Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the module students will be able to:
Read, with greater confidence, Middle English literature in the original language
Select, engage, review and contribute to the critical debate on the Auchinleck manuscript
Select, engage, review and contribute to the critical debate on medieval romance narratives
Read (with guidance) a limited selection of Middle English writing
Work with (under supervision) medieval manuscripts and other archived material
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of Middle English manuscript production and how that knowledge influences our understanding of the text
Produce a research essay on a related topic
Indicative Module Content:
In this module, we will focus primarily on texts found in the Auchinleck manuscript, the first manuscript containing wholly Middle English material. The primary source will be the online Auchinleck manuscript, as indicated in the reading list.
The key question we will consider is: how does our understanding of the manuscript influence our understanding of the text?
Here is the provisional seminar schedule for 2020-21
Wk 1: Module introduction: manuscript culture; language to describe manuscripts; brief introduction to palaeography; socio-historical context in which manuscript was produced; introduction to the critical debate.
Wk 2: Mothers and Daughters in the dynastic cycle: Lay le Freine
Wk 3: The distribution of wealth in Floris and Blancheflour
Wk 4: Educating the young. Comparing two versions of St. Margaret
Wk 5: Fathers and Sons 1: Sir Degaré
Wk 6: Fathers and Sons 2: Horn and Rimenchild
Wk 7: Visit to Special Collections
Wk 8: Disguise, journey, love and loss: Sir Guy of Warwick
Wk 9: Kingship: Sir Richard
Wk 10:Reviewing the Auchinleck Manuscript
Wk 11: Essay preparation