Undergraduate Course: Chaucerian Romance (ENLI10290)

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 introduces students to the romances of Geoffrey Chaucer, and explores the ways in which Chaucer appropriated and re-worked romance literary conventions to decidedly un-romantic ends. While Chaucer observes the narrative conventions of romance, he seems to be sceptical about its aesthetic values, and he interrogates its representations of gender and class relationships. The course examines the ways in which Chaucer turns romance against itself, using the romance form as a vehicle for questioning and critiquing inherited romance values. But in addition to exploring the literary self-consciousness of Chaucerian romance, and its critical engagement with courtly notions of class, gender, and sexuality, the course also considers Chaucer?s use of romance to explore broader philosophical questions such as the relationship of human free will to divine providence, and the compatibility of divine justice with human suffering.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites	It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Scottish Literature 2 (ENLI08004) AND Scottish Literature 1 (ENLI08016)	Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None
Additional Costs	Essential course texts

Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites	A MINIMUM of 4 college/university level literature courses at grade B or above (should include no more than one introductory level literature course). Related courses such as civilisation or other interdisciplinary classes, Freshman Year Seminars or composition/creative writing classes/workshops are not considered for admissions 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 4 literature classes at grade A.
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?	No

Course Delivery Information

Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)			Learn enabled: Yes	Quota: 15
Web Timetable	Web Timetable
Class Delivery Information	1 hour(s) per week for 10 week(s). 1 hour a week attendance at Autonomous Learning Group - times to be arranged
Course Start Date	15/09/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info)	Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name	Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)		2:00

Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)			Learn enabled: Yes	Quota: 3
Web Timetable	Web Timetable
Class Delivery Information	1 hour(s) per week for 10 week(s). 1 hour a week attendance at Autonomous Learning Group - times to be arranged
Course Start Date	15/09/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info)	Written Exam 75 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 0 %
No Exam Information

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who have successfully completed the course will have acquired a knowledge of the principal works of Geoffrey Chaucer, and will have an understanding both of the literary conventions of medieval romance, and of how Chaucer adopted and adapted these conventions for his own aesthetic and intellectual ends. In addition, students will be able to place Chaucer?s romances in a range of extra-literary contexts ? for example, philosophical, political, and social ? and will have acquired an understanding of the ways in which Chaucer uses the romance form to reflect upon and engage with these broader cultural concerns.

Assessment Information
One term essay of 2,500 words (25%); one examination of two hours (75%) Visiting Student Variant Assessment One term essay of 2,500 words (25%); one take home exam essay of 3,000 words (75%)

Special Arrangements
Numbers are limited and students taking degrees not involving English or Scottish Literature need the written approval of the Head of English Literature.

Contacts
Course organiser	Dr David Salter Tel: (0131 6)50 3055 Email: David.Salter@ed.ac.uk	Course secretary	Ms June Haigh Tel: (0131 6)50 3620 Email: j.haigh@ed.ac.uk