Medieval Celtic Literatures (ENG 201)
Spring 2022
Textbooks
*** All textbooks should also be available on reserve at the Library Circulation Desk |
Learning Outcomes
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Schedule of Readings
M Jan 24: Introductions and The Adventures of Connla the Fair Early Medieval Ireland W Jan 26: The Voyage of Bran (access here: http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/bran_meyer.pdf); and The Battle of Mag Tured (PDF handout) F Jan 28: The Wooing of Étaín (PDF handout); and "Background" by Muireann Ní Bhrolcáin (PDF handout) M Jan 31: The "pre-tales" (or remscéla) of The Táin (PDF handout) T Feb 1: Happy St Brigid's Day! W Feb 2: The Táin, pp. 1-100 F Feb 4: The Táin, pp. 101-208; and Joan Radner, “Fury Destroys the World” (PDF handout) M Feb 7: The Táin (reprise);and “Fergus and the Cosmogonic Sword” (JSTOR) and Joan Radner, “Fury Destroys the World” (PDF handout) W Feb 9: The Phantom Chariot of Cú Chulainn (PDF handout); and "The Story of Tuan mac Cairill" (which can be accessed here); and "The Baptism of the Gods" by John Carey (PDF handout) F Feb 11: Materials on St Patrick (PDF handout) M Feb 14: The Life of St Brigid (PDF handout) W Feb 16: Old Irish Lyric poetry (PDF handout) F Feb 18: Tales of the Elders of Ireland, pp. 3-46; and material on the boyhood deeds of Finn (PDF handout) M Feb 21: Tales of the Elders of Ireland, pp. 47-82; and Kim McCone, “Werewolves, Cyclopes, Díberga, and Fíanna” (handout) W Feb 23: The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne, pp. 43-100 F Feb 25: The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne, pp. 100-160 Early Medieval Wales M Feb 28: The Welsh Cynfeirdd (PDF handout) T Mar 1: Happy St David's Day (patron saint of Wales)! W Mar 2: How Culhwch Won Olwen (in The Mabinogion, pp. 179-213); and read “A Structured Portrayal of Arthur?” by Catherine Piquemal (JSTOR) Th Mar 3: Paper #1 due (topics TBA) F Mar 4: How Culhwch Won Olwen; and read “Giants, Boar-Hunts, and Barbering” by Sarah Sheehan (JSTOR) M Mar 7: The First Branch (Pwyll Prince of Dyfed) in The Mabinogion, pp. 3-21; and “Reflections on Rhiannon and the Horse Episodes in Pwyll” by Jessica Hemming (a Reed College grad!)(available on JSTOR) W Mar 9: The Second Branch (Branwen Daughter of Llyr) in The Mabinogion, pp. 22-34 F Mar 11: The Third Branch (Manawydan Son of Llyr) in The Mabinogion, pp. 35-46 M Mar 14: The Fourth Branch (Math Son of Mathonwy) in The Mabinogion, pp. 47-64 W Mar 16: The Four Branches (re-read all four); and read “The Structure of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi” by J. K. Bollard (PDF handout); and “The Mabinogi and the Education of Princes in Medieval Wales” by Helen Fulton (PDF handout). Th Mar 17: Happy St Patrick's Day (patron saint of Ireland)! F Mar 18: Armes Prydein (PDF handout); excerpt from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Prophecies of Merlin (PDF handout) SPRING BREAK The Age of Conquest M Mar 28: The Dream of the Emperor Maxen and Lludd and Llefelys (both in The Mabinogion, pp. 103-115 ) W Mar 30: Rhonabwy's Dream (in The Mabinogion, pp. 214-226) F Apr 1: Geoffrey of Monmouth, excerpts relating to King Arthur (PDF handout). And for further background and reflections on Geoffrey of Monmouth, see here. M Apr 4: excerpts from Gerald of Wales, The History and Topography of Ireland, pp. 31-32, and 57-125. For useful biographical background on Gerald of Wales, see here. And see here for access to the British Library's digitized online version of an important early manuscript of the Latin original of this text, a manuscript produced under Gerald's supervision and containing many illuminated illustrations.) W Apr 6: Gerald of Wales, The Journey Through Wales, pp. 63-121; and “Introduction” pp. 9-29 F Apr 8: Gerald of Wales, The Journey Through Wales, pp. 130-192 and pp. 205-209 M Apr 11: Gerald of Wales, The Description of Wales, pp. 211-274 W Apr 13: Marie de France Prologue and Guigemar, pp. 48-99. For background information and reflections on Marie de France, see here. F Apr 15: Marie de France, Bisclavret, pp. 144-161. M Apr 18: Marie de France,Yonec, pp. 210-239, and Milun, pp. 250-277 W Apr 20: Marie de France, Lanval, pp. 162-195 F Apr 22: Marie de France, Guildelüec and Guilliadun, pp. 300-359 M Apr 25: Dafydd ap Gwilym, Unless She Beckons (read all) W Apr 27: Dafydd ap Gwilym (continued); and Gwerful Mechain (PDF handout) F Apr 29: Dafydd ap Gwilym (continued) and Gwerful Mechain; Paper #2 due. Date of final exam TBA. |
Course Policies , Et Cetera
Class Participation
Though this class may be large, I expect everyone to participate regularly. If speaking aloud in class is not amenable to you, you may certainly discuss the texts with me in my office hours or via email.
Grading
Your final grade will consist of the following:
First paper (due 3/3/2022): 30% Second paper (due 4/29/2022): 30%
Class participation: 20% Final Exam: 20%
Late Papers
Papers passed in late without permission will be graded down one half grade per day (including weekends). Furthermore, papers passed in late will not receive written comments.
Attendance and COVID-19
ENG 201 is an in-person class. Therefore, when your health allows, you are expected to be present and engaged in class. At the same time, each community member has an individual responsibility to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Following public health guidance is part of living in an honorable community. As such, masks are required at all times during the duration of class. I will have to ask you to leave the classroom if you are not wearing a mask over your nose and mouth.
The following recommendations should guide your decision about coming to class:
• Self-isolation is the recommended course of action for anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms, whether due to possible coronavirus or to other illnesses. Please stay at home if you feel sick, and contact the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) or your healthcare provider to discuss. This is especially important if you think you may have an infectious disease.
• You should not attend class if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or if you have received notification or advice from the college or a health professional (including HCC staff) to quarantine or self-isolate.
• The CDC suggests that people with the following symptoms may have COVID: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. As always, please consult a medical professional (members of the HCC or otherwise) if you have any questions about your health or health safety.
• If you suspect or know you have been exposed to a case of COVID-19, contact the HCC right away to discuss your next steps. For more information, visit the CDC’s webpage on isolation and quarantine.
If you need to miss a class, or series of classes, due to illness, self-isolation, and/or quarantine, you are responsible for emailing me to let me know as soon as possible. You are also responsible for coordinating with me to complete work that you might miss due to absences.
Special accommodations: Accommodations will be given to students who have conditions that affect their performances in class. Please provide documentation for these concerns and be sure to speak to the instructors within the first two weeks of class. For questions on these accommodations and official processes of getting tested, please contact Disability Services: [email protected].
Class Participation
Though this class may be large, I expect everyone to participate regularly. If speaking aloud in class is not amenable to you, you may certainly discuss the texts with me in my office hours or via email.
Grading
Your final grade will consist of the following:
First paper (due 3/3/2022): 30% Second paper (due 4/29/2022): 30%
Class participation: 20% Final Exam: 20%
Late Papers
Papers passed in late without permission will be graded down one half grade per day (including weekends). Furthermore, papers passed in late will not receive written comments.
Attendance and COVID-19
ENG 201 is an in-person class. Therefore, when your health allows, you are expected to be present and engaged in class. At the same time, each community member has an individual responsibility to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Following public health guidance is part of living in an honorable community. As such, masks are required at all times during the duration of class. I will have to ask you to leave the classroom if you are not wearing a mask over your nose and mouth.
The following recommendations should guide your decision about coming to class:
• Self-isolation is the recommended course of action for anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms, whether due to possible coronavirus or to other illnesses. Please stay at home if you feel sick, and contact the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) or your healthcare provider to discuss. This is especially important if you think you may have an infectious disease.
• You should not attend class if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or if you have received notification or advice from the college or a health professional (including HCC staff) to quarantine or self-isolate.
• The CDC suggests that people with the following symptoms may have COVID: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. As always, please consult a medical professional (members of the HCC or otherwise) if you have any questions about your health or health safety.
• If you suspect or know you have been exposed to a case of COVID-19, contact the HCC right away to discuss your next steps. For more information, visit the CDC’s webpage on isolation and quarantine.
If you need to miss a class, or series of classes, due to illness, self-isolation, and/or quarantine, you are responsible for emailing me to let me know as soon as possible. You are also responsible for coordinating with me to complete work that you might miss due to absences.
Special accommodations: Accommodations will be given to students who have conditions that affect their performances in class. Please provide documentation for these concerns and be sure to speak to the instructors within the first two weeks of class. For questions on these accommodations and official processes of getting tested, please contact Disability Services: [email protected].