Missouri Western State College Dept. of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

ENG 210-02 Approaches to Literature:

King Arthur & the Middle Ages

Spring Semester 2005

T-Th 9:30-10:50  JGM 109

 

 

Instructor:  Dr.  Cynthia Jenéy

Office:  SS/C 222K

Phone:  271-4447

Office  Hours:   M-W 1:30-3:30; Tues.  2:00-4:00

E-mail:  jeney@missouriwestern.edu

 

Required Texts:

 

• Damrosch, Baswell, and Schotter, Eds. The Longman Anthology of British Literature, Volume 1A: The Middle Ages. (2^nd Edition). NY: Longman, 2003.
• Aristotle. Poetics. Translated by Malcolm Heath. NY: Penguin Books. ISBN: 0-140-44636-2

 

Make sure you have read assigned sections of the textbook before coming to class on the day readings are listed. Come to class prepared to submit formal discussion questions based on the assigned reading.

 

About ENG 210: Approaches to Literature

Objectives and Means:  http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/eng210.asp- Objectives

Upon completion of English 210 a student should be able to (1) Recognize the major characteristics of literary genres;

(2) Discuss literature, orally and in writing, with assurance; (3) Appreciate literary works which are encountered; (4) Understand the different ways in which literary theme may be treated in literature.  To reach these goals, the student is expected to: (1) Read poetry, prose fiction, and drama; (2) Investigate various methods of approaching and understanding literature; (3) Write papers, including themes and essay examinations; (4) Read a variety of literary works in which a chosen theme is dominant.

 

About This Section of English 210:

This section of English 210 will provide an introduction to the literature, language, and historical settings of Medieval England. There will be significant emphasis on heroic verse and the Arthurian Tradition in poems, lais, and tales. Medieval readings are chronological, beginning with the Old English poem Beowulf and ending with Chaucer’s Arthurian “Wife of Bath’s Tale.” Students will build their critical reading skills by studying and discussing Aristotle’s Poetics, noting how the patterns laid forth in classical thought inform literary works of the Middle Ages. In addition, course will then explore implications of the Arthurian tradition in contemporary treatments of Medieval and Arthurian tales in film and the media.

 

Attendance:

A total of more than 4 absences (T-Th classes) per semester will result in a failing grade for the course. It is your responsibility to keep track of your attendance.  Contact a classmate to get notes and assignments if you miss a class meeting, and make sure you consult the class schedule (attached, below).

Note: Employment issues are the sole responsibility of the student. Failure to attend class, meet deadlines, or participate in assigned work is not excused due to workplace considerations. Should attendance problems become chronic, it is the student’s responsibility to correct the situation. Student employment will not be permitted to disrupt the class or interfere with instruction in any way.

 

Email:

Email is a wonderful thing. It does not, however, replace class attendance. Emails asking “What did I miss?” are rude and disrespectful. Email your instructor when

·         you don’t understand the assignment, or want to clarify some point from class reading or discussion;

·         you want to make an appointment to meet out of class;

·         you have drafted something that you aren’t sure about, and would like some feedback early in the process;

·         your Mom has been kidnapped by French spies, and you must leave the country to rescue her.

 

Another note about email: Electronic communications among students and instructors shall remain mature, polite, and appropriate to the context of the class and the college setting. “Flaming” or harassing instructors or classmates in electronic mail or other forums will not be tolerated.

 

Phone:

 

The telephone is a wonderful thing. It does not, however, replace class attendance. Phone messages asking “What did I miss?” are rude and disrespectful. Call your instructor when

·         you don’t understand the assignment, or want to clarify some point from class reading or discussion;

·         you want to make an appointment to meet out of class;

·         you have drafted something that you aren’t sure about, and would like some feedback early in the

·         process;

·         your Mom has been kidnapped by French spies, and you must leave the country to rescue her.

 

Disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact the MWSC Special Needs Office as soon as possible so that we can discuss alternative ways to satisfy class requirements.

 

Written Work:

Papers will be written in MLA format. Use 1” margins all around, and 12-point, New Times Roman typeface if at all possible. Double space and place page numbers in the upper-right corner on all but the first page:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENG 210 TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE*
JANUARY
T	18	Introduction; syllabus; policies.
Th	20	Middle Ages Longman 3-26; Film: Schama “Beginnings” History of Britain series.
T	25	Middle Ages Longman 3-26
Th	27	Middle Ages Longman 3-26; Film: Birth of a Language
FEBRUARY
T	1	Beowulf  27-51 “Before the Norman Conquest”; “I.Grendel”
Th	3	Beowulf  27-51 “Before the Norman Conquest”; “I.Grendel”; 51-73 “II. Grendel’s Mother”
T	8	Beowulf  51-73 “II. Grendel’s Mother”; 73-91 “III. “The Dragon”
Th	10	Beowulf  73-91 “III. “The Dragon”
T	15	13th Warrior—Film
Th	17	13th Warrior—Film (cont.)
T	22	Exam #1
Th	24	Aristotle Poetics 3-25
MARCH
T	1	Aristotle Poetics 26-48
Th	3	“The Dream of the Rood” 125-130
T	8	Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 144-145; “The Wanderer” 150-153
Th	10	“Wulf and Eadwacer” & “The Wife’s Lament” 153-155
T	15	SPRING BREAK—NO CLASS MEETING
Th	17	SPRING BREAK—NO CLASS MEETING
T	22	Exam #2: Midterm
Th	24	Arthurian Myth in the History of Britain 159-176; Film 1066 Hastings (Schama series) [note Justin’s paper #1 due]
T	29	Film: King Arthur
Th	31	Film: King Arthur
APRIL
T	5	Marie de France “Prologue,” “Lanval” 176-192 Film Arthurian Legends & Legacy
Th	7	Marie de France “Prologue,” “Lanval” 176-192
T	12	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 192-248; Arthurian Film & Media
Th	14	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 192-248; Arthurian Film & Media
T	19	Sir Thomas Malory Morte Darthur  49-279
Th	21	Sir Thomas Malory Morte Darthur  49-279
T	26	Geoffrey Chaucer: The Wife of Bath’s Prologue &  Tale 337-365
Th	28	Geoffrey Chaucer: The Wife of Bath’s Prologue &  Tale 337-365; Paper #2 Due
MAY
T	3	READING DAY—NO CLASS MEETING
		FINAL EXAM

10%  Paper #1 

10%  Paper #2 

20%  Exam #1  Beowulf and the Middle Ages

20%  Exam #2  Midterm: 13^th Warrior, Aristotle Poetics, Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, OE poetry,

20%  Exam #3 Final Exam: King Arthur & the Arthurian Tradition, “Lanval,” Gawain, Malory, Chaucer.

20%  Attendance and In-Class Participation

100%  Total Grade

 

*Schedule may change in response to semester needs and events.