known. (For readings from the Canterbury Tales, also search under title of specific tale AND name of pilgrim.) Submit a REPORT of the number of items found for each search (not specific titles); comment on the different results generated using different search categories and terms. Locate ONE relevant secondary source in the Cal Poly library; print out Polycat entry for that item and bring print-out AND THE ITEM, along with your typed up REPORT, with you to class. Note: Polycat is NOT a research database; it is merely a catalogue of Kennedy Library's collections. You MAY find some relevant sources through Polycat by doing a subject search on your author name or title, but for the most part you will use Polycat to determine whether Cal Poly's collections contain a useful source you have identified using other research tools. |
| Day 2 | Middle English Secular Values: the Chivalrous Ideal. | Introduction to Middle English values: online handout
on "Courtly Love." Chaucer's
poems "Truth" and "Gentilesse," NA 198-199 (Middle
English text) and CH 602-604 (modern English translation).
Introduction to Chaucer: NA 76-79; CH 1-13. Introduction to Troilus and Cressida: CH 345-353 and two handouts (distributed as hard copy): 1) Introduction to Troilus and Cressida and 2) opening stanzas of poem in Middle English. Primary reading: Troilus and Cressida bk. 1, CH 353-379. |
Explore Links on "Courtly
Love" page.
Use LINK+ to repeat subject, keyword, author and title searches on your research topic. Try all of the same search terms as in Polycat exercise: title in modern English spelling; title in medieval spelling if different; author if known. (For readings from the Canterbury Tales, searching under "Chaucer" will generate too many entries on works other than your research topic. Instead, search under title of specific tale AND name of pilgrim.) Submit a REPORT of the number of items found for each search; comment on the different results generated using different search categories and terms. Use LINK+ to order (at least) ONE interesting secondary source which is NOT available at Kennedy Library (check under list of LINK+ libraries which have the item and do NOT order an item available at Cal Poly). Print out LINK+ entry for the item you have ordered and turn in, along with your REPORT, in class. |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Translatio Romance | Troilus and Cressida bks. 2-3: CH 379-471. | Use MLA
Bibliography to do SUBJECT search on your topic, using the following
search terms: title in modern English spelling; title in medieval spelling
if different; author if known. (For readings from the Canterbury Tales,
search under title of specific tale or name of pilgrim rather than under
"Chaucer," which will generate too many entries irrelevant to your research
topic.) To do a SUBJECT search, select "advanced search" at left and scroll
down at right to replace "keyword" by "subject."
Note total number of entries generated for each subject search. Then, limit your search to titles in English; note new total number of entries generated. Then, limit search by document type and note total number of entries generated for each of the following: Journal, Book, Book Article, Book Collection. Submit a REPORT of the number of items found for each search (not specific titles); comment on the different results generated using different search categories and terms. Go back to search limited by document type to journal articles and locate ONE journal article that is NOT available in the Cal Poly library; print out the MLA bibliographic entry for that article; and order article using Electronic Interlibrary Loan. To check whether specific journal volume is available at Cal Poly, select "Journal/Magazine Titles" in Polycat; do NOT order an item available in the Cal Poly collections. Email yourself a copy of your EIL order; print it out and turn in along with REPORT and print-out of MLA Bilbiography entry for item ordered. |
| Day 2 | Medieval misogyny? | Troilus and Cressida bks. 4-5: CH 472-555. Handout: Prologue to the Legend of Good Women and CH 599. | Return to MLA
Bibliography and do a TITLE search to generate a shorter list of entries
which contain in their title the name of your specific reading and your
author if known (exception: if your author is "Chaucer," an author search
will generate too many entries; use name of your pilgrim instead, e.g.
"Wife of Bath").
Note total number of entries generated; then, limit your
search to titles in English and note numbers of entries generated; finally,
limit search by document type and note total number of entries generated
for each of the following: Journal, Book, Book Article, Book Collection.
Locate ONE interesting secondary source which is NOT available in the Cal Poly library-- verify using Polycat before ordering!!--and order it using LINK+ or Electronic Interlibrary Loan. Try LINK+ first when looking for a book (NOTE: search for the editor and/or title of the edited collection in which a "book article" is found, not the author or title of the "book article" itself). Use EIL for journal articles and for books not available through LINK+. Print out a copy of the LINK+ entry or of your EIL order and turn in along with REPORT and print-out of MLA Bilbiography entry for item ordered. |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Middle English Spirituality I: the 13th century. | Hali Meidhad ("A Letter
on Virginity"): background NA 5-7; PW xi-xx, xxxviii, xli-xliii; Introduction
to Medieval Allegory; text PW 2-43.
Seinte Margarete: background PW xx-xxv, xxxiv-xxxviii; text PW 44-85. |
Using the usual assortment of search terms, search for
full-text articles on your topic available through the electronic journal
databases to which Cal Poly subscribes:
Submit a REPORT of how to find full-text items in each database AND how many you found in each (note: in some databases, you many not find any full-text articles on your topic). Start thinking about prospectus of Research Paper, due Tuesday of week 7; you will need to be able to discuss thesis and premise of paper on midterm exam. |
| Day 2 | Middle English Spirituality II: the Alliterative Revival | The Pearl: background
NA
7-9, 14-15, PRL vii-xxi; review Introduction
to Medieval Allegory; text
PRL 1-39.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, through line 669. Background NA 200-202 and review Translatio handout; text 202-216. |
Use the same electronic journal databases to look for
ABSTRACTS AND BOOK REVIEWS which summarize recent books and articles
on your research topic. Use the usual assortment of search terms for each
database:
Submit a REPORT of how to find abstracts and book reviews in each database AND how many you found in each (note: in some databases, you many not find any abstracts or book reviews on your topic). Print out ONE abstract or book review and use Polycat to determine whether the item it describes is available in the Cal Poly collections. If so, bring a copy of BOTH the abstract/book review AND the book or article, along with your REPORT, to class. If the item is NOT available at Cal Poly, use LINK+ or EIL to order it; print out confirmation that the item has been ordered and bring BOTH a copy of the abstract/book review AND the confirmation that the item has been ordered, along with your REPORT, with you to class. |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Arthurian Romance I | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,
lines 670 -conclusion. Text NA 216-254.
Background to Malory: NA 9-10, 344-46; review Translatio; read handouts containing Caxton's preface and divisions of Malory's Le Morte D'arthur. |
Use the Online Encyclopedias on Dr.
Schwartz's Homepage to search for a useful encyclopedia entry on your
topic. Print out and bring with you to class.
Submit a REPORT of what you found using each online encyclopedia (list specific topics for which you found useful entries). Print out ONE entry and bring with you, along with your REPORT, to class. |
| Day 2 | MIDTERM EXAM |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Arthurian Romance II | Malory's
Le Morte D'arthur.
Click here for specific reading assignment.
Review Introduction to Medieval Allegory.
Background: NA 9-10, 344-346. |
Work on prospectus of Research
Paper, due second day of week 7. Prospectus must include a working
title which clearly identifies work(s) discussed as well as topic of your
paper; a fully articulated thesis (not just a statement of general topic);
a tentative outline of paper; and a working bibliography of at least eight
sources, alphabetized and listed using correct MLA bibliographic format
(consult MLA Handbook!).
In choosing your sources, be sure to include at least one of each of the following: a book by a single author (of which you may use a single chapter, if desired); an essay from an edited collection; and a journal article. Additionally, your sources must include at least one item found in the Cal Poly library (put call number in parentheses after entry); at least one item obtained through EIL (indicate EIL in parentheses after entry); at least one item obtained through LINK+ (indicate LINK+ in parentheses after entry); and at least one item accessed electronically: be sure to cite this item correctly, using correct MLA bibliographic format for electronic sources (also described in 5th ed. of MLA Handbook). |
| Day 2 |
|
Morte D'arthur, cont. Click here for specific reading assignment. | Continue work on prospectus of Research Paper and working bibliography; for details see Research Assignment for day 1 of week 6. |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Chaucer's Canterbury Tales I: Frame Narrative and Estates Satire | Background to Chaucer's Canterbury
Tales: NA 10-14, 76-81. Review NA 10-15 (aids for reading)
and pronunciation handout (distributed with handouts on Troilus and
Cressida).
General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales: read full text in translation (CH 53-75) and assigned Middle English lines as designated on study guide (GP found NA 81-100). Introduction (only) to the Parson's Tale and Chaucer's Retraction: read full text both in translation (CH 339-342) and in Middle English (NA 192-195). For all readings from the Canterbury Tales, you should BEGIN by reading the modern English 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 ONLY for lines of Middle English specifically assigned on study guides. |
Continue work on prospectus of Research Paper and working bibliography due day 2 of week 7; for details see Research Assignment at week 6, day 1. |
| Day 2 | Canterbury Tales II: Literary Confession and Arthurian Romance | The Wife of Bath's Prologue and
Tale
CH 207-240; NA 117-144. |
Prospectus of Research Paper and working bibliography DUE. For details, see Research assignement at week 6, day 1. |
GETTY MUSEUM FIELD TRIP:
FRIDAY MAY 18
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Canterbury Tales III: Breton Lay and Fabliau | The Franklin's Tale: CH 292-314, NA 144-164; The Miller's Tale: CH 123-143, NA 117-144. | Web Sites Exercise. Use medieval Web Resources and Search Engines provided to search for useful Web sites on your topic and submit REPORT detailing what you found AND evaluating the best of them |
| Day 2 | Canterbury Tales IV: Beast Fable; Literary Confession and Exemplum | The Nun's Priest's Tale: CH 186-206, NA 179-192; The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale: CH 316-335, NA 164-179. | Work on Research paper. |
Week 9 (May 29 - May 31)
(Memorial Day Observed: Monday, May 28)
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | The Human Side of God I: Women Mystics | Ancrene Wisse, parts
7 and 8: NA 7; PW xxix-xxxviii, 110-149; review
Introduction
to Medieval Allegory.
Julian of Norwich, A Book of Showings, and Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe: NA 9-10, 292-308. |
Work on Research paper. |
| Day 2 | The Human Side of God II: Marian Devotion | Marian Lyrics: NA 286-7, 290-91 and handout. | Work on Research paper. |
| Topic | Reading | Research Assignment
(Traditional and Web Resources) |
|
| Day 1 | Liturgical Drama I: Mystery Plays | Introduction (only) to Mystery Plays and to The Chester
Play of Noah's Flood (but not the play itself): NA 9, 308-9.
The Second Shepherds' Play: NA 318-344. |
Work on Research paper. |
| Day 2 | Liturgical Drama II: Morality Plays | Everyman: NA 9, 363-384; review Introduction to Medieval Allegory. | Work on Research paper. |
Final Oral Exercise (required): report results of research paper, over dinner at Dr. Schwartz's home. Final Research Paper due.
Final Oral Exercise will be held on a mutually agreed upon date as early as possible during exam week (June 11-15). If no earlier time can be agreed upon, it will take place during the regularly scheduled final exam time: Thursday, June 14, 7-10 PM.
Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999, 2001