ENGL-108-01 Chaucer

Faculty:

Hirsh, John

McNamer, Sarah

Fall 2008
John Hirsh

A reading and discussion of Chaucer's great (if unfinished) master-work, the Canterbury Tales, a work of first importance to anyone who reads (or writes) narrative fiction. Students will read the work in original Middle English in which Chaucer wrote it, and discuss it in small and in large groups, focusing upon the work's narrative strategies, intellectual constructions, and artistic accomplishment. They will also write, in a variety of ways, about those aspects which particularly take their interest.

Spring 2009
Sarah McNamer

In this course we will undertake a critical study of that brilliant masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. By turns bawdy and lofty, racy and religious, hilarious and deeply moving, this collection of stories will challenge us to develop ways of reading adequate to its double status as relic of the distant past and as a text that anticipates many contemporary understandings of identity, meaning, and truth. We will read the Tales in the original Middle English, which is really quite easy; no prior exposure to the language is necessary.

Requirements: 3 short papers (3 pages each), 1 longer paper (10 pages), frequent quizzes, and active participation in class discussion.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2004-2005 Fall and Spring
• 2005-2006 Fall and Spring
• 2007-2008 Fall and Spring
• 2009-2010 Fall and Spring
• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring
• 2011-2012 Fall and Spring
• 2012-2013 Fall and Spring
• 2013-2014 Fall and Spring

More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.

The academic department web site for this program may provide other details about this course.