Dreaming the Middle Ages: Visionary Poetry in Scotland and England
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL3047 | English | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- ENGL3047
- School
- English
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The genre of dream-vision inspired work by all the major poets of the Middle Ages, including William Langland, the Pearl-Poet, and Geoffrey Chaucer. The course will aim to give you a detailed knowledge of a number of canonical texts in this genre, as well as ranging widely into the alliterative revival and Older Scots literature. The course will depend upon close, detailed reading of medieval literary texts, as well as focusing on the variety and urgency of issues with which dream poetry is concerned: literary, intellectual, social, religious and political.
Target Students
Only available for final-year students on SH and JH English programmes; including 2+2 programmes; students participating in exchanges from the School partner institutions; and final-year students on the Liberal Arts programme.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 11 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Coursework 1 - Mid term commentary 1,000 word
- 60% Coursework 2: Coursework 2 - End semester 3,000 word essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The primary aim of the course is to develop students’ knowledge of an important medieval literary genre. Students will also be expected to further develop skills in reading and interpreting Middle English and Older Scots language which they have gained in previous modules. Students will also need to synthesis their reading of a broad range of literary texts with an understanding of various intellectual and social contexts, and knowledge of different theoretical approaches to medieval literature.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of:
- A broad variety of medieval dream poetry
- The key features of, and differences between, poems in the genre
- The social and intellectual contexts of this literature
- Research tools suitable for senior level undergraduate students;
- Research approaches and current critical thinking in medieval literary studies.
Intellectual skills:
- The ability to formulate and develop coherent arguments;
- The further development of critical approaches to medieval texts.
Professional skills:
- The ability to discuss and present ideas clearly in a sustained discussion in writing;
- The ability to produce high-standard written assignments.
Transferable skills:
- An understanding of the complexities of various research approaches;
- The ability to develop and articulate arguments clearly in writing.
Conveners
- Dr Michael Jones