Module Information

This module offers a survey of late medieval literature that challenges the assumption that texts from this period is much more simple and straightforward than modern literature. Over the course of this module, medieval texts will be examined as products of a culture that values experimentation, playfulness and speculation, highlighting the ways in which medieval texts and their world are exciting areas of literary study today.
The three sections of the module deal with traditions and interpretations, religious experience, and travel and exploration. These interconnected areas serve to highlight the ways in which late medieval English culture is part of a wider network of European religious and secular frameworks,
The module is accessible to anyone with an interest in late medieval literature and current, theoretically-informed approaches to literary texts will be used to explore the relevance of these centuries-old texts in and for our post-millennial society.

Session 1: Introduction

Section 1: Traditions and interpretations
Session 2: Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Wife of Bath’s Prologue’; the prologue to The Legend of Good Women
Session 3: John Gower, ‘Prologue’, Confessio amantis

Section 2: Experiencing religion
Session 4: Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Prioress’s Prologue’ and ‘Tale’
Session 5: Wycliff and the Lollards
Session 6: The Book of Margery Kempe

Section 3: Travelling the world
Session 7: The story of Constance (Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower)
Session 8: Bevis of Hampton
Session 9: The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

Session 10: Revision and assessment advice