In his early poems, Chaucer creates visions of earthly love. He
is concerned to create a world of illusion, using the genres of
dream-vision
and romance. In the poems, he explores themes of interest to people of
all eras: the nature and transitoriness of earthly love, the mutability
of the sub-lunar world, the importance of fame and reputation, and the
fact that men and women must learn to cope with loss, betrayal, and
death.
The required text is The Riverside Chaucer, ed. Larry D. Benson
etal.
There will be a midterm, a final and at least three translation quizzes. Students will be required to present (1) a report on a medieval text that influenced Chaucer (before the midterm) [you may chosses such works as Andreas Capellanus' The Art of Courtly Love, Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, the Romance of the Rose, or one of the texts in Robert P. Miller, Chaucer: Sources and Backgrounds] and (2) a brief review of a scholarly or critical work on Chaucer which s/he will choose [after the midterm]. The oral reports will occupy a maximum of five minutes and the written versions should be two-three pages long. Students will also write a paper of twelve-fifteen pages which will be worth one-third of the grade [due Tuesday, May 30].
In accordance with the Honor Code, any detected plagiarism will be pernalized, rangling from failure of the course to suspension from school. Attendance is mandatory and more than three unexcused absences will lower the grade one letter grade and more than five will result in failure of the course.
Course Total
Quizzes 30
Midterm 100
Final 200
Paper 140
Reports 30
Total: 500
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
Tuesday, March 28 INTRODUCTION and class review of Middle English and reading of "Womanly Noblesse," p. 649; "To Rosemounde," p. 649; "Truth," p. 653; "Gentilesse," p. 654; "To Adam Scriven," p. 650; "L'Envoy de Chaucer a Scogan," p. 655.
Thursday, March 30 Read "Language and Versification, xxix-xlv;
"Fortune,"
p. 652; "The Former Age," p. 650; "Lak of Stedfastness," p. 654; "The
Romaunt
de la Rose," Frag. A, ll. 1-146 and 531-604, pp. 685-93; "Boece," Metre
I, p. 397-98.
QUIZ #1
Tuesday, April 4 The Book of the Duchess, ll. 1-709.
Thursday, April 6 The Book of the Duchess, ll.
710-1334.
QUIZ #2
Tuesday, April 11 The Parliament of Fowls
Thursday, April 13 Prologue to the Legend of Good Women,
pp. 621-31.
QUIZ #3
Tuesday, April 18 First Hour: Legends of Cleopatra, Thisbe, Dido, Philomela, HypsipyleMedea, and Lucrecia
Thursday April 20 Legends of Ariadne, Phyllis, and
Hypermnestra,
pp. 632-59
Second Hour: MIDTERM
Tuesday, April 25 The House of Fame, Book 1
Thursday, April 27 The House of Fame, Book 2
Tuesday, May 2 The House of Fame, Book 3
Thursday, May 4 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 1
Tuesday, May 9 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 2, ll. 1-903
Thursday, May 11 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 2, ll. 904-1757
Tuesday, May 16 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 3, ll. 1-882
Thursday, May 18 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 3, ll. 883-1820
Tuesday, May 23 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 4, ll. 1-847
Thursday, May 25 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 4, ll. 848-1701
Tuesday, May 30 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 5, ll.
1-945
PAPER DUE
Thursday, June 1 Troilus and Criseyde, Book 5, ll.
946-1869
Last revised: February 6, 2006
