By looking at the many varieties of divine and earthly love found in Medieval and Renaissance writing, this course will introduce students to a wide range of texts from the period and to the different ways in which writers and readers viewed themselves and their relationships to God, to each other, and to the universe.
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Helen Cooney, Writing on Love in the English Middle Ages (Palgrave, 2006)
A.J. Smith, The Metaphysics of Love: Studies in Renaissance Love Poetry from Dante to Milton (CUP, 2010)
Don A. Monson, Andreas Capellanus, Scholasticism and the Courtly Tradition (Catholic University of America Press, 2005)
Course Schedules
Week
Contents
Learning Methods
1. Week
Introduction: Loving Reading
Lecture, discussion, group work,
2. Week
The Medieval World View - caritas (divine love) and the Great Chain of Being: selections from Boethius, The Consolations of Philosophy
Lecture, discussion, group work,
3. Week
Courtly Love and Feudalism: selections from Andreas Capellanus, De Amore and Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (‘The Knight’s Tale’)
Lecture, discussion, group work,
4. Week
Chaucer, Romance and Courtly Love: selections from Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (‘The Knight’s Tale’)
Lecture, discussion, group work,
5. Week
Worldly Amor - love, lust and sex in the middle ages: selections from Geoffrey Chaucer, (‘The Miller’s Tale’)
Lecture, discussion, group work,
6. Week
Medieval Mysticism and the Love of God: selections from Julian of Norwich, Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love
Lecture, discussion, group work,
7. Week
The Reformation I: Married Love: selections from Martin Luther’s Sermons on Marriage; Edmund Spenser, Amoretti; John Milton’s poetry and prose
Lecture, discussion, group work,
8. Week
Midterm Exam Week
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9. Week
The Reformation II: Thomas Wyatt, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII - Thomas Wyatt, Selected poetry
Lecture, discussion, group work,
10. Week
Humanism, amicitia and the Republic of Letters: Montaigne ‘On Friendship’; Francis Bacon ‘On Friendship’;
Lecture, discussion, group work,
11. Week
Petrarchism (1) - the love of paradox: from Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophil and Stella; from William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Lecture, discussion, group work,
12. Week
Petrarchism (2) – transgressive love: from Lady Mary Wroth, Pamphilia, To Amphilanthus; Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Lecture, discussion, group work,
13. Week
Lovesickness and Melancholy: selections from Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy; Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
Lecture, discussion, group work,
14. Week
Love’s Alchemy - John Donne: selections from John Donne’s poetry and prose
Lecture, discussion, group work,
15. Week
Carpe diem and the art of seduction: selections from Andrew Marvell & Robert Herrick
Lecture, discussion, group work,
16. Week
Final Exams Week
17. Week
Final Exams Week
Assessments
Evaluation tools
Quantity
Weight(%)
Midterm(s)
1
30
Quizzes
1
10
Attendance
1
20
Final Exam
1
40
Program Outcomes
PO-1
Show knowledge of a substantial range of authors, movements and texts from different periods of literary history.
PO-2
Identify the intellectual, cultural and socio-historical contexts in which literature
is written and read.
PO-3
Employ the necessary skills in the reading, analysis and in appreciation of literature.
PO-4
Recognize, interpret, and comment on rhetorical and figurative language.
PO-5
Identify, distinguish between and assess the distinctive characteristics of texts written in the principle literary genres.
PO-6
Recall and define key terms and concepts relating to language, literature and/or culture.
PO-7
Recognize the role of different social and cultural contexts in affecting meaning.
PO-8
Demonstrate responsiveness to the central role of language in the creation of meaning.
PO-9
Recognize different structures and discourse functions of the English language.
PO-10
Display competence both in written and/or oral expression and in the
communication of ideas in a variety of contexts.
PO-11
Demonstrate critical skills in the close reading, description, interpretation,
and analysis of literary and non-literary texts.
PO-12
Use logical thought, critical reasoning, and rhetorical skills to effectively
construct arguments.
PO-13
Apply guided research skills including the ability to gather, sift, organize and
present information and material.
PO-14
Show competence in planning, preparation and revision of essays,
presentations, and other written and project work.
PO-15
Reflect on ethical and philosophical issues raised in literary, critical, and
cultural texts.
Learning Outcomes
LO-1
LO 1. be familiar with a substantial range of medieval and early modern authors, texts, and ideas
LO-2
LO 2. have a knowledge of the changing intellectual, cultural and socio-historical contexts shaping Medieval and Renaissance thought and writing in general, and attitudes to love in particular;
LO-3
LO 3. be able to define key terms and concepts relating to Medieval and Renaissance culture and literature, and discuss them in relation to individual literary texts;
LO-4
LO 4. have improved their close reading skills and their ability to describe, interpret and analyse texts from a wide range of genres and styles;
LO-5
LO 5. think and argue more critically and analytically about both their own and others’ notions of love and friendship;
LO-6
LO 6. have developed their skills in writing critical responses to individual texts and in presenting their ideas orally.
