The Medieval Beast
ENGL 310
Spring 2020
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
MDST 312 |
How did medieval writers think about the distinction between human and animal? This course will examine the categories of soul and body, ruler and ruled, language and thought--among others. We will also read about human-animal hybrids like werewolves and bird-men in order to think through some of these binaries. Texts will include Marie de France's "Lais and Fables," Chrétien de Troyes's "Knight of the Lion," William of Palerne, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Chaucer's "Parliament of Fowls" and "Nun's Priest's Tale"; also bestiaries (encyclopedias of beasts) and some treatises about hunting and falconry. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ENGL)(MDST-MN)(MDST)(MDST-Art/Arch)(MDST-History)(MDST-Lang/Lit)(MDST-Phil/Reli) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Bestiaries, Marie de France, Lais and Fables; Berechiah ha-Nakdan, Fox Fables; Béroul, Tristan/ The Madness of Tristan; Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain; William of Palerne (werewolf romance!); Gerald of Wales, History and Topography of Ireland; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; Geoffrey Chaucer, Parliament of Fowls and selections from the Canterbury Tales. Secondary literature on Animal Theory/Animal Studies.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly reading responses and a final 15pp. research paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the Literary Hisory I requirement and contributes to the British Lit concentration of the English major; it fulfills the Research Option for English majors pursuing Honors in English. |
| Instructor(s): Nisse,Ruth Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: VVO110; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 2 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 0 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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