English 10A-3 - Fall, 2015

Literatures in English I: to 1700

Class Information

Instructor: Vernon, Matthew
CRN: 52280
Time: MWF 11:00-11:50
Location: 105 Olson

Description

Hybrids and Adaptations

The goal of this class is to prepare you for advanced literary study. Over the course of the quarter you will gain some perspective on the development of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to 1700. To do so we will be thinking about the ongoing conversation among writers over the course of hundreds of years about the expansion of British power, the adaptation of writing from surrounding countries, the formation of a literary genealogy, and the process of conversion to Christianity. However, underpinning the content of this course is the parallel mission of building the sorts of skills you will need to successfully navigate a humanities major: clarity of written and oral expression, close reading, critical analysis, discussion, collaborative work and management of large reading assignments. The course will be writing and discussion-intensive to help build these abilities.

Grading

Midterm, Final Exam, Class Discussion, Weekly Questions

Texts

Short packet of reading or online reading
The History of the Kings of Britain, Monmouth (Thorpe-Tanslator)
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, Mandeville (Moseley-Translator)
Egil's Saga, Scudder (Translator)
Beowulf, Bilingual Edition, Heaney (Translator)
Arthurian Romances, Chretien de Troyes
Othello (Arden Shakespeare), Shakespeare
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Armitage
Three Middle English Charlemagne Romances: The Sultan of Babylon, the Siege of Milan, and the Tale of Ralph the Collier, Lupack
The History and Topography of Ireland, Gerald of Wales
Poetry of John Donne
A Midsummer Night’s Dream