Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Organization
- BTK Department of English Studies
- Code
- BMI-ANGD17-CI1aE.01
- Title
- Medieval Literature and Culture - Foundations and Perspectives? Reading Chaucer
- Usual semester
- Autumn
- ECTS
- 3
- Language
- en
- Learning outcomes
- The aim of this course is to study and understand an important part of English medieval culture and literature through the works and later reception of Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400), and to help students understand the significant role he and his works have played in English culture and literature. The seminars also give an introduction to Middle English as a language and cultural context. Close reading of medieval texts is conducted partly in the original (in short excerpts), partly in modern English translation, and the discussion in seminars will address later works as well, inspired by Chaucer, to provide a comparative aspect and address questions of reception (Shakespeare’s Troilus és Cressida; BBC One’s Canterbury Tales, 2003, etc.). A) Knowledge Awareness of the main features of Chaucer’s works and Middle English literature and an understanding of later reception/adaptations integrated into this already familiar system Confident use of language and advanced vocabulary, both in comprehension and in composition Knowledge of medieval literary and cultural trends, tendencies, and an awareness of their logical connections relevant to the topic of the seminars B) Abilities Ability to read and interpret literary texts in English, and read and interpret brief excerpts in Middle English as well Ability to learn independently, and to carry out relevant research Ability to place literary texts in cultural and historical context Ability to express themselves clearly about the topics with a correct use of English Ability to recognise the connections and links between various texts, media products or works of art and their cultural/historical contexts Ability to analyse works of art in a broader sense, applying them to our everyday lives C) Attitude Openness towards the topics, methods and opinions raised in class Accepting of opinions, even if they are contrary to their own Openness to the possibility of a variety of interpretations Striving to master various analytical methods Trying to address any use-of-English problems that may arise, and showing an openness to literary texts that may prove difficult to comprehend for a first reading Readiness to engage in constructive discussion and debate with peers and instructor D) Autonomy Ability to work independently with literary texts based on the material presented in the seminars Formulating their own opinions and contrasting them with those of their peers and instructor Carrying out independent research and formulating the results independently E) Responsibility Patient listening to and respect for informed opinions Developing educated and ethically responsible opinions, ready to communicate them in speech and writing in an academic way Maintaining a critical and open-minded approach to the material presented
- Course content
- The course helps students understand the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, while also illuminating the main trends and tendencies of 14th-century English culture and literature. Later cultural periods are also taken into account via Chaucer’s reception, focusing on Shakespeare’s works and time, plus contemporary adaptations. In the seminars we read texts by Chaucer both in Middle English excerpts and modern translation, besides some 16th- and 17th-century texts and 20th- ad 21st-century filmed adaptations. The aim of the course is to make students aware of the significant role medieval literature and especially Chaucer have played in later time periods, including our present-day world.
- Assessment method
- In-class presentation based on individual research on a given topic (25%). Active participation in readings and debate in class (15%). Research paper (2,000-3,000 words), based on individual research, to be submitted by the penultimate class, a short summary of which is presented in the last class, plus short written response on the other students’ papers (60%).
- Bibliography
- Literature (2-5 compulsory and/or recommended items): Chaucer, Geoffrey: Troylus and Criseyde, The Canterbury Tales, excerpts from other work (different editions possible, the texts used in class are from „Harvard’s Geoffrey Chaucer Website” https://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/ ) A Concise Companion to Chaucer, ed. Corinne Saunders, Oxford, Blackwell, 2006. Horobin, Simon; Smith, Jeremy. An Introduction to Middle English, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2002. William Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida (compulsory), Két nemes rokon (suggested), acritical edition, preferablyArden Shakespeare or Oxford Shakespeare, the texts used in class are from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s online, open-access edited versions Turner, Marion: The Wife of Bath, A Biography. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2023.