Discovering
Literature:
The Tap-root of
English Literature
The tap-root,
Anglo-Saxon, can never be abandoned. ... This is our own stuff, and its
life is
in every branch of the tree to the remotest twigs.
That we cannot abandon.
C.
S. Lewis
The
"tap-root" of all literature in English is the literature composed in
Anglo-Saxon England between 597 and 1066.
These works underlie all later literature, which refers to it by
archetype or by direct example. This course focuses on Anglo-Saxon
literature,
beginning with works which influenced Old English writers and ending
with late medieval
works which derive from the "tap-root."
There
will be periodic in-class writing assignments [100 points], a midterm
[100
points], and a final exam [200 points].
There will also be three 3-5 page papers [100 points] [course
total: 700 points]. Paper
topics will be distributed about two
weeks before each paper is due. Use of
secondary sources must be documented, and in accordance with the Honor
Code,
any detected plagiarism will be penalized, ranging from failure of the
course
to suspension from school. Attendance is
mandatory, and more than two unexcused absences will reduce the grade
one
letter grade and more than five will result in failure in the course.
A
Schedule of Assignments follows; all readings should be completed
before coming
to class. Quizzes will be on the
material covered the previous week.
Wednesday, January 3 INTRODUCTION
Monday, January 8
"The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas" and Chaucer's
"Second Nun's Tale" (coursepack)
Wednesday, January 10
"The Waking of Angantyr" and "The Lay of Atli"
(course reader) and "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: A.D.
755" (Raffel-Olsen, 143)
Monday, January 15 MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
Wednesday, January 17
"The Wanderer" (Raffel-Olsen, 7), "The Seafarer"
(Raffel-Olsen, 10), "A Woman's Lament" (Raffel-Olsen, 14),
"Wulf
and Eadwacer" (Raffel-Olsen, 15), "The Husband's Message"
(Raffel-Olsen, 16), "Deor" (Raffel-Olsen, 18), and "The
Ruin" (Raffel-Olsen, 19
Monday, January 22
Judith (Raffel-Olsen, 24), "Elene" (Raffel-Olsen, 35),
and "Sermo Lupi" (Raffel-Olsen,
177)
Wednesday, January
24 Beowulf, lines 1-1007a
Monday, January 29 Beowulf, lines 1007b-2100
Wednesday, January 31 Beowulf, lines 2101-3182
Paper #1 due
Monday, February 5 "The Conversion of Edwin"
(Raffel-Olsen, 192), "Alfred's Preface to Pastoral Care"
(Raffel-Olsen, 197), and Genesis B (Raffel-Olsen, 76)
Wednesday, February 7 "Eight Charms," (Raffel-Olsen, 61),
"Riddles" (Raffel-Olsen, 110), "Genesis A: Abraham
and Isaac" (Raffel-Olsen, 73),
"Abraham and Isaac" (from the Brome manuscript) and
selections from Genesis (coursepack)
Monday, February 12 Midterm
Wednesday, February
14 "Sir Orfeo" and "Florent"
(coursepack)
Monday, February 19 Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, Part I
Wednesday, February
21 Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, Part II
Monday, February 26 Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, Fitt III-IV
PAPER #2 DUE
Wednesday, February
28 Patience
and Pearl
Monday, March 5 Macbeth,
Act I
Wednesday, March 7 Macbeth, Acts II and III
Monday, March 12 Macbeth, Acts IV an V III
Last revised 10/12/06