English 210A: Medieval and Early Modern Literature: 400 to 1600
The course will provide a lively and wide-ranging introduction to the literature of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Periods, an introduction which will attempt to place texts remote from the modern age in their social and historical contexts. We will read, discuss, and analyze some of the best-known poems of the Old and Middle English periods (including Beowulf), as well as a selection of lesser-known Old English poems; medieval romance literature, including Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The discussion of Early Modern texts will be supported by discussion of the reception of the main course texts by 16th-century authors, from Wyatt to Spenser and Shakespeare. There will be a mid-term, a second exam in Week Nine of the course (but, however, no Final during Finals Week), a major term paper, and opportunities to produce additional shorter papers for Extra Credit.
Course Texts:
Hamer, Richard, A Choice of Anglo-Saxon Verse, 2nd ed. (Faber, 2015) 2nd ed. (Faber, 2015; ISBN 9780571262588)
Heaney, Seamus, trans., Beowulf: A New Verse Trans. (dual-lang. ed.) (Norton, 2001; ISBN 0393320979 Norton, 2001)
Winny, James trans., Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Broadview, 1992; ISBN 0921149921)
Beidler, Peter, Chaucer: Canterbury Tales, rev. ed. (Bantam, 2006; ISBN 0553210823)
Early Modern Texts of the Sixteenth Century (Handouts)