English 240 - Winter, 2014

Medieval Literature

Class Information

Instructor: Vernon, Matthew
CRN: 84146
Time: M 12:10-3:00
Location: 120 Voorhies
Breadth: Earlier British
Focus: Genre

Description

The Uses of Medieval Romance
In the post 9-11 period there has been a resurgence of critical interest in medieval romance. Medieval scholars have identified romance’s narratives of violence, nation building and east-west cultural encounters as demanding renewed attention. This course will consider the viability of this new contextualization of medieval writing within the frames of post-colonial and critical race theory as well as in terms of militarization. More importantly, we will consider the recent turn in the study of medieval romance as one of several moments of refocusing on the interpretive power contained within medieval romance. We will discuss some of these other moments, placing special emphasis on how writers in the nineteenth century re-imagined the Middle Ages to achieve some sense of political and social reconciliation after the Civil War.

Texts

 The History and Topography of Ireland, Gerald of Wales
The Conquest of Ireland, Gerald of Wales
Njal’s Saga
The History of the Kings of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth
Ivanhoe, Walter Scott
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Othello, Shakespeare
The House Behind the Cedars, Chesnutt
Yvain, Cretien de Troyes
Ywain and Gawain
Baudolino, Umberto Eco
Travels, Mandeville
King Horn