Medieval Literature

AY2015/2016 Semester 2

This is a comprehensive introduction to English literature from its Anglo-Saxon beginnings to the end of the fifteenth century. Spanning a period of just under 800 years, medieval English literature embraces an astonishing variety of genres and subjects, from the elevated tragedy of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde to the knockabout farce of 'A Gest of Robyn Hode.' In exploring this diversity, we will question the traditional view of the Middle Ages as a monolithic 'Age of Faith' that can be neatly opposed to our own modernity. The course thus aims to consider early English literature in light of important changes during the Middle Ages, including the development of individualism, the growth of political protest and satire, the decline of feudalism, and the increasingly prominent role of popular culture. Selected texts will be read in Middle English with the help of a glossary; no experience reading Old or Middle English is required.