Medieval Women Writers (ENG 201)
Spring 2023
Schedule of Reading and Assignments
M Jan 23: Introductions; and read excerpts from The Life of Christine the Astonishing (PDF) W Jan 25: The Gospel According to Luke (PDF); short excerpt from The Acts of the Apostles (PDF); and read web content on “Jesus,” and the “Virgin Mary” F Jan 27: Excerpts from the Book of Genesis and the Book of Psalms (PDFs); and read web content on "The Medieval Christian Bible," “Sin” and “Redemption” M Jan 30: The Passion of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas and “Augustine Preaches on the Feast of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas” (PDF) W Feb 1: Dhuoda’s Handbook for William (selections, PDF); and read web content on “God” and “the Trinity” F Feb 3: Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim, “Preface to the Dramas,” “Her Letter to the Learned Patrons of This Book,” and the plays Dulcitius and Calimachus (PDF) M Feb 6: Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim, the plays Abraham and Sapientia (PDF) W Feb 8: The Life of Christina of Markyate (read whole book) F Feb 10: The Life of Christina of Markyate Sat Feb 11: Paper #1 due (2 pages), at 5:00 p.m. M Feb 13: Herrad of Landsberg; read “Introduction” and “A Bee in the Garden of the Lord” from The Garden of Delights: Reform and Renaissance for Women in the Twelfth Century by Fiona J. Griffiths (PDFs) W Feb 15: Herrad of Landsberg, in-class group work F Feb 17: Herrad of Landsberg, in-class presentations M Feb 20: Herrad of Landsberg, in-class presentations; and read Walter Map, Dissuasio Valerii ad Rufinum (PDF) W Feb 22: Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, “Declaration” and Book One, Vision One and Vision Two (pp. 59-90); and read "'A Poor Little Female'" by Barbara Newman (PDF); and, importantly, listen to A Feather on the Breath of God (audio album, available here). For a brief overview of Hildegard's life and work, see here. F Feb 24: Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, the remainder of Book One (pp. 91-143) M Feb 27: Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, Book Two, Visions One, Two, Three, and Six (pp. 147-185 and pp. 236-289) W Mar 1: Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, Book Three, Visions One, Two, Three and Four (pp. 308-368 ) F Mar 3: Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias, Book Three, Vision Thirteen ("The Symphony of the Blessed," pp. 525-536); and read selected letters (PDF); and "Daughters of Eve" by Barbara Newman (PDF); and listen to Ordo Virtutum (audio album, available here) M Mar 6: Marie de France, Prologue and Guigemar (in The Lais of Marie de France, pp. 47-99). For a brief overview of Marie's life and work, see here. T Mar 7: Paper #2 due (2 pages), at 5:00 p.m. W Mar 8: Marie de France, Equitan and Le Fresne (pp. 100-143) F Mar 10: Marie de France, Bisclavret (pp. 144-161) SPRING BREAK (March 9-March 19) M Mar 20: Marie de France: Lanval and Deus Amanz (pp. 162-209) W Mar 22: Marie de France, Yonec and Laüstic (pp. 210-249) F Mar 24: Marie de France, Milun (pp. 250-277) M Mar 27: Marie de France, Le Chaitivel and Chevrefoil (pp. 278-299) W Mar 29: Marie de France: Guildelüec and Guilliadun (pp. 300-359) F Mar 31: Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, “The Short Text,” pp. 1-38; and read “The Life of an Anchoress” by Grace M. Jantzen (PDF) M Apr 3: Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, “The Long Text,” pp. 41-54 T Apr 4: Paper #3 due (4 pages), at 5:00 p.m. W Apr 5: Julian of Norwich, “The Long Text,” pp. 55-127 F Apr 7: Julian of Norwich, “The Long Text,” pp. 128-180; and read “Human Nature: The Image of God” by Joan M. Nuth (PDF) M Apr 10: The Book of Margery Kempe, pp. 3-91; and read “Female Sanctity in the Late Middle Ages” by Clarissa W. Atkinson W Apr 12: The Book of Margery Kempe, pp. 91-177; and read “Authorship and Authority” by Lynn Staley (PDF) F Apr 14: The Book of Margery Kempe, pp. 178-256 M Apr 17: Gwerful Mechain, pp. 7-105 W Apr 19: Gwerful Mechain F Apr 21: Christine de Pisan, The Book of the City of Ladies, pp. 21-96 Sat Apr 22: Paper #4 due (4 pages), at 5:00 p.m. M Apr 24: Christine de Pisan, pp. 97-188 W Apr 26: Christine de Pisan, pp. 189-221 F Apr 28: Christine de Pisan, "The Poem of Joan of Arc" (PDF) Final Exam (take-home, two essay questions) will be due on Monday, May 8, 5:00 p.m. |
Required Textbooks
The following should all be available at the Reed College Bookstore. If you do buy them elsewhere, please note the correct editions.
Learning Outcomes
|
Course Policies
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. And please be advised that a collaborative group project (on Herrad of Landsberg) will constitute part of the final grade. Attendance You are given three absences, no questions asked. Use them wisely: i.e., for when you are really sick, or because you've been indicted, or because your bicycle was stolen by leprechauns. You don't need to tell me why you're absent, but more than three absences will be deducted from your final grade. More than six absences jeopardizes your chance of passing the course. Grading Your final grade will consist of the following: Class Participation: 20% Group Project: 10% Paper #1: 10% Paper #2: 10% Paper #3: 15% Paper #4: 15% Final Exam: 20% Hard Copies Papers should be passed in at my office mailbox as hard copies. (A bit old-fashioned, yes, but much easier for me to grade.) 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. |