E 326K l Literature of the Middle Ages in Translation

Instructor: Woods, M Semester: Spring 2020 Unique #: 35465 Flags: Global Cultures, Writing

Prerequisites: Nine Semester Hours of coursework in English or Rhetoric and Writing

Description: In this course we study a series of literary texts with conflicting depictions of and attitudes toward love, sex, martyrdom, romance, sexuality (including virginity), rape, seduction and marriage. Whenever possible we compare texts written by men with similar texts written by women. We begin with the third-century visions and martyrdom of Perpetua (thought to contain the earliest surviving autobiographical text by a woman), and a fifth-century pagan romance, Apollonius of Tyre, an early version of a story popular throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. Our transition to later medieval works is two works by Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, who lived the tenth century and wrote adventure stories and dramas for nuns; the Legend of Basilius is one of the first versions of the Faust theme, and Callimachus is a drama of necrophilia and redemption. Roughly contemporary with Hrotsvit is one of the most popular of all medieval school texts, the Eclogue of Theodulus, in which a Hebrew shepherdess and a pagan shepherd debate citing paired stories from their respective religions (she wins). The main focus of the end of the course is a series of twelfth-century texts of different genres; this is the period of the greatest writing in medieval Latin and the beginning of the vernacular languages, especially those on Arthurian themes. We read a medieval rhetorical text about how to compose poetry (and try out some of its exercises) and end with a collection of short secular love stories by a woman, the Lais of Marie de France, and a contemporary the Arthurian chivalric romance by Chrétien de Troyes. The very end of the semester semester will be devoted to medieval manuscripts. We will read a book on how they were made, visit the collection at the Harry Ransom Center, and learn how to make transcriptions (an in-class, ungraded exercise).

Required Texts: Rea and Clarke, Perpetua’s Journey: Faith, Gender, & Power in the Roman Empire (Oxford), ISBN 978-0190238711 Apollonius of Tyre, on Canvas Hrotsvit of Gandersheim: A Florilegium of Her Works, trans. Wilson (BOYDEL), ISBN 978-0859914895 The Eclogue of Theodulus, on Canvas The Poetria nova of Geoffrey of Vinsauf, trans. Nims, revised edition only (U of Toronto), ISBN 978-0-88844-299-4 The Lais of Marie de France: Text and Translation, ed. and trans. Waters (Broadview Press), ISBN 978-1-55481-082-6 Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, or, The Kinight With the Lion, trans. Cline (University of Georgia), ISBN 978-0820-307589 De Hamel, Scribes and Illuminators (U of Toronto), ISBN 978-0802077073 or version on Canvas Hacker, Pocket Style Manual, 8th edition if possible (Bedford St. Martins), ISBN 978-1319057404 Murfin and Roy, Bedford Glossary of Critical & Literary Term, new 4th edition if possible (VHPS), ISBN 978-1319035396

Requirements & Grading: Students will write three papers (3-5 pages each). Each assignment will include a creative as well as an analytical option. Each paper will be peer reviewed by a group of 4-5 students, a cohort that will stay together throughout the semester. Each paper will then be revised and turned in along with the peer-reviewed versions. In addition, we will discuss writing assignments often in class as students are preparing them and brainstorm together on various approaches. Because there are no exams and class is conducted by discussion, attendance is mandatory and class participation will be an important part of your grade. Each student will present one informal report on the reading assigned for one class in order to initiate class discussion (two students may present together); a one-page handout will be a requirement for this oral assignment. Class discussion and the oral report, 40%; Written work, 60%.

Schedule:

T Jan 21 Introduction. First pages of Perpetua and Apollonius (handouts). Writers’ survey. Murfin and Ross. Th Jan 23 Perpetua (pp. 3-22, 169-173, , and Chapter 1, Carcer et Praetorium, “The Prison and the Palace,” pp. 3-22). [There may be alternate assignments for first weeks of class, depending on availability of texts.]

T Jan 28 Perpetua, Chapters 2 and 3. Th Jan 30 Perpetua, Chapter 4.

T Feb 4 Begin Apollonius (on Canvas). Pages TBA. Th Feb 6 Apollonius, cont.

T Feb 11 Finish Apollonius. Handout of poem from Carmina Burana manuscript. [visitors from EYES ON TEACHING] Th Feb 13 Hrotsvit of Gandersheim: “Introduction,” “Preface to Dramas,” and Callimachus. Handout of student graphic version of Callimachus.

T Feb 18 HARD COPIES OF FIRST PAPER DUE TO PEER REVIEWERS AT BEGINNING OF CLASS Hrotsvit, “Gallicanus and Dulcitius. Th Feb 20 PEER EDITING OF FIRST PAPERS. Bring Pocket Style Manual to class.

T Feb 25 REVISED FIRST PAPER DUE TO PROFESSOR. Begin Eclogue of Theodulus in class. Th Feb 27 Eclogue of Theodulus, lines TBA; look for resemblances in each pair of quatrains.

T Mar 3 Finish Eclogue of Theodulus. Th Mar 5 TBA

T Mar 10 Review Eclogue of Theodulus. Poetria nova, pp. 19-21; Marie de France, Lais 1: Guigemar (pp. 49-99); introduction TBA. Th Mar 12 Poetria nova, introduction and continue text; Lais of Marie de France, Equitain and Le Fresne; introduction TBA.

[Mar. 16-20 SPRING BREAK]

T Mar 24 Poetria nova, cont.; Lais 4-6 Th Mar 26 Poetria nova, cont.; Lais 7-9.

T Mar 31 Finish Poetria nova; Lais 10-12. HARD COPIES OF SECOND PAPER DUE TO PEER REVIEWERS AT BEGINNNG OF CLASS. Th April 2 PEER REVIEWS OF SECOND PAPERS

T Apr 7 Begin Yvain.R EVISED PAPERS DUE TO PROFESSOR. Th Apr 9 Yvain, cont.

T Apr 14 Finish Yvain. Th Apr 16 Scribes and Illuminators, Ch. 1.

T Apr 21 THIRD PAPER DUE TO PEER REVIEWERS. Scribes and Illuminators, Ch. 2 Th Apr 23 PEER REVIEWS

T Apr 28 REVISED PAPERS DUE TO PROFESSOR Scribes and Illuminators, Ch. 3 Th Apr 30 In-class transcription exercise.

T May 5 Class goes to the HRC. Th May 7 Handout of readings of medieval lyrics. Course evaluations.

[Friday, May 8 NO CLASS. LAST DAY TO TURN IN REWRITES.]

This course carries the Global Cultures flag. Global Cultures courses are designed to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from assignments covering the practices, beliefs, and histories of at least one non-U.S. cultural group, past or present. This course carries the Writing Flag. Writing Flag courses are designed to give students experience with writing in an academic discipline. In this class, you can expect to write regularly during the semester, complete substantial writing projects, and receive feedback from your instructor to help you improve your writing. You will also have the opportunity to revise one or more assignments, and you may be asked to read and discuss your peers’ work. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from your written work. Writing Flag classes meet the Core Communications objectives of Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility, established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Policies: Documented Disability Statement: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471- 6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone), or visit http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.

Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.

Academic Integrity: Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student's own work. For additional information on Academic Integrity, see http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acadint.php.

Religious Holy Days: By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of a pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Professor: M. C. Woods

Web Site: Canvas (current syllabus listed under “Files”).