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The University of Tennessee at Martin Department of English English 480[680] (Chaucer) (1.00-1.50 MWF) (3 credit hours) Humanities 117 Fall 2013 Dr. Daniel F. Pigg Office Hours (130F Humanities) Monday 10.00-11.00 Tuesday 1.00-3.00 Wednesday 10.00-11.00, 2.00-3.00 Thursday 4.00-5.00 Friday 10.00-11.00 and by appointment 731.881.7284 (office) 731.587.4597(home) 731.694.3077 (cell—I do accept text messages, but identify who you are!) e-mail: [email protected] Catalog Description
English 480 (Chaucer) is "a study of representative works read in Middle English, with attention to the cultural context."
Purpose of the course
This course is designed to introduce students to one of the most important poets in the English language, Geoffrey Chaucer. We will contextualize his writings within late fourteenth-century discourses and will critique his texts against another major writer contemporary with him--William Langland.
Goals/Objectives of the Course
1. To develop an appreciation for the diversity of Chaucer's canon. 2. To develop a greater understanding of the historical, political, and social contexts of the last half of the fourteenth century in which the poet lived. 3. To strengthen writing and analytical skills. 4. To see Chaucer as both representative of late medieval culture and thought and at the same time to view him as exceptional.
In addition, English 480 adheres to the guidelines for competencies that the National Council for Teacher Education mandates for those seeking certification in English as noted below:
1. The ability to relate language and literature, both classic and contemporary to students' lives. 2. Ability to instill an appreciation for the historical and social significance and the aesthetics of literature. 2
3. Knowledge and understanding of language and literary diversity (regional, colloquial, cultural, and national). 4. Knowledge of types (genres) and periods of literary development (American, British, and world) and the ability to relate it to class reading and class writing. 5. Understanding of the relationship between the fine arts and literature. 6. Ability to demonstrate competency in the skill of speaking for different audiences, purposes, and points of view. 7. Ability to demonstrate and encourage effective listening skills.
Course Content and Activities
The course will consist of lecture, discussion, and brief presentation made my members of the class.
Evaluation
Report 10% Critiques 10% Examination 60% (20% ea.) Paper 20% Total 100%
Attendance
You are expected to attend class regularly in order to get the most from the course. You will be permitted 4 unexcused absences without penalty to the final grade. After the fourth unexcused absence I will subtract 1/2 letter from your final grade. After 7 unexcused absences, you will receive an "F" for the course. An excused absence requires a note from a valid authority indicating illness or school-sponsored activity. I require no notes for deaths in the family. Work missed as a result of an excused absence can be made up; it cannot for an unexcused absence.
UTM English and Modern Foreign Languages Department Classroom Environment Policy Statement
Since the University of Tennessee at Martin is committed to appreciating and understanding cultural diversity, the members of the English and Modern Foreign Languages department wish to affirm our conviction that a university must be a safe place for the discussion of ideas. As such, the EMFL Department expects all of our colleagues and students to treat with tolerance ideas discussed from a variety of perspectives. The English department respects the dignity of every human being and will not allow discrimination against anyone based on religion, age, disability, ethnic origin, race, class, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. UTM has a new statement posted on the website, and the professor is in full compliance with it too.
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Reports
Groups of two students will present a 15-20 minute report during the semester. Use of secondary sources is a must. On the day when the group gives the report, each member of the class should receive an outline and bibliography for the report. Think of this as a teaching report. What do you want members of the class to learn about your topic? How can you make the topic interesting to them? How will you be able to tell what they have learned from your presentation? The class is your audience, and you need to keep the attention of all. Members of the class should feel free to as questions.
Paper
Each of you will write one paper in this course. It must make use of secondary sources on Chaucer and medieval studies, yet should not be an artistic reshaping of secondary materials. Your paper might grow out of the report. The paper should be 1500 to 2000 words in length and should use MLA internal documentation. Although the paper is not due until late in the semester, I would encourage you to find a topic early so that you devote more time to perfecting your ideas. I will talk to each of you about the paper.
Critiques of Journal Articles and Book Chapters
While our principal endeavor in this course will be to read and analyze the texts of Geoffrey Chaucer, we will also look at some of the important critical studies and major approaches to his writings. I will provide you with two different essays on two different Chaucer texts for examination. I will provide details on the write up for the articles at that point.
Teacher Education Students
Chaucer is a writer that you would teach in a high school English class devoted to British literature. I want to have a couple of special meetings with all secondary education English students to talk about ways of making Chaucer accessible to students at the hight school level. We will look at textbooks, available aids for instruction, and perhaps on developing lesson plans that you might include in your portfolio.
Graduate Credit If you are taking the course for graduate credit, please see me and we will discuss the nature of the enriched assignment that you will complete. You will make your presentation by yourself, and your paper will be 2500 words in length.
Required Text:
Fisher, John H, ed. The Complete Poetry and Prose of Geoffrey Chaucer. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012. 4
Assignments
1. 8/26 Introduction to the course. Imagining a medieval world and role of a medieval poet.
2. 8/28 Introduction to Middle English 965-69. I will give a more simplified handout in class.
3. 8/30 "Chaucer's Life" 960-64.. Book of the Duchess 535-57.
4. 9/4 The Book of the Duchess (cont'd). Report 1: John of Gaunt--Who was he?
5. 9/6 The Book of the Duchess (cont'd).
6. 9/9 Middle English Quiz
7. 9/11 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 1 (396-418). Report 2: Courtly love.
8. 9/13 TC, Book 1 (cont'd).
9. 9/16 TC, Book 2 (419-47).
10. 9/18 TC, Book 3 (448-76.).
11. 9/20 TC, Book 4 (477-503).
12. 9/23 TC, Book 5 (504-33).
13. 9/25 TC, Book 5 (cont'd). Report 3: The Role of Pandarus.
14. 9/27 Examination One
15. 9/30 The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue 3-28. Compare with Piers Plowman, "Prologue." Report 4: Medieval frame tales.
16. 10/2 The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue 3-28. Compare with Piers Plowman, "Prologue."
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17. 10/4 The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue 3-28. Compare with Piers Plowman, "Prologue."
18. 10/7 The Knight's Tale 29-61 .
19. 10/9 The Knight's Tale (cont’d). Report 4: Role of Emelye.
20. 10/11 The Miller's Tale 62-73. Report 5: Romance and fabliau.
21. 10/16 The Reeve's Tale 74-81; Report 6: The representation of women in the fabliau.
22. 10/18 The Cook's Tale 82-84.
23. 10/21 Examination Two (in-class)
24. 10/23 The Man of Law’s Tale 85-107.
25. 10/25 The Wife of Bath's Tale 109-31. Report 7: The medieval anti-feminist tradition.
26. 10/28 The Wife of Bath’s Tale (cont’d). Reading of critical essay.
27. 10/30 The Friar’s Tale 132-38.
28. 11/1 The Summoner’s Tale 139-48.
29. 11/4 The Clerk's Tale 149-69.
30. 11/6 The Merchant's Tale 170-87.
31. 11/8 The Franklin's Tale 189-90, 203-16.
32. 11/11 The Physician's Tale 217-223.
33. 11/13 The Pardoner's Tale 224-34. Report 8: Medieval preaching.
34. 11/15 The Pardoner's Tale (cont'd). Reading of critical essay.
35. 11/18 The Shipman's Tale 235-46.
36. 11/20 The Prioress's Tale 247-51. Report 9: Medieval devotional materials and lay piety. 6
37. 11/22 The Nun's Priest's Tale 299-310. Report 10: The real Harry Bailey.
38. 11/25 The Second Nun’s Prologue and Tale 311-22.
39. 12/2 The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale 323-36. Report 11: Medieval Alchemy
40. 12/4 The Manciple’s Tale 337-44.
41. 12/6 Parson’s Prologue 345-48; Retraction 393-94.
42. 12/9 Final Examination (required attendance). 12.45-2.45 p.m.