ENG 320: MEDIEVAL LITERATURE

The course will provide an introduction to medieval English literature, language, and culture between the years of 600 and 1500. While our primary focus will be on texts written in English, we will also read (in translation) selections from other major literatures that flourished in Britain during this period, including Irish, Welsh, Norse, French, and Latin. We will examine a variety of genres ranging from heroes’ tales, sagas, and lyric poetry to saints’ lives, and medical/scientific treatises. Major themes will include multicultural influences on English literature during the Middle Ages and the evolving conceptualization of the medieval hero.