Admission requirements
Completion of Philology 1 and 2 or comparable courses.
Description
This course builds on Philology 1 and Philology 2. It course offers a survey of Medieval English literature (7th-15th centuries) that provides a fascinating insight into the imaginary world of the English Middle Ages. Texts that are read and discussed include Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon, The Dream of the Rood, The Land of Cokaygne, Dame Sirith and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The earliest texts are read in translation, the later texts are read with the help of a glossary; all in combination with background literature. As such, students will acquire a deeper insight into a broad range of aspects of Medieval English culture which have not yet, or only cursorily, been studied.
Course objectives
Abilities in interpreting representative texts from the various genres of medieval literature in their cultural-historical context
familiarity of the various genres and methods of interpretation
Skills in oral discussion
Practice with secondary sources
Successful completion of the course will enable the student to follow a third-year course on Old or Middle English.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Course Load
5 EC = 140 hours
time devoted to seminars: 26 hours.
time for studying the compulsory literature: 80 hours.
time to prepare for the exam and/or write a paper (including reading / research): 34 hours.
Assessment method
Written examination with essay questions.
If the final grade is 5 or less students may resit the exam.
Attendance is compulsory. Unauthorized absence will mean that you cannot take part in the relevant exam(s).
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used to provide students with an overview of current affairs, as well as specific information about (components of) the course.
Reading list
Elaine Treharne, ed., Old and Middle English c. 890 – c. 1400: An Anthology, Third Edition, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
- David F. Johnson & Elaine Treharne, eds., Readings in Medieval Texts. Interpreting Old and Middle English Literature, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
Registration
Enrollement trough uSis is mandatory. If you have any questions, please contact the departmental office, tel. 071 5272144 or osz-oa-eyckhof@humleidenuniv.nl.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte via: www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/alacarte
Registration Contractonderwijs via: http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/contractonderwijs/
Contact
English Language and Culture student administration, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102C. Tel. 071 5272144; .osz-oa-eyckhof@humleidenuniv.nl..
Coordinator of studies: Ms T.D. Obbens, MA, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 103C.
Remarks
Students are expected to be prepared right from week 1. The work for week 1 is to be found in Blackboard.