Admission requirements
Successful completion of Philology 1 (Middle English) or a comparable course.
Description
This course offers a survey of Middle English works that provides fascinating insight into the literature of the later Middle Ages and the complex (often conflicted) world that nurtured it. The course begins in the 1100s and explores writing in English up to about 1500. We will read and study a representative selection of Middle English literature, including lyric poetry, exciting romance, and Arthurian literature. Texts will be read in the original Middle English with the help of marginal glosses and (optionally) translations. We will also explore some of the most exciting and important debates surrounding Middle English literature and develop our digital skills through a web writing assignment. After a short lecture on the cultural and historical context of the text(s) read for that week, we will discuss new insights, and interpretations of the assigned readings in a seminar-style setting.
The final assignment is both research and career-focused, designed to help students prepare for their next steps after their studies.
Course objectives
This course is designed to strengthen students’
Proficiency in translating Middle English in various dialects
Proficiency in Middle English grammar
Abilities in interpreting representative texts from the various genres of medieval literature in their cultural-historical context
Abilities in interpreting key debates in the field of Middle English literature
Skills in oral discussion, written analysis, and web writing
Practice researching and working with secondary sources
Successful completion of the course will enable the student to write a BA thesis on a Middle English subject and to follow a course in Middle English at the MA level.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Research (independent study time)
Assessment method
Assessment
Short papers throughout the semester
Final essay
Attendance, active participation and cooperation in class
Weighing
Short papers throughout the semester: 40%
Final assignment: 50%
Attendance, active participation and cooperation in class: 10%
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
When the final grade is below 5.5, one or more of the elements (dependent on students’ final grade) will have to be retaken during the resit period.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
A short course reader, available through Leiden’s ReaderOnline site
Optional: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th edition (or other edition), 2006, Volume I or Volume A (or complete volume)
Articles and readings (available through links in the course module, on Brightspace)
Please prepare for our first class together by reading the material assigned on Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal
Remarks
Not applicable.