PS-Medieval English Literatures: British History in Middle English Literature
Jan-Peer Hartmann
Kommentar
History tells us that British history is punctured by a number of political and/or cultural ruptures: the Roman subjugation and subsequent abandonment of Celtic Britain; the Anglo-Saxon conquest of what was to become modern England; the Norman Conquest, to name but the most obvious up to the end of the Middle Ages. While modern archaeology is beginning to question some of the narratives tied to these historical events, the general scheme, which goes back to historiographical accounts written during the Middle Ages, continues to inform our perception of British history to the present day.
But how did British history figure in the literature of late medieval England? In this class, we will read a number of Middle English texts from the later fourteenth century that use earlier phases of British history as a backdrop to develop their stories. In addition, we will look at extracts from medieval historiographical works to examine the way their historical accounts were used but also transformed in the literary works that constitute our main focus.
Students are expected to read the Middle English texts in the original language, but translations will be supplied for the Latin texts. To successfully complete this class, it is helpful to bring a basic interest in medieval literature and a general open-mindedness to unfamiliar linguistic and literary forms and conventions. The final mark will be based on active and regular participation and a final essay of 2,000 words, to be handed in by the end of the semester. Please make sure to enroll in the Blackboard course, ideally before the start of the term.
Schließen14 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung