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This is a comparative literature course introducing major texts of
the medieval period--roughly A. D. 400 - 1450. Augustine's Confessions,
a spiritual autobiography, will provide the point of departure for exploring
later medieval writings. The chief goal of the course is to feel
comfortable interpreting works from the medieval period. We will
read an epic battle poem (The Song of Roland), letters (exchanged
between Abelard and Heloise), short romances (of Marie de France), part
of a Christian epic (Dante's Inferno), short stories on various
subjects (Boccaccio's Decameron), and tales of romance (selections
from Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur). We will augment our
study of medieval literature and culture with PowerPoint slide shows on
selected topics, including "Everyday Life in the Middle Ages," "The Medieval
Book," "The Medieval Church," "Death and Judgment," and many others that
will provide windows into a fascinating, often challenging earlier time.
Our course will make use of a new technology called WebCT, which requires
that students maintain their UNIX accounts and to log in frequently.
Start at
http://www.udel.edu/webct/help/studentmanual.html The format of the class will be lectures plus discussion, with usually more discussion than lecture. Requirements will include class discussion, weekly Friday quizzes, a creative project, a 4-5 page paper, and a final exam offered during the regularly-scheduled time in exam week. |