ENGL 320-01, Chaucer in His Time, Fall 2008

Abstract

England in the fourteenth century was an exciting and dangerous place, one ofgreat social upheaval and unrest brought on by plague and war. Out of this crucible came the foundational works of English literature, most especially Chaucer's verse. This course aims to integrate Chaucer in his time period and thus create a better understanding of England and English literature at the end of the Middle Ages. We will study a range of poems, prose, and plays from this time period, including selections from The Canterbury Tales, some travel literature, excerpts from Piers Plowman, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and The Second Shepherd's Play. These texts will enable a lively discussion of how literature interacts with politics and society and how writers engage and foment social change.