Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module introduces students to medieval literature, 1100-1500. This period saw the expansion of myths such as that of King Arthur and the rise of authors such as Chaucer, professed Father of English literature. But despite its seeming ‘Englishness’, the culture of the period was a melting pot of languages and traditions from home and abroad, brought by travellers exploring new worlds, immigrants travelling to the British Isles, and the multicultural influences of Old English literature. The period saw numerous wars, the Black Death, the growth of political and religious dissent, the technological innovation of print, and the expansion of literacy and scientific enquiry. Authors were prompted to ask deep questions about the nature of the world, of the self, and of love.

The literature of this period has had immeasurable influence on centuries of texts that have come after it. Through close textual analysis, students will develop an understanding of medieval literary conventions, thematic approaches, and stylistic innovations while gaining an appreciation for the cultural, social, and historical contexts that helped shape these texts. Students will also investigate the continuing legacy of medieval literature, its influence on contemporary scholarship, popular culture, and discourse and, given its deeply misunderstood multiculturalism and diversity, its relevance to modern concerns such as race, gender, class, and religion.

Outline Of Syllabus

The texts studied in this module provide a broad survey of Middle English literature encompassing a diverse range of themes and genres. Students will engage with alliterative and lyric poetry, works that may include tales of chivalry, courtly love, religious devotion, travel narratives, dream visions, and plays.

The course will study the texts in their original Middle English language, with workshops designed to equip students with the skills necessary to read these texts themselves. Modern editions will be employed to facilitate understanding and interpretation, and students will gain a nuanced understanding of the ways in which editions present texts, and the complexities of medieval textual transmission.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module students should:
- have gained knowledge of a wide range of medieval texts
- be aware of different theoretical, conceptual, and contextual approaches to reading medieval literature
- have an awareness of the ways in which editions shape our understanding of texts

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:
- read Middle English texts in the original to a high standard
- analyse medieval texts carefully using suitable approaches
- support claims about medieval texts with appropriate sources in a clear and accessible manner
- critically compare and contrast different texts and contexts

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce students to the contexts of the texts they will study in the module, including linguistic and literary background. They will include time for the language work necessary for reading Middle English (with which students are unfamiliar).

Workshops develop the topics of the lectures and enable the practice of skills, namely close textual analysis of literature in Middle English, critical thinking, oral, written, and interpersonal communication, and the synthesis and presentation of textual material.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Written Exercise 1 (mid-module, formative): students will produce a student edition of a passage of Middle English text. This is a close reading, translation, and commentary on that passage.

Essay 1 (end-of-semester, summative; 3000 words, 100%): students will write a comparative, thematic piece on at least two different Middle English texts.

The mid-module exercise will give students a base on which to build their understanding of Middle English poetics. They will use this understanding in their end-of-semester essay to provide detailed textual evidence for a broader thematic analysis. The mixed modes of assessment, combining close reading and comparative/contextual analysis, ensure good coverage of the selected texts and encourage students to focus on detailed aspects of the module materials and topics, connecting their ideas with the module's broader themes.

General Notes

N/A