Winter, 2012 Class Meetings: MW 4:10-6:00, 2-13 Office: 47-35G, tel. 756-2636  Office Hours: M 1:10-3:00, W 1:30-2:30, Th 4:30-5:30, and by appt.

Dr. Debora B. Schwartz  http://www.calpoly.edu/~dschwart Main English Office:  756-2597 e-mail: dschwart@calpoly.edu

Click HERE for schedule of Oral Presentations

NOTE 1: Assigned readings should be completed prior to class on the date where they appear on this calendar of assignments.

NOTE 2: Some required readings will be accessed electronically.  They are in one of the following forms:

• .PDF files placed on Electronic Reserve through the Library Resources section of Blackboard. To access Blackboard, log in at MyCalpoly, go to "Blackboard Access" and select "ENGL 512" from the classes you are taking. Click on the link in the Electronic Reserves section (under "Library Resources") to download and print the file using Acrobat Reader.
• "Online readings" are simple .html files residing on my website.  To access online readings, simply click on the link.
• PRINT OUT all online and e-reserve readings, place them in a course binder, and bring them with you to class.

NOTE 4: Page numbers on reading assignments from the Norton Anthology of English Literature refer to the 8th. ed., vol. 1a (2006), the required textbook for this class and are indicated by the abbreviation NA. Other textbooks are referred to by abbreviations listed under "Required Texts" on class homepage.

Week 1 (January 2 - 4)
 

	Topic and Readings
Day 1	NEW YEAR'S DAY CELEBRATED -- No class meeting
Day 2	1st hour:  Course format, schedule and requirements. 2nd hour: Introduction to Medieval Textuality (Latin manuscript culture and Old English oral traditions) Background Reading (to complete before next class meeting):  NA 1-7 top (stop at "Anglo-Norman Literature"); 15 (1st par. only on Old English); 19-20 top (on Old English prosody only); timeline p. 22 (to ca. 1000 only); 24-27 (headnotes to Bede/Caedmon, Rood and Beowulf). W. F. Bolton, "The Conditions of Literary Composition in Medieval England" (.PDF file, 15 pp.; on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard).  Because sign-ups for Oral Presentations take place on Monday, read through the Oral Presentation Guidelines and have a look at the Schedule of Oral Presentations.  Think about  dates/topics you are most interested in (including some alternates); sign-ups will begin in class Monday. Primary Reading (in class): Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, including transcription of Caedmon's Hymn.  NA 24-27.
Text info: Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People is a Latin prose history (or "chronicle"), completed in 731, a few years before the death of the Venerable Bede in 735.  It focuses on  the (re-)Christianization of post-Anglo-Saxon-Conquest Britain, in particular the spread of Christianity in England and the growth of the English Church. Caedmon's "Hymn" is the earliest poem work in Old English which has been preserved.  It was composed orally in Old English alliterative verse by an illiterate cowherd named Caedmon some time between 658 and 680 (i.e. either before Bede's birth, ca. 673, or when Bede was still a small child).

Week 2 (January 9 - 11)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	Heroic Values:  Pagan and Christian in Old English dream vision and epic Background Reading:  NA 1-7 top (stop at "Anglo-Norman Literature"); 15 (1st par. only on Old English); 19-20 top (on Old English prosody only); timeline p. 22 (to ca. 1000 only); 24-33 (headnotes to Bede/Caedmon, Rood and Beowulf); The Dream of the Rood and Beowulf study guides. W. F. Bolton, "The Conditions of Literary Composition in Medieval England" (.PDF file, 15 pp.; on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard).  Because sign-ups for Oral Presentations begin today, read through the Oral Presentation Guidelines and have a look at the Schedule of Oral Presentations.  Come to class knowing what dates/topics you are most interested in (including some alternates). Primary Reading: The Dream of the Rood, NA 27-9. Beowulf, NA 29-100.	Read COMPLETELY through class homepage and this calendar of assignments.  Read through the oral research presentation guidelines and the schedule of oral presentations to decide on your preferred dates/topics; sign-ups in class on Thursday and next week. EVERYONE: in your MLA Handbook, please review sections 3.3 on  italics/underlining and 3.6 on the titles of works (proper capitalization, punctuation, and how to handle titles within titles; (chapter/section numbers listed above refer to 6th ed., 2003).  You will need to be clear on this information to write bibliographic citations for this class.  Please also peruse section 3.2.7 on apostrophes (and sections on any other punctuation mark you consistently have problems with. . .)  Additionally, if you have not taken ENGL 501 with me, please read through Preliminaries 1: Types of Sources and Preliminaries II: Modes of Access on Dr. Schwartz's Guide to Kennedy Library Research Tools. You need to be know what is meant by the 5 kinds of sources and what modes of access you will be asked to use obtain relevant secondary source material for your research project.  By following the links above, you will be taken to the specific parts of my Guide to Kennedy Library Research Tools where this information is provided.  If you find this confusing, please come see me!  Or ask a veteran of my ENGL 501 for some pointers.
Text info:  The Dream of the Rood is an orally composed Dream Vision in Old English alliterative verse created by an unknown author some time between the 8th and 10th centuries. Beowulf is an orally composed Epic in Old English alliterative verse created by an unknown author some time between the 8th and 10th centuries.
Day 2	The effects of the Norman Conquest: Anglo-Norman literature and the development of the Middle English world view Required Background Readings: "Translatio studii et imperii"  NOTE:  a text-only versions of this online reading is available as a .PDF file (2 pp. of very small font) on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard; "Medieval Attitudes toward Vernacular Literature" (also serves as Study Guide for the medieval prologues and epilogues by Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes; links on their names below take you directly to relevant portions of this online reading); "Courtly Love" (online reading); NA 7-10 (on Anglo-Norman literature); NA 22 (timeline 1066-1200);  NA 117-24 (headnotes to Legendary Histories of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Wace and Layamon); NA 141-2 (headnote to Marie de France)  Required Primary Readings: Prologue and Epilogue to Marie de France's Fables and Prologue to the Lais of Marie de France (.PDF file, 8 pp., on e-reserve in the Library resources section of Blackboard); Prologues (first 1-2 paragraphs on each page) to Chrétien de Troyes's Erec and Enide and Cligés (.PDF file, 1 p., on e-reserve in the Library Resources scetion of Blackboard); excerpts from Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of England (Historia regum Britanniae); Wace, Romance of Brutus (Roman de Brut); and Layamon's Brut, NA 117-128.  NOTE:  for these works, use the dates provided under Text Info and on the "Translatio" online reading rather than those found in Norton. Also note that links on their names above take you directly to relevant portions of the online "Translatio" reading. Marie de France, Lanval(NA 141-54); Chaucer, The Franklin's Tale (CH 292-314). Possible Presentation (on The Franklin's Tale):	Click on the link for detailed instructions for your first research assignment: Research Step 1: Kennedy Library via Polycat By following these directions, you should be able to find some  useful secondary sources -- which are studies ABOUT your author, topic or work, not an edition or translation of the text itself  -- in the Kennedy Library collections. The directions will also guide you trhough submitting your first two research reports to the class research archive, "Searching Polycat" and "Kennedy Library Check-Outs." Reminder: the class research archive is located in a Blackboard "Discussion Board."  To access Blackboard, log in at MyCalpoly, go to "Blackboard Access" and select "ENGL 512" from the classes you are taking; then click on "Discussion Board" and enter the "forum" for the topic you researching.  (I will create a separate "forum" for each author/text.)
Text info: Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of England (Historia regum Britanniae) is a (fabricated) chronicle (history) written in Latin prose in 1136 for the Anglo-Norman court. Wace's Romance of Brutus(Roman de Brut) is an Anglo-Norman French translation/adaptation of Geoffrey's Latin chronicle, written in octosyllabic rhyming couplets in 1155 and dedicated to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of England.  Note: the word "romance" in the title merely means that this chronicle is told in the French language, but generericaly, Wace's text is still a history or chronicle rather than a "romance." Layamon's Brut is a Middle English translation/adaptation of Wace's Romance of Brutus written ca. 1190 in Middle English alliterative verse.  Like Wace's poem, its genre is chronicle or history rather than "romance." A "Prologue" refers to an opening statement made by an author at the beginning of his or her narrative, before the beginning of the story itself.  Medieval authors typically used Prologues (and Epilogues, statements found at the end of a narrative, after the conclusion of the story itself) to talk about what they have written, to explain what they are trying to do, and to stake a claim to literary legitimacy.  Prologues and Epilogues may also be used by authors to dedicate a work to a potential "patron,"  a rich and powerful person whom they hope will reward them for the honor, either financiallly or by offering them protection or prestige. Chrétien de Troyes was active ca. 1170-1190. While Chretien lived and worked in France rather than in Anglo-Norman England, his works, like Marie de France's, were enjoyed by French-speaking court audiences on both sides of the English channel.  Also like Marie, his works were written in French octosyllabic rhyming couplets.  We are reading the Prologues to Chrétien's Arthurian romances Erec and Enide and Cligés. Marie de France was active ca. 1160s-1190s at the Anglo-Norman court (i.e. the court of the French-speaking rulers of England, descendants of the Norman Duke William the Conquerer who became King of England after defeating the English king in the Battle of Hastings in 1066).  Marie de France spoke and wrote in French.  Her works are in rhyming verse (specifically, octosyllabic rhyming couplets). We are reading the Prologue and Epilogue to her collection of Fables and the Prologue to her collection of Lais. A lai is a short narrative genre written in octo-syllabic rhyming couplets (the form of all 12th-century French literary texts).  These vernacular poems typically focus on the male/female love relationships of courtly (noble) protagonists and usually contain supernatural or fairy-tale elements.  We are reading Marie de France's lai Lanval.and Chaucer's adaptation of the genre he called a "Breton Lay," The Franklin's Tale.

Week 3 (January *16* -*17* - 18) -- Please note class meets on MONDAY (at Dr. Schwartz's house) and on TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY in our regular classroom this week.

• Proposal:  the reading assignment for Tuesday is extremely long because we have lost one class meeting this quarter to a Monday holiday.  But . . . If you are willing to meet over dinner Monday night (I'll cook!), we can make up the lost class and have the usual two class meetings devoted to Troilus and Cressida.  In that case, reading assignment will be  split between Monday (assigned readings through T&C bk. 2) and Tuesday (T&C bks. 3-5).

Week 4 (January 23 - 25)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	Middle English Spirituality II: the Pearl Poet and the Alliterative Revival The Pearl: background NA 10-13, PRL vii-xxi; review  Introduction to Medieval Allegory; text PRL 1-39. (If you were unable to purchase The Pearl, it is available on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard (PRINT OUT both the introduction and the text and bring them with you to class).  Text:  PDF file, 16 pp.; introduction: .PDF file, 10 pp. Presentation: Emily Olson Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, through line 669 (text in NA 162-76). Background NA 10-3, 19-21, 160-2; online reading: The Alliterative Revival; also review Courtly Love and Translatio.	Click on the link for detailed instructions for the fourth research assignment: Research Step 4: Using Full-Text Subscription Databases This exercise will guide you as you learn to search for full-text journal articles on your topic in four of Cal Poly's subscription databases.  The directions will also help you prepare your next four research reports for the class research archive: "Muse Results," "EAI Results," ASE Results" and "JSTOR Results."
Day 2	Arthurian Romance I Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, lines 670 - conclusion.  Text NA 176-213. Presentation: Bek Maples Background to Malory: NA 13-14 ("The Fifteenth Century"), 438-9; review Translatio; read Caxton's preface and the divisions of Malory's Le Morte D'arthur (.PDF file, 3 pp., on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard; PRINT OUT and bring with you to class).	Click on the link for detailed instructions for the fifth research assignment: Research Step 5: Searching the E-books in NetLibrary This exercise will guide you as you learn to search directly in the ebooks found in NetLibrary, another of Cal Poly's subscription databases. The directions will also help you prepare your next research report for the class research archive, "NetLibraryResults."

Week 5 (January 30 - February 1)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	Arthurian Romance II Malory's Le Morte D'arthur.  Click here for specific reading assignment.  Review NA 12-14, 419-21; Introduction to Medieval Allegory; Translatio; and handout (on electronic reserve) containing Caxton's preface and the divisions of Malory's Le Morte D'arthur (PDF file, 3 pp., on e-reserve; bring PRINT-OUT with you to class).	1) Click on the link and follow the guidelines to begin work on the Prospectus and Working Bibliographyfor your Research Paper, due via email attachment no later than 6 PM on Sunday, February 19. Note: the Prospectus is normally an ungraded exercise allowing me to provide feedback that will help you write a stronger final research paper.  But if no prospectus is submitted (or if it does not follow assignment guidelines), it will be graded and will count for 10% of the final course grade.  2) Click on the link for instructions for an OPTIONAL research assignment (which may be completed for Extra Credit): Research Step 6: Finding and Evaluating Web-Based Resources.
Day 2	Morte D'arthur, cont.  Click here for specific reading assignment.	Continue work on prospectus of Research Paper and working bibliography due via email attachment no later than 6 PM on Sunday, February 19. Begin review for midterm exam (remember, there may be a "Paper Preview" section on the midterm based on your prospectus and working bibliography!!)

Week 6 (February 6 - 8)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	Chaucer's Canterbury Tales I: The General Prologue (Frame Narrative and Estates Satire) Required Readings (including headnotes and linked Study Guides): Background to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales:  NA 10-13, 216-18.  Review NA 15-19 (on medieval English) and 20-1 (on Middle English prosody); also consult Chaucer Reading and Pronunciation Tips (.PDF file, 2 pp., on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard; PRINT OUT if you did not already do so for unit on Troilus and Cressida).  Also consult Map of the Pilgrimage Route/Chart of the Medieval Humors (.PDF file, 2 pp. on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard; PRINT OUT and bring with you to class). Primary Text 1:  General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales: read the NA introduction (NA 218), full text in translation (CH 53-75), and assigned Middle English lines as designated on study guide (full Middle English text of the GP is found NA 218-38). Primary Text 2:  Frame Narrative:  read NA 312-13 on the Close of the Canterbury Tales; then read the Introduction (only) to the Parson's Tale and full text of Chaucer's Retraction, both in translation (CH 339-342) and in Middle English (NA 313-15). For this and all other readings from the Canterbury Tales, we are concerned primarily with the modern English translation (in the Portable Chaucer = CH). But you are ALSO expected to read through specific lines in the Middle English text as assigned on study guides (hint 1: try reading aloud! hint 2: some tapes/ CDs may be available in book store).   Please bring BOTH NA and PC with you to Canterbury Tales class meetings.	Continue work on prospectus of Research Paper and working bibliography due via email attachment no later than 6 PM on Sunday, February 19. Continue review for midterm exam (remember, there may be a "Paper Preview" section on the midterm based on your prospectus and working bibliography!!)
Day 2	As needed, wrap-up discussion of the General Prologue and the Canterbury Tales as a collection.  Chaucer's Canterbury Tales II:  The Knight's Tale and The Miller's Tale Required Background and Primary Readings (including NA headnotes and online Study Guides): The Knight's Tale, CH 76-123 (not in NA, but see the summary at NA 238);  The Miller's Tale: CH 123-143, NA 239-55 (specific lines recommended on study guide);  ENGL 252 STUDY GUIDE TO THE MILLER'S TALE, which draws specific comparisons between the two tales. Presentation (The Knight's Tale): Missy Stein Presentation (The Miller's Tale): Susie Kopecky

Week 7 (February 13 - 15 - *17*) -- Please note class meeting on FRIDAY rather than Monday of next week!
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	Chaucer's Canterbury Tales III:  The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale (Literary Confession and miniature Arthurian Romance) As needed, wrap-up discussion of the Knight's Tale and the Miller's Tale.  Required Background and Primary Readings (including NA headnotes and online Study Guides): The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale: CH 207-240; NA 256-84 (consult specific lines assigned on study guide).  Presentation: Kim Nguyen	Put finishing touches on prospectus of Research Paper and working bibliography due via email attachment no later than 6 PM on Sunday, February 19. Continue review for midterm exam (remember, there may be a "Paper Preview" section on the midterm based on your prospectus and working bibliography!!)
Day 2	Canterbury Tales IV: Beast Fable; Literary Confession and Exemplum; the close of the Canterbury Tales and Chaucer's Retraction Required Background and Primary Readings (including NA headnotes and online Study Guides):  The Nun's Priest's Tale: CH 186-206, NA 298-312 (consult specific lines assigned on study guide).  The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale: CH 316-335, NA 284-98 (consult specific lines assigned on study guide).  NA 312-13 on the close of the Canterbury Tales; the Prologue ("Introduction") (only) to the Parson's Tale and the full text of Chaucer's Retraction, both in translation (CH 339-342) and in Middle English (NA 313-15).  Presentation on The Nun Priest's Tale: Presentation on The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale: Leticia Ericson
F 2/17	MIDTERM EXAM  . . . or if the class prefers: Catch-up / review day, with midterm exam moving to Monday at usual class time (assuming a room can be arranged).

Paper Prospectus due as an email attachment no later than 6 PM on Sunday, February 19.

Week 8 (February  20 - 22)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	NO CLASS -- University Holiday (Washington's Birthday Observed); possible alternate date for Midterm exam	Work on Research paper; prospectus conferences.
Day 2	The Human Side of God I:  Medieval Lyrics Required Readings: Background:  NA 355-6 (on "Christ's Humanity"); 367-78 (headnote); Medieval Lyrics study guide; browse through the images found on my page on medieval iconography Primary texts:  all lyrics NA 368-70 and and additional Marian lyrics (online reading).

Week 9  (February 27 - 29)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	1st hour:  complete discussion of Medieval Lyrics. 2nd hour: The Human Side of God II: the Ancrene Wisse Background:  NA 9 (last line) - 10 (1st paragraph), 157-8 (headnote), 355-6 (on the humanity of Christ); PW xxix-xxxviii; Ancrene Wisse study guide; review Medieval Allegory. Primary Text: Ancrene Wisse, parts 7 and 8 (PW 110-49). Presentation: Anna Bush	Work on Research paper; prospectus conferences.
Day 2	The Human Side of God II: Women Mystics Required Readings: Background: NA 13-14, 355-6, 371-2, 383; Women Mystics study guide Primary Text:  Julian of Norwich, A Book of Showings, NA 372-82; Primary Text: Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe, NA 383-397; Supplemental (but REQUIRED) Margery Kempe readings (episodes found in NA, 7th ed., pp.371-2 and 374-7): "A Visit with Julian of Norwich" and "Examination before the Archbishop" (.PDF file, 3 pp., on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard; PRINT OUT AND BRING WITH YOU TO CLASS) Presentation (Julian of Norwich): Mariko Fuji Presentation (Margery Kempe): Matt Jackel

Week 10  (March 5 - 7)
 

	Topic and Readings	Research Assignment
Day 1	Liturgical Drama I: Mystery Plays Required Readings: Background:  NA 14 (paragraph beginning "Social, economic and literary life. . ."); introduction to Mystery Plays and headnote to The Second Shepherds' Play (NA 406-8); NA 398 (headnote to The York Play of the Crucifixion , but not the play itself):"table of contents" of the full N-Town Mystery Cycle on the last page of the .PDF file listed below; The Second Shepherds' Play study guide. Primary Text: Creation of the World and Fall of Man from the N-Town Plays (a cycle of mystery plays), ed. Douglas Sugano (Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute, 207), pp. 31-39 (.PDF file, 5 pp., on e-reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard; PRINT OUT AND BRING WITH YOU TO CLASS). Primary Text: The Second Shepherds' Play,  NA 408-35. Presentation (on the Second Shepherds' Play):	Work on Research paper.
Day 2	Liturgical Drama II:  Morality Plays Required Readings: Background: NA 14, 463 (headnote to Everyman); Everyman study guide; review  Introduction to Medieval Allegory.  Primary Text:  Everyman, NA 463-84; Presentation: Stephanie England	Work on Research paper.

In lieu of a written final exam, all students will participate in a Final Oral Exercise: a brief summary of his/her final research paper for the other members of the seminar.  This (required) final oral exercise normally takes place at Dr. Schwartz's home at our scheduled Final Exam time (this year from 4:10-7:00 PM on Monday, March 12).  Traditionally, the (required) Final Oral Exercise has been followed by an (optional, but extremely enjoyable) class dinner.

NOTE: Unless an extension has been arranged in advance, Research Papers are due, along with the original, marked up prospectus, at the time of the Final Oral Exercise (on Monday, March 12.)

Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2009

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