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Medieval Cultural and Literary Expression

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Learning Outcomes  showclose

Course Requirements  showclose

• Unit 1
• Unit 2
• Unit 3
• Final Exam
• All Units

Unit Outline show close

Unit 1: Anglo-Saxon England and Old English Poetry  

We will begin this unit with an overview of the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England and the conversion of the island to Christianity in the 6^thand 7^thCenturies, exploring how and why these developments contributed to the distinctive forms, themes, and tropes that so many of the literary works from this period share.  We will study Old English poetic conventions with particular care, learning to recognize the alliterative line and appreciate the genre’s relationship to the Anglo-Saxon oral tradition.

Unit 1 Time Advisory   show close


Unit 1 Learning Outcomes   show close


1.1 Defining “the Middle Ages” and an Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England  

1.1.1 The Departure of the Romans and Occupation by the Anglo-Saxons  

• Reading: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: “Introduction to the Middle Ages”; Regia Anglorum’s “A Brief History of Anglo-Saxon England”; Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Diagram of Old, Middle, Modern English”

  Link: The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s "Introduction to The Middle Ages"(HTML); Regia Anglorum’s "A Brief History of Anglo-Saxon England"(HTML); Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Diagram of Old, Middle, Modern English”(PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read both The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s “Introduction to the Middle Ages” and Regia Anglorum’s “A Brief History of Anglo-Saxon England” for an overview of the period, focusing on the start of the Middle Ages with the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons.  Also, look at Dr. Wheeler’s visual history of the English language for an overview of the evolution from Old to Middle English; throughout the course, you may wish to look over his diagram again for a refresher on the development of the language.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's diagram is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original version of Dr. Wheeler's diagram can be found here (HTML).  Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.

  See a broken link? Please let us know!

• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Introduction to Old English” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Introduction to Old English”Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the entire lecture, which provides an excellent overview of the period.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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1.1.2 The Spread of Christianity, the Impact of Religion, and Literacy  

• Reading: Regia Anglorum’s “The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Church”; Brown University: Decameron Web’s “Medieval Attitudes toward Literacy”

  Link: Regia Anglorum’s "The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Church"(HTML);
  Brown University: Decameron Web’s “Medieval Attitudes toward Literature”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the essay on “The Origins of the Anglo-Saxon Church” for more information on the development, structure, and importance of the Medieval Church.  Then, read “Medieval Attitudes toward Literature” for an introduction to the function of literature within the Middle Ages.  Also, note the emphasis on the relationship between literature and religion in this essay.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Arizona State University: Dr. Andrew Barnes’s “Background on the Middle Ages, Part I” and “Background on the Middle Ages, Part II” Lectures

  Links: iTunesU: Arizona State University: Dr. Andrew Barnes’s "Background on the Middle Ages, Part I"and "Background on the Middle Ages, Part II"(iTunesU)
   
  Instructions: Please listen from about minute 17:30 to 30:00 of “Background on the Middle Ages, Part I.”  Also, please listen from about minute 0:30 to 21:00 of “Background on the Middle Ages, Part II.”  These two lectures provide an excellent overview of medieval religion.
   
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1.1.3 Anglo-Saxon Oral Tradition and Germanic Values  

• Reading: Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Anglo-Saxon Culture” and Regia Anglorum’s “Thorvald the Scop"

  Link: Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Anglo-Saxon Culture” (PDF) and Regia Anglorum’s “Thorvald the Scop" (HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read all of Dr. Delahoyde’s review of “Anglo-Saxon Culture,” but focus specifically on the section titled “Language and Style” for context on oral tradition.  Then, read “Thorvald the Scop” for an overview of the role of “scops,” or professional storytellers, in the Medieval Ages.
   
  Terms of Use: The linked material above has been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Delahoyde, and can be viewed in its original form here.  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder. 

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1.1.4 The World of Bede  

• Reading: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “The Age of Bede”; Catholic Encyclopedia entry on “The Venerable Bede”; Excerpt from Bede’s Conversion of England

  Link: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’sversion of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “The Age of Bede”(HTML); Catholic Encyclopedia entry on “The Venerable Bede” (PDF); Excerpt from Bede’s Conversion of England (PDF)
   
  Instructions: First read the chapter titled “The Age of Bede” from Muhlberger’s Medieval England.  Then, please read the Catholic Encyclopedia entry of “The Venerable Bede” for a basic introduction to the historical figure, as well as his role in the history of the Medieval Church.  Then, read Bede’s Conversion of England, which provides Bede’s own reflection on significant events of his time.
   
  Terms of Use: The above materials "Conversion of England" are available for viewing in the Public Domain. The article "The Venerable Bede" is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0(HTML).  It is attributed to (Catholic Encyclopedia) and the original version can be found {here}(HTML). Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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1.1.5 Blend of Oral-Formulaic Verse and Christian Values in “Caedmon’s Hymn”  

• Reading: Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book IV; Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “Bede’s Account of the Poet Caedmon”

  Link: Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation (PDF);  “Bede’s Account of the Poet Caedmon” (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read all of Chapter XXIV from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, which provides the full text of “Caedmon’s Hymn.”  Also, please read the essays titled “Introduction to the Text” and “The Miracle of Caedmon” from “Bede’s Account of the Poet Caedmon.” 
  
  Note on the text: In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, we find the earliest extant Old English poem, “Caedmon’s Hymn,” written in an oral, formulaic style and featuring Christian themes.   
   
  Terms of Use: "Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. The copyright for "Bede's Account of the Poet Caedmon" is held by the English faculty at Oxford University and permission has been given for educational uses.  The license information can be found here (HTML). The original file can be found here (HTML).

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• Web Media: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.’s audio version of “Caedmon's Hymn”

  Link: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.’s audio version of “Caedmon's Hymn” (Flash)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the entire audio file title “Caedmon’s Hymn” to acquire a sense of the sound of early English.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.    

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• Reading: The Saylor Foundation's "Blend of Oral-Formulaic Verse and Christian Values in “Caedmon’s Hymn”

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "Blend of Oral-Formulaic Verse and Christian Values in “Caedmon’s Hymn" (PDF)
  
  Instructions: Please complete this reading about Caedmon's Hymn.

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1.2 Old English Poetry and the Oral Tradition  

• Reading: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “Early English Society”; PBS: L. Michael White’s “Importance of the Oral Tradition”

  Links:The ORB: Online Reference Book for MedievalStudies’sversion of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “Early English Society”(HTML); PBS: L. Michael White’s “Importance of the Oral Tradition”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the chapter from Medieval England titled “Early English Society.”  As you read this, please pay attention to the mentions of literacy within the Church at this time.  Also read Professor L. Michael White’s (University of Texas at Austin) essay for emphasis on the importance of oral tradition in the transmission of the Church’s ideas.
   
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1.2.1 The (Non)Relationship between the Church and Oral Tradition  

1.2.2 The Heroic Code and Kinship, or the Comitatus Ethic, in Germanic Culture  

• Reading: Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”; University of Central Arkansas: excerpts from Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s translations of The Seafarer and The Wanderer

  Link: Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions” (PDF); University of Central Arkansas: excerpts from Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s translations of The Seafarer (PDF) and The Wanderer (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read the definitions of “comitatus,” “hlaford,” and “thegns” from Dr. Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions.”  These terms should provide basic information about the Comitatus ethic as it operated in Anglo-Saxon culture.  Once familiar with these terms, please read lines 14-16 only from “The Seafarer” and lines 19-29 only from “The Wanderer,” both of which provide literary examples of the relationships formed by theComitatus ethic.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).  The materials above "The Sefarer" and "The Wanderer" have been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Jonathan Glenn, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML) and here (HTML) respectively.  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.

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1.2.3 The Basics of Old English Prosody and a Review of Poetic Scansion  

• Reading: Western Michigan University: Dr. Peter S. Baker’s The Electronic Introduction to Old English

  Link: Western Michigan University: Dr. Peter S. Baker’s The Electronic Introduction to Old English(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please look closely over Dr. Baker’s “Introduction to Old English,” and pay special attention to these chapters: Chapter 1. Anglo-Saxons and Their Language; Chapter 2. Pronunciation; Chapter 12. Word-Order; and Chapter 13. Meter.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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1.2.4 Thematic and Formal Elements in Old English Poetry  

• Reading: University of Central Arkansas: Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s translations of excerpts from The Wanderer and The Battle of Maldon; Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “Wanderer” and “The Battle of Maldon”

  Link: University of Central Arkansas: Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s translations of excerpts from The Wanderer and The Battle of Maldon; Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “Wanderer”and “The Battle of Maldon”(HTML)
  
  Instructions: Read Dr. Glenn’s translation of an excerpt from The Battle of Maldon in its entirety.  From Old English Literature’s “The Wanderer,” read the essays titled “Introduction to the Poem,” “Criticism,” and “Synopsis of the Poem.” You may access these essays by clicking on “Context” in the navigation bar at the top of the webpage. Also, from Old English Literature’s “The Battle of Maldon,” read the “Introduction to the Poem,” “The History,” “The Battle,” and “The Date of the Poem.”  You may access these essays by clicking on “Context” in the navigation bar at the top of the webpage. These quite short essays on both poems should enrich your understanding of the poems.
   
  Note on the texts:  Like many Old English poems, The Wanderer is elegiac in tone and structurally complex.  It was preserved in the Exeter Book (c. 975), the largest surviving collection of Old English poetry. What we now call The Battle of Maldon is a fragment of what seems to have been a much longer poem.  It is an excellent example of the Comitatus ethos.
   
  Terms of Use: The materials above "The Wanderer" and "The Battle of Maldon" have been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Jonathan Glenn, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML) and here (HTML) respectively.  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.

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• Web Media: The Battle of Maldon website’s “Site Images”

  Link: The Battle of Maldon website’s “Site Images”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Click on “Site Images” in the list of contents on the left side of the webpage. Please look at the pictures linked here for a visual of the site of the Battle of Maldon.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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1.3 Beowulf  

1.3.1 Origins, Context, and Significance  

• Reading: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: "The Linguistic and Literary Contexts of Beowulf”; The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s version of "Seamus Heaney on Beowulf"; Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “Beowulf”

  Link: The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s "The Linguistic and Literary Contexts of Beowulf"(HTML); The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s version of "Seamus Heaney on Beowulf"(HTML); Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “Beowulf” (PDF)
   
  Instructions:  Read the essay on “The Linguistic and Literary Contexts of Beowulf” for an introduction to the poem.  Please also read Seamus Heaney’s introduction to his translation of Beowulf, which provides an excellent overview of the literary and historical elements found in the poem.  Next, read the short essays titled “Introduction to the Poem,” “Synopsis of the Poem,” and “The Beowulf Manuscript” from Old English Literature's "Beowulf" for a bit more information on the context and history of the poem. 
   
  Terms of Use: The copyright for "Beowulf" is held by the English faculty at Oxford University and permission has been given for educational use.  The license information can be found here (HTML). The original file can be found here (HTML). Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the web pages above.

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1.3.2 The Mechanics of Beowulf: Introduction of the Kenning and Identification of Other Old English Poetry Elements  

• Reading: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”; Western Michigan University: Dr. Peter S. Baker’s Electronic Introduction to Old English

  Links: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions” (PDF); Western Michigan University: Dr. Peter S. Baker’s Electronic Introduction to Old English (HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please look at the definitions for “alliteration,” “epic,” “kenning,” “litotes,” “meiosis,” “wergild,” and “wyrd” found on Dr. Wheeler’s index of important “Literary Terms and Definitions.”  All of these terms are importance poetic devices or concepts that are integral to an understanding of Beowulf.  Next, please look again at Dr. Baker’s “Introduction to Old English,” this time with a particular focus on the chapters titled “Pronunciation,” “Concord” “Word-Order,” and “Poetic Style.”  As you read these sections, please take note of Dr. Baker’s specific use of examples from Beowulf to demonstrate his points.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).  Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.

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1.3.3 Beowulf Alive: Audio and Visual Introduction to the Poem  

• Web Media: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Seamus Heaney’s audio version of Beowulf as well as The Sutton Hoo Society’s “Picture Gallery”

  Link: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Seamus Heaney’s audio version of Beowulf(Flash) as well as The Sutton Hoo Society’s “Picture Gallery”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to all the available readings of Beowulf linked here, including the “Prologue,” “The Fight with Grendel,” “The Last Survivor’s Speech,” and “Beowulf’s Funeral.”  Also, please look through the pictures from The Sutton Hoo Society’s website, the site of the Beowulf epic.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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1.3.4 Thematic, Generic, and Formal Elements of Beowulf  

• Reading: Center for Studies in Oral Tradition’s "First Word: What Is Oral Poetry?” and "Beowulf"

  Link: Center for Studies in Oral Tradition’s "First Word: What Is Oral Poetry?"(HTML) and Beowulf (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read the short essay “First Word: What Is Oral Poetry?,” which provides a brief example of how to read a short passage from Beowulf.  Then, please read the entire text of Beowulf.
   
  Note on the text: Beowulf is the oldest of the epic poems written in English, although scholars disagree on the date of its composition.  It makes use of heroic language and style while sustaining the oral-formulaic tradition.
   
  Terms of Use: Beowulf is available for viewing in the Public Domain. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Beowulf” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s "Beowulf" Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to Dr. Carsley’s entire lecture.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.    

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1.4 Religion and Religious Themes in Early Medieval Literature  

1.4.1 An Ecclesiastical Worldview  

• Reading: Dr. Steven Kreis’s The History Guide: Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History: “Lecture 2: The Medieval World View (Part 1)” and “Lecture 3: The Medieval World View (Part 2)”; W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: excerpt from “Rule of St. Benedict”; “The Rise of Monasticism”

  Links: Dr. Steven Kreis’s “Lecture 2: The Medieval Word View (Part 1)”(HTML)and “Lecture 3: The Medieval World View (Part 2)”(HTML); W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: excerpt from “Rule of St. Benedict”(HTML);  “The Rise of Monasticism” (PDF)
   
  About the link: The Virtual Library was created by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas.
   
  Instructions: Read all of the two short written lectures from Dr. Kreis for an overview of historical perspectives on religious thought.  Please read the entire excerpt from “Rule of St. Benedict” linked here, as well as The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s brief introduction at the onset of the text; the text provides a perspective on ecclesiastical life in the Middle Ages.  Also, read the entire essay on “The Rise of Monasticism” for more context about the transformations in the ecclesiastical worldview at this time in history.
   
  Terms of Use: The material above "The Rise of Monasticism" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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1.4.2 Clash or Assimilation: Pagan Values Meet Christian Culture  

• Reading: “The Dream of the Rood”: “Pagan Gods”; Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book II

  Link: “The Dream of the Rood”: “Pagan Gods” (PDF); Bede’s Ecclesiastical History (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read the entire essay titled “Pagan Gods,” which provides historical context about the Early Medieval conflict between Paganism and Christianity. Then, read these short chapters from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, Book II: Chapter I, Chapter XIII, and Chapter XIV.  As you read these excerpts, please focus on the depiction of the cultural shift from Paganism to Christianity.
   
  Terms of Use: "Ecclesiastical History" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. The copyright for "Pagan Gods" is held by English faculty at Oxford University and permission has been given for educational uses.  The license information can be found here (HTML). The original file can be found here (HTML).

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1.4.3 “Dream-vision”/Dream Poetry, Apocalypse, and Pagan-Christian Hybridity in The Dream of the Rood  

• Reading: University of Central Arkansas: Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s translation of The Dream of the Rood; Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “The Dream of the Rood”

  Link: University of Central Arkansas: Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s translation of The Dream of the Rood (PDF); Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “The Dream of the Rood” (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Read the entire excerpt from “The Dream of the Rood,” translated by Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn.  Also read the essays titled “Introduction to the Poem,” “Language of the Poem,” and “The Meter of the Poem,” from Old English Literature: A Hypertext Course Pack’s “The Dream of the Rood.” To access these essays, click on “Context” in the navigation bar at the top of the webpage.
   
  Note on the text: The Dream of the Rood, one of many religiously-themed Old English poems, is one of the earliest examples of dream poetry in the English language, a tradition we will encounter later in this course.
   
  Terms of Use: The material above "The Dream of the Rood" has been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Jonathan Glenn, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML).  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder. The copyright for "The Dream of the Rood" is held by the English faculty at Oxford University and permission has been given for educational use.  The license information can be found here (HTML). The original file can be found here (HTML). Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the web pages above.

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• Reading: Hanover College: Jeannette C. Brock’s “The Dream of the Rood and the Image of Christ in the Early Middle Ages”

  Link: Hanover College: Jeannette C. Brock’s “The Dream of the Rood and the Image of Christ in the Early Middle Ages” (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read the entire essay for a critical perspective on “The Dream of the Rood.”  Please also consider the information of the previous unit about the shift to Christianity while reading this article.
   
  Terms of Use: The linked material above "The Dream of the Rood" has been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Jeanette C. Brock, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML).  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder. .

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Unit 2: Anglo-Norman England and the Romances  

We will begin by situating ourselves in Anglo-Norman England, just after the Normans took possession of England in the decisive Battle of Hastings in 1066.  Between the introduction of the Normans’ French language and the popularity of orally-transmitted Celtic legends and tales, England found itself in an environment ripe for cultural and linguistic exchange—and the literature from this period manifests this hybridity. In this unit, we will study the emergence of the new “romance” genre, from The Lais of Marie de France to the knightly adventures of Chretien de Troyes, identifying recurring themes and tropes and exploring the Anglo-Norman fascination with the Court of King Arthur.

Unit 2 Time Advisory   show close


Unit 2 Learning Outcomes   show close


2.1 Situating Ourselves in Anglo-Norman England  

2.1.1 The Normans and Their Takeover of England  

• Reading: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “1066”; Fordham University’s Internet Medieval History Sourcebook: Paul Halsall’s version of William of Malmesbury’s "The Battle of Hastings, 1066"; Catholic Encyclopedia: entry on "William the Conqueror"

  Link: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “1066”(HTML); Fordham University’s Internet Medieval History Sourcebook version of William of Malmesbury’s "The Battle of Hastings, 1066" (PDF); Catholic Encyclopedia: entry on "William the Conqueror" (Google Books)
   
  Instructions: In Medieval England, please read the chapter titled “1066.”  Also, read the entirety of the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on “William the Conqueror,” as well as a Medieval account of the effects of the Norman takeover found in Malmesbury’s “The Battle of Hastings, 1066.”  
   
  Terms of Use: The material above "The Battle of Hastings" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. The article above "William the Conqueror" is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0 (HTML).  You can find the original New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia version of this article here (Google Books).The linked material above, "Medieval England", has been reposted by the kind permission of (Steven Muhlberger), and can be viewed in its original form {here}(HTML).  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder. 

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2.1.2 Changes to the Social Structure: the New Aristocracy  

• Reading: “The Sundering of Society, 1350-1500” and Regia Anglorum’s “Norman Social Organization and Feudalism”

  Links: “The Sundering of Society, 1350-1500” (PDF) and Regia Anglorum’s "Norman Social Organization and Feudalism"(HTML)
   
  About the link: The Virtual Library was created by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas.
   
  Instructions: Please read all of the two essays.  In the essay titled “The Sundering of Society, 1350-1500,” please focus on the information under the header “The Aristocracy,” which specifically traces the development of the aristocratic class.  In the essay “Norman Social Organization and Feudalism,” pay special attention to the role of the aristocrat in the Medieval social system.
   
  Terms of Use: "The Sundering of Society" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. The original file is posted on The Virtual Library and can be found here (HTML).Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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2.1.3 The Influence of the French Language and the Displacement of Old English  

• Reading: Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Middle English

  Link: Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s "Middle English" (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Read the short essay on “Middle English,” which charts the transition to French-based language and literature as a product of the Norman invasion.
   
  Terms of Use: The material above has been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Michael Delahoyde, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML).  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.

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2.1.4 Changes to the English Language and Norman Rule from the English Perspective  

• Reading: Yale University: James Ingram’s version of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “Alfred”

  Links: Yale University: James Ingram’s version of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle(HTML); The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’sversion of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England; “Alfred”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the “Introduction” to The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, as well as the sections on the “First Century,” “Eighth Century,” and “Eleventh Century.”  Also, read the short chapter from Medieval England titled “Alfred” for more historical context about life in the wake of the Viking invasion.
   
  Note on the text: Commissioned by Alfred the Great c. 890, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the history of the Anglo-Saxons in Old English. Authored by monks from different monasteries, these annals offer a unique and varied picture of Anglo-Saxon life.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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2.2 The Breton Lays  

2.2.1 The Breton Storyteller and Oral Traditions  

• Reading: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “The Norman Settlement”; Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Map of Breton”; The Middle Ages website’s “King Arthur”

  Link: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’sversion of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England; “The Norman Settlement”*HTML); and Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Map of Breton”(HTML); The Middle Ages website’s “King Arthur” (PDF)
   
  Instructions: First read the chapter from Medieval England titled “The Norman Settlement” for historical context about the presence of Bretons in England.  Please look at Dr. Wheeler’s “Map of Breton” for a visual, and read the short introduction to the map on this same page.  Also, read the essay titled “King Arthur” linked here, which traces the influences of prominent Arthur folklore back to Breton oral tradition.
   
  Terms of Use: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.  You can find the original article here (HTML). Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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2.2.2 What Is a Lai? Matters of Form, Subject, and Audience in the New Genre  

• Reading: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”

  Link: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions” (PDF)
         
  Instructions: Please look at the definition for “lai” linked here.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terns and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML). 

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2.2.3 Marie de France’s Lanval and the Birth of the Romance Genre  

• Reading: Judith P. Shoaf’s translation of Marie de France’s The Lais of Marie de France: Lanval; Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Romance”; Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Medieval Romance”

  Links: Judith P. Shoaf’s translation of Marie de France’s The Lais of Marie de France: Lanval (HTML); Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Romance” (PDF) and Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Medieval Romance” (PDF)
   
  Instructions: The short translator’s note found on The Lais of Marie de France website, hosted by the University of Florida.  This note should provide an introduction to the text, and should be read with care.  Then, read Shoaf’s translation of Lanval, one of the twelve short narratives found in The Lais of Marie de France; please click on Lanval in the list of files on the webpage to access this material.  Also, please read Dr. Delahoyde’s review of “Romance,” as well as Dr. Wheeler’s definition of “Medieval Romance” for more basic information on the genre.
   
  Note on the text: Like many Anglo-Norman lais, Lanval incorporates magic and other marvels, and it aims at entertaining rather than instructing its audience.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).  The material above has been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Michael Delahoyde, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML).  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Reading: The Saylor Foundation's "Marie de France’s Lanval and the Birth of the Romance Genre"

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "Marie de France’s Lanval and the Birth of the Romance Genre" (PDF)
  
  Instructions:  Please complete the reading linked above.

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2.3 The Romances  

2.3.1 Chretien de Troyes and the Invention of the Verse Romance  

• Reading: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: "King Arthur"

  Link: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: "King Arthur"(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Read the entry on “King Arthur” for a basic introduction to the genre of Medieval romance.  As you read, please pay attention to the mention of Chretien de Troyes and his use of the new genre of verse romance.
   
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2.3.2 King Arthur’s Court, Celtic Origins, and the Figure of the Chivalric Knight in Romans d’Aventure  

• Reading: Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Arthurian Romance” and “Courtly Love”

  Links: Washington State University: Dr. Michael Delahoyde’s “Arthurian Romance” (PDF) and "Courtly Love" (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read both brief essays for an introduction to the King Arthur folklore, as well as some historical information about the development of these stories.  In the essay on “Courtly Love,” please pay special attention to the appearance of courtly love in Medieval literature, especially in the literature of Chretien de Troyes.
   
  Terms of Use: The materials above have been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Michael Delahoyde, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML) and here (HTML) respectively.  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.

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2.3.3 Chrétien de Troye’s Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion, the Class System, and Anglo-Norman Values  

• Reading: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: “Chrétien de Troye” as well as “Illustrations”; Project Gutenberg’s version of De Troye’s Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion

  Link: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: “Chrétien de Troye”(HTML)as well as "Illustrations"(HTML); Project Gutenberg’s version of De Troye’s Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion; (HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the short introduction under the header “Chrétien de Troyes” in The Norton Anthology of English Literature for a bit of context, and then read Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion (also known as Yvain, the Knight of the Lion in English).  Also, look at Illustration #3, “Yvain Rescuing the Lion” and Illustration #4, “Duel Between Yvain and Gawain”—both taken from Princeton University’s manuscript of Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion.
   
  Note on the text: In Chrétien de Troye’s twelfth-century Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion, we encounter a number of stereotypical elements of the Medieval romance genre, including knightly adventure and King Arthur’s Court.
   
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• Reading: The Saylor Foundation's "Chretien de Troye’s Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion, the Class System, and Anglo Norman Values"

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "Chretien de Troye’s Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion, the Class System, and Anglo Norman Values" (PDF)
  
  Instructions:  Please complete the reading on this webpage.

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2.3.4 Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain and the Appeal of King Arthur’s Court  

• Reading: The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester: J.A. Giles’s translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain and Fordham University’s Internet Medieval History Sourcebook: Scott McLetchie’s translation of Gerard of Wales’s “The Discovery of the Tomb of King Arthur, from On the Instruction of a Prince”

  Links: The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester: J.A. Gile’s translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain (HTML)
  
  Also available in:
  PDF (tr. Thompson, rev. Giles; Page 89)
  Kindle (Available for purchase $0.99)
  
  Fordham University’s Internet Medieval History Sourcebook: Scott McLetchie’s translation of Gerald of Wales’s "The Discovery of the Tomb of King Arthur, from On the Instruction of a Prince" (HTML)
  
  Instructions: Please read the passages from Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain linked here.  To view in PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; select the link "Arthurian Series" from the column at the left, then find in the main frame the link to the assigned text.  Please note that only sections of importance to the Arthurian myth are featured, rather than Monmouth’s entire text.  Also, please read the short piece, Gerald of Wales’s “The Discovery of the Tomb of King Arthur,” for another Medieval example of the endurance of Arthurian legend.
  
  Note on the text: It is thought that Chrétien de Troye drew from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain, a pseudo-historical chronicle of the lives of the kings of the Britons, written c. 1136.
  
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2.4 Religion and the Romance Genre  

2.4.1 Developments in Religious Communities in the Anglo-Norman Period  

• Reading: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “The Church under the Normans”; W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: “The First Crusade”; Godfrey Daimbert’s and Raymond Daimbert’s “Letter to the Pope (1099)” and The Duke of Lorraine’s “Letter to the Archbishop of Cologne (1197)"

  Link: The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’sversion of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “The Church under the Normans”(HTML); The Norton Anthology of English Literature’s “The First Crusade”(HTML); Godfrey Daimbert’s and Raymond Daimbert's "Letter to the Pope"(PDF) and The Duke of Lorraine’s “Letter to the Archbishop of Cologne"(PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please first read the chapter from Medieval England titled “The Church under the Normans.”  Read the Norton Anthology’s “The First Crusade.” Also, read the two letters from the Hanover Historical Texts Project for Medieval perspectives on the Church in the wake of the Norman invasion.
   
  Terms of Use: The materials above "Letter to the Pope" and "Letter to the Archbishop of Cologne" are available for viewing in the Public Domain, Permission is granted for educational purposes. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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2.4.2 The Influence of Romance Literature on Religious Writing  

• Reading: University of Central Arkansas: Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s “Notes on Middle English Romance”

  Link: University of Central Arkansas: Dr. Jonathan A. Glenn’s "Notes on Middle English Romance" (PDF)
   
  Instructions: As you read, please pay attention to Dr. Glenn’s articulation of the relationship between romance and religion.
   
  Terms of Use: The material above has been reposted by the kind permission of Dr. Jonathan Glenn, and can be viewed in its original form here (HTML).  Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.

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2.4.3 Ancrene Riwle and the Knightly Figuration of Christ  

• Reading: University of Rochester: Robert Hasenfratz’s edited version of Ancrene Wisse; Hermitary’s “Ancrene Wisse: A Medieval Guide for Anchoresses”

  Link: University of Rochester: Robert Hasenfratz’s edited version of Ancrene Wisse (HTML); Hermitary’s “Ancrene Wisse: A Medieval Guide for Anchoresses” (HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the entire “Introduction” to Ancrene Wisse, which provides valuable information about literary and monastic history.  Also, read the “Author’s Preface” as well as “Part One” and “Part Two.”  Please note that the translation is provided in the footnotes, although you will also want to look at the frame of original copy found here for a sense of the initial text.  Also, read the summary found on the Hermitary website, which provides an excellent introduction and overview of the primary text.
   
  Note on the text: The text Ancrene Wisse is a revised version of the original text titled Ancrene Riwle.  The Ancrene Riwle, or Guide for Anchoresses, is a manual on monastic life for young women choosing to enter the sisterhood, written c. 1215.
   
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Unit 3: Middle English Literature  

In this final unit, we will review the turbulent history of the late Medieval period, from England’s involvement in a number of wars to the outbreak of the bubonic plague in the 14^thcentury.  We will also chart the key social and cultural changes of the times: the rise of the merchant class, the linguistic transition from the French of the Anglo-Norman Period to Middle English, and the changing perspectives on the Church.  With these contexts in mind, we will explore developments in the romance genre and study the many literary innovations of Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales, including his break from alliterative verse and his thematic attention to social dynamics and class relations. Finally, we will examine religious works written during this late period, including the mystical writings of anchoresses like Julian of Norwich and the growth of religiously-oriented drama as a popular genre.

Unit 3 Time Advisory   show close


Unit 3 Learning Outcomes   show close


3.1 An Overview of the Late Medieval Period  

3.1.1 Tumultuous Politics and the Outbreak of War in the 14th and 15th Centuries  

• Reading: Catholic Encyclopedia: “Crusades” as well as selections from The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “The Era of the Hundred Years’ War” and “The Wars of the Roses”

  Link: Catholic Encyclopedia: “Crusades” (PDF); The ORB: Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies’s version of Steven Muhlberger’s Medieval England: “Origins of the Hundred Years’ War”(HTML); “Economic Change and Social Tension in the Late 14^thCentury”(HTML); and “The Beginning of the Wars of the Roses”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read all of the Catholic Encyclopedia articles on “Crusades” for an overview of the development of conflicts in the 14^thand 15^thcenturies.  Please focus specifically on the sections titled “The Fourteenth Century Crusade and the Ottoman Invasion” and “The Crusade in the Fifteenth Century” for a historical overview.  Then, read Steven Muhlberger’s chapters on “Origins of the Hundred Years’ War,” “Economic Change and Social Tension in the Late Fourteenth Century,” and “Beginning of the Wars of the Roses” for more information on the secular conflicts of the time.
   
  Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0(HTML).  It is attributed to (Catholic Encyclopedia) and the original version can be found {here}(HTML). Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.1.2 The Black Plague  

• Reading: “The Great Famine and the Black Death”; Brown University: Decameron Web’s “Social and Economic Effects of the Plague”

  Links: “The Great Famine and the Black Death” (PDF); Brown University: Decameron Web’s “Social and Economic Effects of the Plague”(HTML)
   
  About the link: The Virtual Library was created by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas.
   
  Instructions: Please read both articles in their entirety for a sense of the profound effects of the Black Plague on Late Medieval Europe.
   
  Terms of Use: "The Great Famine and the Black Death" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. The original file was posted on The Virtual Library and can be found here (HTML). Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.1.3 Class and Economics in the Late Medieval Period: Capitalism on the Rise  

• Reading: “The Rise of Capitalism and Decline of the Gilds”

  Link: "The Rise of Capitalism and Decline of the Gilds" (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read the entire lecture for more information on the changing economic structure in the Late Medieval Period, including the massive shift to a proto-capitalist system that established both a new class structure and a new everyday life.
   
  Terms of Use: "The Rise of Capitalism and Decline of the Gilds" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.1.4 The Birth of Middle English  

• Reading: Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Medieval”; Rice University’s version of Suzanne Kemmer’s “A Brief History of English”

  Link: Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s "Medieval" (PDF); Rice University’s version of Suzanne Kemmer’s "A Brief History of English"(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read Dr. Wheeler’s definition of “Medieval,” and pay special attention to his mention of the development of the Middle English language as the product of historical developments.  Also, look at the page linked here titled “A Brief History of English.”  As you read this, please focus on the introduction at the onset of the page, as well as the timeline on “Middle English Period” for more information about the language’s development.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).  Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above. 

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3.1.5 William Langland’s Piers Plowman and the Social and Religious Issues of the Day  

• Reading: William Langland’s Piers Plowman; Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: L.D. Benson’s “William Langland: Piers Plowman”

  Link: William Langland’s Piers Plowman (PDF); Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: L.D. Benson’s “William Langland: Piers Plowman”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the “Prologue,” as well as Passus One through Passus Three of Langland’s Piers Plowman.  Also, read the entry on Piers Plowman on Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page.  You may wish to consult the modern translation of the text linked on The Geoffrey Chaucer Page, in order to enhance your understanding of Piers Plowman.
   
  Note on the text: Piers Plowman is a 14^th-century allegorical narrative poem that follows in the dream-vision tradition we earlier discussed.
   
  Terms of Use:  "Piers Plowman" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.2 The Persistence of the Arthurian Romance  

3.2.1 The Alliterative Revival  

• Reading: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”: “Alliterative Revival” and “Alliterative Verse”; The Alliterative Morte Arthure

  Links: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s "Alliterative Revival" (PDF) and "Alliterative Verse" (PDF); The Alliterative Morte Arthure (PDF)   
   
  Instructions: Please read both definitions for a sense of development and characteristics of the Alliterative Revival.  Then, look at lines 1-26 of The Alliterative Morte Arthure for an example of alliterative verse.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).The material above "The Alliterative Morte Arthure" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.

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• Reading: The Saylor Foundation's "The Alliterative Revival"

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "The Alliterative Revival"
  
  Instructions:  Please complete the reading on this webpage about The Alliterative Revival.

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3.2.2 Magic and Supernatural Powers in the Romance Genre  

• Reading: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”: “Medieval Romance”

  Link: Carson-Newman College: Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”: “Medieval Romance”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please reread the definition of “Medieval Romance” linked here.  However, this time please focus on Dr. Wheeler’s information about the presence of supernatural elements in Medieval Romance.
   
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).  Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Arthurian Literature and Its Themes” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s "Arthurian Literature and Its Themes"Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the entire lecture for more information on supernatural themes in Medieval Romance literature.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.2.3 The Mechanics of Verse Romance and Courtly Love  

• Reading: Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight

  Link: Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight (PDF)
  
  Also available in:
  Google Books
  PDF (Original & Translations)
  
  Instructions: Please read the entire text.  To view in another PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; select the link "Arthurian Series" to the left of the page, and in the main frame find the links for "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight".  The first link is a transcription of the original by Ross Arthur; the third link is a verse translation in modern English by Jessie Weston.
  
  Note on the text: Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight is a late 14^th-century, alliterative verse romance, chronicling the adventures of Sir Gawayne, a knight of King Arthur’s Court. Please note in some versions of the text Sir Gawayne is spelled Sir Gawain.
   
  Terms of Use: The material above "Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight" is available for viewing in the Public Domain.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight(iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the entire lecture to supplement your reading.
   
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3.3 Chaucer  

3.3.1 Who Was Chaucer?  

• Reading: Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: L.D. Benson’s “The Life of Chaucer” and “Chronology of Chaucer”

  Links: Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: L.D. Benson’s “The Life of Chaucer”(HTML)and “Chronology of Chaucer”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read both short essays for more information about Chaucer’s life and times.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Chaucer’s Language and Social Context” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s "Chaucer’s Language and Social Context"Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Listen to the entire lecture for an introduction to Chaucer.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.3.2 Metrical Innovation – Chaucer’s New Narrative Style  

• Reading: Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: L.D. Benson’s "The High Style"; Rice University’s version of Suzanne Kemmer’s "A Brief History of English": “Middle English Period (c.a. 1100-1500)”

  Link: Harvard University’s The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: L.D. Benson’s "The High Style"(HTML); Rice University’s version of Suzanne Kemmer’s "A Brief History of English": “Middle English Period (c.a. 1100-1500)”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: Please read the entire essay on “The High Style” for information about Chaucer’s narrative style, including his development of a new style.  Then, in the “Middle English Period” section of Kemmer’s “A Brief History of English,” look at “Excursus: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales” for a brief introduction to his use of language.  Also, look at the picture of Chaucer’s manuscript linked here via “Excursus.”
   
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3.3.3 The Mechanics of a New Poetry  

• Reading: Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”

  Link: Chaucer’s  The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue” (PDF)
  
  Also available in:
  PDF
  Google Books
  
  Instructions: Please read the entirety of “The General Prologue” to Chaucer’sThe Canterbury Tales.  To view in another PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above, then select the link "General Prologue"
  
  Note on the text: Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories narrated by pilgrims from all walks of life—from miller to knight—written in the late 14^thcentury.
  
  Terms of Use: "The Canterbury Tales" is available for viewing in the Public Domain.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Irony and Character in Chaucer's General Prologue” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s "Irony and Character in Chaucer's General Prologue"Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the entire lecture, which should provide an excellent introduction and analysis to Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
   
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3.3.4 The Sound of Middle English: Audio Version of The Canterbury Tales and Exercises in Pronunciation  

• Reading: Harvard University’s “Chaucer’s Pronunciation, Grammar, and Vocabulary”

  Link: Reading: Harvard University’s “Chaucer’s Pronunciation, Grammar, and Vocabulary”(QuickTime)
   
  Instructions: Please look over the fifteen-section tutorial to learn more about Chaucer’s pronunciation. Use the vertical navigation bar on the left side of the webpage to link to each tutorial.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Web Media: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Alfred David’s reading of “The General Prologue from The Canterbury Tales”

  Link: W.W. Norton and Company’s The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Alfred David’s reading of “The General Prologue from The Canterbury Tales”(Flash)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the audio reading of the “General Prologue” linked here.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.3.5 “The Miller’s Tale: The Prologue” and Conventions of Satire  

• Reading: Project Gutenberg’s version of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: “The Miller’s Tale: The Prologue”; Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”: “Medieval Estates Satire”

  Links: Project Gutenberg’s version of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: “The Miller’s Tale:The Prologue”(HTML)
  Also available in:
  PDF
  Google Books
  
  Dr. L. Kip Wheeler’s “Literary Terms and Definitions”: "Medieval Estates Satire" (PDF)
  
  Instructions: Please read the entire text of “The Miller’s Tale: The Prologue” from The Canterbury Tales, as well as Dr. Wheeler’s definition of “Medieval Estates Satire” for more information about the specific historical context and genre of “The Miller’s Tale.”  To view the first reading in PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above, and select the link for "The Miller's Tale".  The Prologue begins on page 2.
  
  Terms of Use: Dr. Wheeler's "Literary Terms and Definitions" is copyrighted by Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, with permission granted for non-profit, educational and student reproduction.  The original file can be found here (HTML).  Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpages above.

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3.3.6 “The Wife of Bath’s Tale: The Prologue,” Representations of Gender, and the Uses of Frame Narrative in The Canterbury Tales  

• Reading: Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: “The Wife of Bath’s Tale: The Prologue”

  Link: Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: “The Wife of Bath’s Tale: The Prologue”  (PDF)
  
  Also available in:
  PDF
  Google Books
     
  Instructions: Please read the entire text linked here.  To view in another PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above, and then select the link for "Wife of Bath's Tale".  The Prologue begins on page 5.
  
  Terms of Use: "The Canterbury Tales" is available for viewing in the Public Domain.

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• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Authority and Experience in Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s “Authority and Experience in Chaucer's ‘The Wife of Bath's Tale’”Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Listen to the entire lecture to supplement your reading of “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.”
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.4 The Growth of Drama  

3.4.1 The Cycle Plays and Their Social Context  

• Reading: Brander Matthew’s “The Medieval Drama” and Robert Huntington Fletcher’s "Medieval Drama: An Introduction to Middle English Plays"

  Link: Brander Matthew’s “The Medieval Drama” (PDF) and Robert Hunting Fletcher's "Medieval Drama: An Introduction to Middle English Plays" (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read all four pages of Matthew’s “The Medieval Drama” for more context on the evolution of cycle plays, including mystery plays and miracle plays.  Also, note the reference to these plays as part of play cycles.  Please read Luminarium’s “Medieval Drama” for a more explicit overview of the function of cycle plays.
   
  Terms of Use: "The Medieval Drama" and "Medieval Drama: An Introduction to Middle English Plays" are available for viewing in the Public Domain.

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3.4.2 “The Second Shepherds’ Play,” Social Commentary, and Religion  

• Reading: Folger Shakespeare Library’s “A Field Guide to ‘The Second Shepherds’ Play’”; University of Michigan’s version of “The Second Shepherds’ Play”

  Link: Folger Shakespeare Library’s “A Field Guide to ‘The Second Shepherds’ Play’”(HTML); University of Michigan’s version of “The Second Shepherds’ Play” (HTML)
  
  Also available in:
  Kindle (Available for purchase $3.19)
  
  Instructions: Read “A Field Guide to ‘The Second Shepherds’ Play’” for a brief background on the play.  Then, please read the entire text of “The Second Shepherds’ Play” linked here.  To view the play in PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; the link to the play is at the top left of the page, under the heading "Plays & Adaptations".
  
  Note on the text: “The Second Shepherd’s Play,” the most famous of the medieval mystery plays performed in cycles, balances comical and religious elements with memorable finesse.
  
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Reading: The Saylor Foundation's "“The Second Shepherd’s Play,” Social Commentary, and Religion"

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "“The Second Shepherd’s Play,” Social Commentary, and Religion" (PDF)
  
  Instructions:  Please complete the reading on this webpage.

  See a broken link? Please let us know!

3.4.3 The Morality Plays and the Birth of Professional Theater  

• Reading: “Moralities”

  Link: "Moralities" (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Read all of the short article “Moralities” for information about the development and significance of morality plays in the Middle Ages.  Please pay attention to the relationship between morality plays with the Medieval Church, especially the ethical, didactic function of the plays.
   
  Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0(HTML).  It is attributed to (Catholic Encyclopedia) and the original version can be found {here}(HTML).

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3.4.4 “Everyman” and Thematic and Generic Conventions of Middle English Drama  

• Reading: Anniina Jokinen’s “Introduction to Everyman”; “Everyman”

  Link: Anniina Jokinen’s "Introduction to Everyman" (HTML); "Everyman" (PDF)
  
  Also available in:
  PDF
  Kindle (Available for purchase $3.19)
  
  Instructions: Please read Luminarium’s version of Anniina Jokinen’s “Introduction to Everyman” for more basic information about the historical context behind the play.  Also, read the entire text of “Everyman” linked here.  To view in another PDF format, please follow the "PDF" link above; the link to the play is under the first heading "Miscellaneous".
  
  Note on the text: “Everyman,” a late 15^th-century morality play, employs allegory in its dramatization of the moral struggle of the average Christian.
  
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.  The "Everyman" text is available for viewing in the Public Domain.

  The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.

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3.5 Mystical Religious Writings  

3.5.1 Dream Visions, Mysticism, and a New Understanding of the Relationship between Man and God  

• Reading: Catholic Encyclopedia: entries on “Mysticism” and “Interpretation of Dreams”

  Link: Catholic Encyclopedia: entries on “Mysticism” (PDF) and “Interpretation of Dreams” (PDF)
   
  Instructions: Please read both definitions for more information about the Medieval Ages turn to dreams, mysticism, and vision in order to understand religion.
   
  Terms of Use: The articles above are released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0(HTML).  It is attributed to (Catholic Encyclopedia) and the original version can be found {here}(HTML) and {here}(HTML) respectively.

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3.5.2 Women and the Church  

• Lecture: iTunes U: Arizona State University: Dr. Andrew Barnes’s “Directions of Change in Women’s Lives, 1200-1800 (Part 1)” Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Arizona State University: Dr. Andrew Barnes’s  "Directions of Change in Women's Lives, 1200-1800 (Part 1)”Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen from about minute 28:00 to 31:30 to the “Directions of Change in Women’s Lives, 1200-1800 (Part 1)” lecture for an overview on women’s restricted autonomy in Medieval culture, but the potential for fulfillment through involvement in the Medieval Church.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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3.5.3 Depictions of God and Changes in the Church  

• Reading: Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love; University of Rochester: Lynn Staley’s edited version of The Book of Margery Kempe; Virtual Library’s “The Great Schism”

  Link: Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love (PDF); University of Rochester: Lynn Staley’s edited version of The Book of Margery Kempe (HTML)
  
  Also available in:
  Kindle (Available for purchase $4.95)
   
  Virtual Library’s “The Great Schism”(HTML)
   
  Instructions: From Revelations of Divine Love, please read the section titled “To the Reader,” as well as Chapters 1-3 and Chapters 58-60.  From The Book of Margery Kempe, read the entirety of Book I; please note that as you read this text, you will want to consult the footnotes.  Then, also read the article titled “The Great Schism” for an overview of the state of the Church at the time of these women writers.
   
  About the link: The Virtual Library was created by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas.
   
  Note on the texts: Both Julian of Norwich’s Revelations and Margery Kempe’s eponymous book, articulate mystical religious devotions and present images of monastic life in the late Middle Ages.
   
  Terms of Use: "Revelations of Divine Love" is available for viewing in the Public Domain. Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

  See a broken link? Please let us know!

• Lecture: iTunes U: Montgomery County Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s "Women's Devotional Literature of the Middle Ages" Lecture

  Link: iTunes U: Montgomery County Community College: Dr. Catherine Carsley’s "Women's Devotional Literature of the Middle Ages"Lecture (iTunes U)
   
  Instructions: Please listen to the entire lecture, which focuses specifically on both Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love and Kempe’s The Book of Margery Kempe About the link: The Virtual Library was created by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas.
   
  Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.

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• Reading: The Saylor Foundation's "Depictions of God and Changes in the Church"

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "Depictions of God and Changes in the Church" (PDF)
  
  Instructions:  Please complete the reading on this webpage.

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Final Exam  

• Final Exam: The Saylor Foundation's "ENGL201 Final Exam"

  Link: The Saylor Foundation's "ENGL201 Final Exam"
  
  Instructions: You must be logged into your Saylor Foundation School account in order to access this exam.  If you do not yet have an account, you will be able to create one, free of charge, after clicking the link.

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