Prof. N. Black Fall 2004
Office: 3110 Boylan Office Hours: M, T, Th: 5-6 p.m.
Telephone: (718) 951-4275
E-mail: nblack@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Website: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/black
Comparative Medieval Literature (CL 21)
Literary texts drawn from several genres and produced in England, France, Germany, and Italy between 1100 and 1500 are the focus of this course (with some attention to related Arabic, Latin and Welsh texts). In addition to studying the aesthetic features of the texts, we will look at the way in which literature was produced and consumed: performances; the religious and political contexts; the languages; the relationships among orality, aurality, and literacy; the methods of producing, distributing, and preserving manuscripts.
In this course you will learn the following: to understand and analyze literary texts from several genres unfamiliar to readers of the twenty-first century; to respond to literature both in the context of medieval culture (artistic, social, historical) and in the context of contemporary values; to write clearly and imaginatively about literature; if your writing skills permit it, to be able to use the library to find appropriate print and electronic sources.
1. The Song of Roland, trans. F. Goldin (Norton). ISBN 0-393-09008-6.
2. Marie de France, The Lais, trans. G. Burgess and K. Busby (Penguin). ISBN 0-14-044476-9.
3. Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, trans. B. Raffel (Yale UP). ISBN 0-300-03838-0.
4. Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, trans. A. T. Hatto (Penguin). ISBN 0-14-044098-4.
5. Dante, La Vita Nuova, trans. B. Reynolds (Penguin). ISBN 0-14-044216-2.
6. Andreas Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love (Columbia UP). ISBN 0-23-107305-4
7. The Quest of the Holy Grail (Penguin). ISBN 0-14-044220-0
August 31 Introductions: the Middle Ages; reading in translation; oral composition; The Song of Roland and its relationship to the crusades; finding topics for literary analysis.
Sept. 2 The Song of Roland, pp. 51-92; further discussion of topics for literary analysis; writing about literature
Sept. 7 The Song of Roland; pp. 93-163
Sept. 9 The Song of Roland ; in-class writing (30 minutes) on a topic you choose and prepare in advance
Sept. 14 Marie de France, The Lais, pp. 41-72
Sept. 16 No class; college closed
Sept. 21 The Lais, pp. 73-126
Sept. 23 The Lais
Sept. 28 The development of lyric poetry and the concept of courtly love: troubadours, trouvères, and minnesänger (poems will be distributed in class on Sept. 23) ; typed paper due: an analysis of one of Marie de France's stories (3-5 pages)
Sept. 30 Andreas Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love, pp. 27-150
Oct. 5 Andreas Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love, pp. 151-212
Oct. 7 Introduction to Arthurian literature; Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, pp. 3-71
Oct. 12 Yvain, pp. 71-138
Oct. 14 Yvain, pp. 139-203
Oct. 19 More on the development of Arthurian literature; typed paper due: an analysis of one aspect of Yvain (3-5 pages)
Oct. 21 Quest of the Holy Grail, pp. 31-76
Oct. 26 Quest of the Holy Grail, pp. 76-134
Oct. 28 Quest of the Holy Grail, 134-207
Nov. 2 Quest of the Holy Grail, pp. 207-284
Nov. 4 In-class writing (30 minutes): close analysis of one scene from the Quest
Nov. 9 Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan, pp. 41-92
Nov. 11 Tristan, pp. 93-149
Nov. 16 Tristan, pp. 150-197
Nov. 18 Tristan, pp. 198-248
Nov. 23 Tristan, pp. 249-297
Nov. 25 No classes; Thanksgiving
Nov. 30 Dante, La Vita Nuova; pp.29-54
Dec. 2 Dante, La Vita Nuova ; pp. 54-81
Dec. 7 Dante, La Vita Nuova ; pp. 81-99
Dec. 9 Review for exam
Dec. 14 Conversion Day; follow Wednesday classes
Dec. 16 Final Examination
In order to pass the course, students are required to attend class regularly, arrive on time, and participate in class discussion. Written work will include in-class compositions, occasional quizzes, two typed papers, and a final examination.
The final grade in the course will be determined as follows:
Average of in-class themes 20%
Class participation and quizzes 20%
First paper 20%
Second paper 20%
Final examination 20%.