Saints and Sinners: Voicing Belief, Doubt, and Dissent in Medieval English Literature (U03276)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U03276

This course,introduces students to a range of medieval literary texts that explore questions of religious faith and spirituality, and that challenge preconceived and simplistic notions of the relationship between Church, community, and culture in the period. While the medieval Church sought to impose a certain degree of dogmatic uniformity, the chosen texts suggest that it did not always function in a monolithic or rigidly coercive way. Instead, literature opened up a space in which doubts about doctrine were voiced, and assumptions about authority and hierarchy were open to question.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Passes in English or Scottish Literature 1, and English or Scottish or American Literature 2, with a mark of 50 or above at the first attempt in the second year course.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Numbers are limited and students taking degrees not involving English or Scottish literature need the written approval of the head of English Literature.

? Costs : Essential course texts.

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Saints and Sinners (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

English Literature, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
24/09/2007	16:10	18:00	Room 6.11, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	18:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who have successfully completed this course should have acquired a knowledge of a number of key Middle English texts, and an understanding of how these works engage with contemporary religious debates and ideas. By the end of the course, students should also be familiar with the ways in which both religious scepticism and religious fervour come to be expressed through literary texts, and how doubts and ideals tend to be articulated in terms of contemporary social, political and economics models.