Prof. N. Black

Fall 2005

Office: 3110 Boylan; Office Hours: T, Th: 2-3 and 5-6 p.m.; Telephone: (718) 951-4275

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.

Required Texts

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, Arthurian Romances (Penguin). ISBN 0-14-044521-8.

4. The Death of King Arthur, trans. James Cable (Penguin). ISBN 0-14-044255-3.

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. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, trans. W. S. Merwin (Knopf). ISBN 0-375-70992-4.

8. Xeroxed packet from Far Better Copy Center.

Schedule of Assigned Readings

Sept. 1	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. 8	The Song of Roland, pp. 51-163; further discussion of topics for literary analysis; writing about literature
Sept. 15	Marie de France, The Lais, pp. 41-126
Sept. 22	The development of lyric poetry and the concept of courtly love: troubadours, trouvères, and minnesänger (poems in packet from Far Better Copy Center); first paper due: an analysis of one of Marie de France's stories (3-5 pages)
Sept. 29	Andreas Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love, pp. 27-212
Oct. 6	Introduction to Arthurian literature; Chrétien de Troyes, “The Knight with the Lion (Yvain),” pp. 295-380, in Arthurian Romances
Oct. 13	No class.
Oct. 20	“Erec and Enide,” pp. 37-122, in Arthurian Romances
Oct. 27	More on the development of Arthurian literature; second paper due: an analysis of one aspect of “Yvain” or “Erec and Enide” (3-5 pages)
Nov. 3	The Death of King Arthur, pp. 23-125
Nov. 10	The Death of King Arthur, pp. 125-235
Nov. 17	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 3-171
Nov. 24	No class (Thanksgiving)
Dec. 1	Concluding discussion of SGGK; third paper due: an analysis of one aspect of SGGK
Dec. 8	Dante, La Vita Nuova ; pp. 29-81
Dec. 15	Dante, La Vita Nuova ; pp. 81-99
Dec. 22	Final Examination

Requirements

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:

Class participation and quizzes 20%

First paper 20%

Second paper 20%

Third paper 20%

Final examination 20%.