Undergraduate Course: Falling in Love in the Middle Ages (ENLI10199)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | English Literature |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/literatures-languages-cultures/english-literature/undergraduate/current/honours |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course examines a range of texts in diverse genres composed in medieval Europe from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries, exploring how love, eroticism, and sexuality are portrayed and considering their aesthetic, cultural, and philosophical significance. Particular attention is given to the concept of courtly love and its development; the relationship between gender and desire; and the interplay between sacred and secular ideas of love. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | A MINIMUM of four college/university level literature courses at grade B or above (should include no more than one introductory level literature course). Related courses such as cross disciplinary, "Freshman Seminars", civilisation or creative writing classes are not considered for admission to this course.
Applicants should also note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. In making admissions decisions preference will be given to students who achieve above the minimum requirement with the typical visiting student admitted to this course
having four or more literature classes at grade A.
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course **
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| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- to introduce students to a variety of medieval prose and poetic texts from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries composed in medieval Europe and Britain, including classical works by Dante and Chaucer, and also a number of lesser known texts
- to introduce students to a diversity of medieval genres including 'theoretical' works about love; lyric poetry; prose romance; dream poetry; philosophical vision; 'mystical' writing;
- to explore how the subject of human love manifests itself in the Middle Ages. In what ways are imaginative representations of eros culturally specific or culturally 'transcendent'? What exactly is the nature, and legacy, of medieval love?
- By the end of the course, through close readings of chosen texts, students will understand a range of issue such as: the concept of courtly love and its development through time; the relationship between gender and desire (is love articulated differently by medieval women writers?; how are desiring women portrayed in literature?); the concept of the beloved woman; and the subject of medieval men who love); Dante's revolutionary concepts of love and the feminine; the interplay between sacred/religious and secular/profane ideas of desire, how different literary genres influence, or artistically shape, the representation of love (eg. romance; dream vision; lyric); the concept of 'emotion' and 'experience' in the Middle Ages, including the question of whether we can speak of desiring 'subjectivity' or 'selfhood' in these texts; and the question of how love is experienced in bodily or physical terms; the relationship between desire and writing.
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Assessment Information
1 essay of 2,500 words (25%);
one two-hour examination (75%)
Visiting Student Variant
1 course essay of 2,500 words (25%)
one take-away exam essay of 3,000 words (75%) |
Special Arrangements
| Numbers are limited to 15, with priority given to students taking degrees involving English or Scottish Literature and Visiting Students placed by the Admissions Office. Students not in these categories need the written approval of the Head of English Literature before enrolling. In the case of excess applications places will be decided by ballot.. |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
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| Transferable skills |
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| Reading list |
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sarah Dunnigan
Tel: (0131 6)50 8304
Email: S.M.Dunnigan@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Sheila Strathdee
Tel: (0131 6)50 3619
Email: S.Strathdee@ed.ac.uk |
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