Course Syllabus

Lit 3319: Medieval to Renaissance Literature

Spring 2011
AH2 1.204, MW 10:30-11:45
Professor Jessica C. Murphy

Professor Contact Information

Jessica C. Murphy
Phone: 972-883-4445
Email: jessica.c.murphy@utdallas.edu
Office: JO 5.408
Office Hours: Monday 4-5 and by appointment

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions: HUMA 1301, LIT 2331, LIT 2332,
or LIT 2341.

Course Description

Survey of English Literature from the Middle Ages through 1650: Gender and Genre are often thought of
as fixed and separate categories, but they can have a profound effect on one another. For example, does
an epic offer a different vision of masculinity than a lyric poem? Are female characters in comedies
portrayed differently than those in prose romances? In this class, we will explore the literature of the
Middle Ages through the middle of the 17th century through the lenses of gender and genre. Students will
engage critically with the texts and their historical milieus with attention to the theme of the course.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should demonstrate:

• a detailed knowledge of the texts we read;
• an understanding of the relationship between those texts and the social history of
England; and
• an ability to think and write critically about the texts.

Required Textbooks and Materials

• The Norton Anthology of English Literature Volume 1, 8th Edition, ISBN 9780393925319 (you
can buy Volume 1A and 1B if you prefer slimmer books)
• You should have access to an MLA style guide (there are free versions online, such as Purdue's
Online Writing Lab)
• UTD email account that you check frequently (see below for information on email)
• Membership in our course webpage: http://englishliteratureto1650.pbworks.com/
Academic Calendar

Date Reading Assignment

1/10 Introduction to course
Background: "The Middle Ages" 1-23, "Anglo-Saxon Literature" 24
1/12 "The Wanderer" and "The Wife’s Lament" pp. 111-114
Marie de France Lanval p. 141-155
1/17 NO CLASS--Martin Luther King Jr. Day
"The Myth of Arthur’s Return" (3 versions) p. 127-128
1/19
Thomas Malory, Morte Darthur, The Death of Arthur pp. 448-453
1/24 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Part 1 pp. 160-172
1/26 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Parts 2-4 pp. 172-213
Julian of Norwich A Book of Showings Julian's Bodily Sickness and the Wounds of Christ pp. 371-373
Margery Kempe The Book of Margery Kempe The Birth of her First Child and her First Vision pp. 383-
385
1/31
Anne Askew The First Examination pp. 628-630
Amelia Lanyer Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum Eve’s Apology in Defense of Women pp. 1313-1314, pp.
1317-1319
Geoffrey Chaucer The General Prologue pp. 216-219 (lines 1-42), and the miller's portrait pp. 231-232
2/2
(lines 547-568)
2/7 The Miller’s Prologue pp. 239-241
2/9 The Miller's Tale pp. 241-254
2/14 Exam 1
Background: The Sixteenth Century pp. 485-513
Mary I Letter to Henry VIII pp. 662-665
Lady Jane Grey Letter pp. 668-669, 672-673
2/16
Mary Queen of Scots to Elizabeth I pp. 675-676, 679-681
Elizabeth I pp. 687-688, "Verses Written with a Diamond " p. 688, Letter to Mary pp. 694-695, Speech
to the Troops pp. 699-700
"The Sonnet"
Lady Mary Wroth, “Pamphilia to Amphilanthus,” Sonnets 16, 28, and 68 pp. 1457, 1458, and 1459
2/21 Sidney, “Astrophil and Stella,” Sonnets 1, 5, and 9 pp. 975-976, and 977
Shakespeare Sonnets 1, 18, 20, 128, and 130 pp. 1062-1063, and pp. 1073-1074
Spenser, “Amoretti,” Sonnets 37, 75, and 79 pp. 904, 905, and 906
2/23 continued discussion of The Sonnet
2/28 Edmund Spenser The Faerie Queene pp. 714-719, Book 3 pp. 867-902
Christopher Marlowe "Passionate Shepherd to his Love" p. 1022
3/2
Ralegh "Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd" pp. 917-918

Philip Sidney Arcadia pp. 947-953

3/7
Mary Wroth Urania pp. 1451-1457

Hariot's Report on Virginia pp. 938-943

3/9 Thomas More Utopia pp. 518-545 (to end of Book 1)
Amelia Lanyer "Description of Cookham" pp. 1319-1324
3/14 NO CLASS--Spring Break
Date Reading Assignment
3/16 NO CLASS--Spring Break
3/21 Christopher Marlowe "Hero and Leander" pp. 1004-1022
3/23 Exam 2
“The Gender Wars” pp. 1543-1549
Bacon “Marriage” p. 1553
3/28 Swetnam, “Arraignment” pp. 1544-1546
Speght, “Muzzle” pp. 1546-1549
Sowernam and Other pamphlet writing (handout)
3/30 “The Gender Wars” continued
4/4 Webster, Duchess of Malfi pp. 1462-1488 (up to Act 3)
4/6 Webster, Duchess of Malfi pp. 1488-1535 (act 3 to end)
4/11 Elizabeth Cary Tragedy of Mariam pp. 1536-1542
4/13 William Shakespeare Twelfth Night pp. 1077-1139
4/18 continued discussion of Twelfth Night
4/20 John Milton Paradise Lost pp. 1830-1833 (introduction and lines 1-26)
4/25 Paradise Lost pp. 1887-1908
4/27 Paradise Lost pp. 1980-1998 (lines 289-1189)
5/2 Exam 3

Assignments & Grading Policy

Below are the required assignments for this course. I will provide more detailed information as the due
dates approach. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about assignments.

Completion of all of the assignments in this course is a condition for earning a passing grade.
The instructor reserves the right to amend any policies or assignments at her discretion.

Participation 15%
Participation includes attending class, participating in discussions and in-class activities, completing
assignments (on time—no late work will be accepted), and performing well on reading quizzes and in-
class writing assignments.

Discussion Question Assignment 10%

Each student will be responsible for posting one discussion question throughout the semester following
the guidelines the instructor provides. These questions will serve to guide a portion of our class discussion
and will also form the basis of exam essay questions.

Exams 75%: Exam 1 20%, Exam 2 25%, Exam 3 30%

Each exam will require writing critically about the texts overall and about specific passages. We will
discuss the exams in class ahead of time.

Course & Instructor Policies

In this class, students will examine English literature through reading assignments, writing assignments,
and class. To that end, the policies below are meant to create the best possible learning environment for
the students. Please contact the instructor if you have any questions about these policies. I will consider
your continued enrollment in this class as evidence that you accept these policies.

Attendance
Participation in class activities is necessary to pass this class. Promptness and regular attendance are
essential and will affect your grade. You must arrive, prepared, to class on time and stay for the class
period—two late arrivals or two early departures equal one absence. Attendance is included in your
participation grade for the course. However, if you miss more than 2 classes, you will lose points from
your final grade for each additional missed class. In cases of proven emergencies, the instructor may
reconsider this policy at her discretion. However, participation points cannot be made up.

Community
It is expected that we will respect one another and one another’s ideas. When we are in class, we are
present: no cell phones, pagers, email, or other forms of electronic communication. If your phone rings, I
or a classmate will answer it (if my phone rings, you may answer it).

Disability Services
If you are a student with a disability and would like to see me to discuss special academic
accommodations, please contact me after class or during my office hours. For more information about
The Office of Student AccessAbility, visit their website: http://www.utdallas.edu/studentaccess/or call
972-883-2098. (see link below for more detailed information)

Office Hours
You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of my office hours to talk about class materials, your
papers, and anything else that might help you.

Avoid Plagiarizing by Accident!

Using another’s ideas or language without acknowledging the source or passing off another’s ideas or
language as your own is plagiarism and will not be tolerated. Students often plagiarize without intending
to because they are unsure about how to cite sources. Plagiarism by accident is still plagiarism (and will
be punished as such), so please feel free to come see me if you are unsure about how to cite sources. (see
below for policy on Academic Integrity)

The policies that comprise the rest of the syllabus may be accessed online:
http://provost.utdallas.edu/home/syllabus‐policies‐and‐procedures‐text