Course syllabus

 

 

SEMESTER 2, 2017

 

Middle English Literature: Chaucer and Romance

 

Course Information 2017

 

Lecture times:      Tuesday, 2.00-3.00 p.m. (Arts 1, Rm. 220)

                              Thursday, 3.00-4.00 p.m. (Arts 1, Rm. 220)

 

Tutorial times:       Friday, 10.00-11.00 a.m. (Commerce A, Rm G17)

 

Teaching Staff:       Roger Nicholson (Convenor)

Contact Details:      Arts 1, 601; ph. 737599 ext 87090

                                 r.nicholson@auckland.ac.nz

Office Hours:          Friday, 11.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.                  

                            

Course delivery format

2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial

 

Summary Course Description              

An introduction to medieval narrative centred on the tales of Geoffrey Chaucer, the greatest English poet of the Fourteenth Century and one of the finest narrative poets in the language. Along with the Chaucer tales, we study a number of contemporary short romances, mostly anonymous, that display the narrative possibilities of the genre, the typical interest in adventure and passion, as well as the textual practices employed by poets in a manuscript or performance culture. The selection of tales by Chaucer includes examples of romances that are both like and different from the anonymous romances, but, exceptionally, also represent a sustained effort to explore the problematic relationships of love and marriage.

 

Course outcomes

A student who successfully completes this course will have the opportunity to develop the following:

• Sound close reading skills
• Ability to engage with multiple genres
• Ability to think critically about texts
• Ability to deal with theoretical concepts used in the course
• Ability to exchange, discuss and defend ideas and opinion

Note:  Above all, students can expect to become confident readers of medieval English literary texts, especially Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, but also the romances that circulated in written form, although commonly composed for listeners.  This confidence will be based in knowledge of medieval English language and a sure understanding of the social and cultural contexts within which the literature played a role.  The course supports wider studies in English literature, particularly advanced study in the literature of the medieval and early modern periods.

 

ENGLISH 359 satisfies the historical requirement for an English major.

 

Weekly Topics

(For full schedule, including tutorials, see Files)

Week Beginning Topics           1 July 24 1.      Course Intro: Approaching Chaucer     2.      Chaucer’s introduction to his Canterbury ‘feeste’:   the General Prologue 2 July 31 1.      Love in lyric and romance       2.      Sir Orfeo 3 August 7 1.      Sir Orfeo       2.      Lay Le Freine 4 August 14 1.      Chaucer: The Wife of Bath’s Prologue       2.      The Wife of Bath’s Prologue 5 August 21 1.      The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale       2.      The Wife of Bath’s Tale 6 August 28 1.      The Wife of Bath’s Tale + Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell       2.    Class Test SEMESTER BREAK: 2-17 SEPTEMBER 7 September 18 1.      Essay Discussion     2.      Chaucer: The Clerk’s Tale 8 September 25 1.      The Clerk’s Tale       2.      The Merchant’s Tale     9 October 2 1.      The Merchant’s Tale       2.      The Merchant’s Tale    October 9 1.      Sir Launfal         2.      Sir Launfal     11 October 16 1.      Chaucer: The Franklin’s Tale       2.      The Franklin’s Tale 12 October 23 1.      The Franklin’s Tale     2.      Last things: “My tale is at an ende” Conclusions/Revision/Exam Prep

 

Prescribed Texts:

Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales, Fifteen Tales and the General Prologue, ed. V. A. Kolve and Glending Olson  (Norton Critical Editions)

Middle English Verse Romances, ed. D.B. Sands (University of Exeter Press, Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies)

Other texts will be supplied by the Department of English as needed.

 

Workload:

The University of Auckland's expectation on 15-point courses is that students will spend 10 hours per week on the course. Students manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Students attend two hours of lectures each week and participate in a one-hour tutorial from Week 2 of semester. This leaves seven hours per week outside the classroom to prepare for tutorials, assignments and the exam.

 

 

Assessment Information

 

Coursework (50%)

--  Tutorial exercises (10%)

 --  Class Test  (10%)

                1 September

--  Essay  (30%)

                13 October

 

Final Examination (50%)

--  Translation and Comment

--  2 essays

 

Restrictions on Duplication of Material

In the examination, you must not repeat discussion of any text selected for discussion in the coursework essay.

  

Requirements for the presentation of coursework.

Tutorial exercises and the class test do not require formal presentation.

The essay is a formal academic exercise and does require proper referencing and a bibliography. Students of English are encouraged to follow the Chicago Style guide—see the Student Learning Centre’s ‘Referencite’ for basic information.

            http://www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/quick.php

Students must also submit an electronic copy of each assignment as a single document to turnitin.

(For information on how to use turnitin, go to turnitin.com or access via the Library’s ‘Learn’ website: Learn/databases/T/turnitin)

  

Essay Extension Policy

The English Department requires the timely submission of all coursework.

If you are unable to hand in an assignment by the due date, you must put your case for an extension to the convenor or tutor concerned; if an extension is granted, you must attach to your submitted essay EITHER an Extension Request Form bearing the new submission date and signature of the staff member, OR a document such as an email from the staff member. Extensions will only be granted for compelling reasons, such as illness, or other unforeseen emergencies, and a Doctor’s certificate (or equivalent) must be provided to the staff member concerned. An extension must be requested in advance of the due date for the assignment, unless there is a genuine cause preventing this, in which case the extension should be sought as soon as is practicable after the due date. Any work handed in late without an extension will not be marked.