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, Ancrene Wisse, Sir Orfeo and Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur. 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.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA English website
Mode of instruction
Combination of lectures and seminars
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
Assessment
1) A 2-hour written mid-term exam, with a short translation, short open questions and essay questions, on the material of Block III.
2) A 2-hour end-of-term exam, with a short translation, short open questions and essay questions, on the material of Block IV.
*3) Preparation and participation within the course, by submitting the weekly homework assignments via BlackBoard.
Weighing
Element 1) 45%
Element 2) 45%
Element 3) 10%
Resit
When the final grade is 5.49 or lower, one or more of the exams (elements 1 and 2) will have to be retaken during the resit period. There is no resit for preparation and participation (element 3).
Exam review
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Attendance
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than three tutorials means that students will be excluded from taking the exam (or essay or other assignments) and resits. Consequently, the course cannot be completed during that particular academic year. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
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.
Reader
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Students other than BA English language and culture studies need permission from the coordinator of studies before enrolling.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte
Registration (Contractonderwijs](http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/contractonderwijs/)
Contact
Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.
Remarks
Students are expected to be prepared right from week 1. The work for week 1 is to be found in Blackboard.