Anglo-Saxon

and

Middle English

Literature

600-1400 anno domini

ENG 310 - Fall 2005

steve phelan

TEXTS:

Abrams, M. H. et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Volume I: The Middle Ages.

Gardner, John. Grendel.

GOALS OF THE COURSE:

1. To refine and practice the techniques of literary analysis and convert careful reading into written critical responses. This is the part of the course which satisfies the Literature (L) requirement and is assessed via the worksheets, tests, and the major paper.
2. To provide a solid survey of the early periods of British literature.
3. To give an overview of the history and development of the English language.
4. To build an appreciation of the difference between oral and literate culture.
5. To create an understanding in depth of the force of an historical period of culture upon its literary art.
6. To explore the quintessence of the medieval period as well as its timelessness through comparisons to the modern and postmodern eras.
7. To enjoy fine poetry, superb stories, and each other’s good cheer.

SEMINAR FORMAT:

Students should come prepared to talk about the text and the techniques of literary analysis which have informed their reading and interpretation of it. Discussion with each text will cover all these techniques, but for the sake of instruction, you will be asked to present a worksheet of data respecting a particular technique of analysis for each major text. The capitalized terms in the syllabus indicate both the kind of analysis to be done and the date when the worksheets are due (see my web site for descriptions of these Techniques of Literary Analysis and samples to guide your own presentation). Gather the evidence from the text first and then write a one-page focus paper presenting your conclusions from the evidence and your interpretation of the text as a whole. Your responses do not have to be appreciative or approving, but may indeed present a spoof of the historical text from your own contemporary perspective.

MAJOR PAPER: “What the World Needs Now…”

Following the example of John Gardner in Grendel, choose some feature of the Anglo-Saxon or Late Medieval culture that is prominent in a particular major text or author we have read and at the same time important to your understanding of the new millennium and/or the modern era. This may be by contrast or by comparison. For example, you might choose an Anglo-Saxon or Late Medieval concept or practice such as: loyalty, boasting, materialism, slavery, courage, fate, gift-giving, courtesy, chivalry, holy women, holy war, or friendship (to name but a few). Such an idea might grow out of the response sheets. When you have settled on a good idea, come talk to me and let me help with the research.

The paper should be 6-10 pages, double-spaced, using MLA documentation and a bibliography of works consulted. ALL DRAFTS, NOTES FOR RESEARCH, AND THE FINAL FAIR COPY SHOULD BE HANDED IN FRIDAY, November 11, by 4:00 pm in my office. Late papers will be docked one grade level (e.g., an A- becomes a B+) and will be due the following week, Friday, Nov. 18, at 4 pm. See my web site for criteria for a good paper and for editorial correction symbols.

GRADE FORMULA:

Participation, performances, and worksheet responses: 40%

Examinations: midterm 10% and final 25%

Major paper: 25%

Credit in the course requires satisfactory completion of all three parts of the grade formula.

ATTENDANCE:

Less than 90% attendance is grounds for failure. Kindly let me know (preferably in advance) if you are unable to attend. You are in jeopardy as soon as you have more than three absences, so the student who misses three classes will, if prudent, come and negotiate with me about avoiding failure by some form of amendment, some compensatory project, or the like..

Week	Date	Reading Assignments and Classroom Activities
1)	Aug. 23	Introductions: "The Wife's Lament"
	Aug. 25	Norton: The Anglo-Saxon Culture and Language, pp 1-22
		slides of the Sutton Hoo ship burial
2)	Aug. 30	"Caedmon's Hymn" and "Genesis" (chaps. 1-4 from any Bible text)
	S. 1	"The Wanderer" and "The Dream of the Rood”
	***	CULTURAL CONTEXT: (using all the readings so far and the slides)
3)	S. 6	Beowulf (lines 1-835)
	S. 8	Beowulf (lines 836-1798)
4)	S. 13	Beowulf (lines 1799-3182)
	S. 14	Film version: showing time and place to be announced
	S. 15	Summary of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon values
	***	STRUCTURE: work either from plot outline or patterns of opposition
5)	S. 20	Grendel (chap. 1-6)
	S. 22	rest of the novel (7-12)
	***	GENRE: focus on the elements of genre in the book vs the epic
7)	S. 27	midterm: (covers everything Anglo-Saxon)
	S. 29	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight I
8)	O. 4	SGGK II-III: the rules of courtly love
	O. 6	SGGK IV: the ending of the tale
	***	SETTING, IMAGERY, or SYMBOLISM
9)	O. 11	Chaucer: an introduction to Middle English
	***	CHAUCER’S PROSODY: in class workshop (each student assigned a portrait to read)
	O. 13	The General Prologue and portraits:
10)	O. 18	The General Prologue with portraits continued
	O. 20	The Miller's Tale
11)	O. 25	The Wife of Bath's Prologue
	O. 27	The Wife of Bath's Tale:
	***	CHARACTER or POINT OF VIEW
12)	N. 1	The Pardoner's Tale:
	N. 3	The Nun's Priest's Tale
		The Parson and Chaucer’s Retraction (in brief)
13)	N. 8	Introduction to Medieval Drama and to Everyman
		Assignments given for the last two weeks
	N. 10	No class.
	N. 11	Major Paper Due: at 4:00 pm in my office
14)	N. 15	a contemporary performance of the play
	N. 17	Introduction to Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur
15)	N. 22	a film version of the same selected by the students
	N. 24	Deo Gratias
16)	Nov. 29	Introduction to Julian of Norwich: Revelations (a performance)
	Dec. 1	Review for the final examination
17	Dec. 8	Final exam. 11 am to 1 pm (covers the whole course, with emphasis on knowledge of the two periods)

Professor Steve Phelan

Office: Carnegie 103

407-646-2409 (office + voicemail)

phelan@rollins.edu (email)

web site: http://fox.rollins.edu/~phelan/

CONFERENCES AND INFORMATION:

Please come to see me in my office at any time. My office hours and class schedule are on my web site. In addition you will find a wealth of information respecting the basic concepts of the course, my own critical concepts, and my criteria for good papers. Just click on CONCEPTS on my home page.