ENG5522 - Literary Period: the Middle Ages

Objectives:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

(1) demonstrate basic understanding of the history of the English language in the Old and Middle English periods;
(2) apply knowledge of the early history of the language to the critical examination of a range of specified texts from the Old English and Middle English periods;
(3) analyse medieval texts on the basis of an accurate and sensitive reading, informed by scholarship and up-to-date critical investigation;
(4) demonstrate awareness of the changing cultural conditions in which these texts were produced, and discuss specified texts in relation to these contexts.

Content:

Students will be introduced to Chaucer's work, making a close study of The General Prologue and several examples from The Canterbury Tales. Students will also be introduced to another major Middle English writer, the Gawain-poet. Alongside the study of topics in the early history of the language, students will also explore a range of Old and Middle English texts, including some Anglo-Saxon poetry, and examples of early and later Middle English prose and poetry. Careful attention will be given to establishing an appropriate balance between challenge and support in providing opportunities for students to read some texts and parts of texts in Old and Middle English.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures/seminars
Contact hours 40
Number of groups 2

Assessment:

001 Assessed Essay 1x2000 words (end of sem 1) 50%
002 Unseen paper 1x2 hours (end of sem 2) 50%
003 Assessed Essay 1x2000 words (end of sem 1) 100%


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