106-414 Medieval Representations

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in English or English language, see Honours entry.

This subject examines various forms of representation in medieval English writing and culture. We will focus on moments that observe and comment on visual spectacle, e.g. male and female bodies as objects of desire, the saint's tortured body, and the spectacles of the tournament and of royal display. We will consider a range of medieval prose and poetry (some in the original Middle English, some in modern translation), and we will also consider some Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite representations of medieval spectacle. This subject is conceived in part as contributing to a pre-history of the cinematic gaze. No prior knowledge of Middle English is assumed.

Written work totalling 5000 words for 4th year, 6000 words for masters students.

A subject reader will be available.

• Malory, Vinaver (ed), Works. Oxford.
• Happe (ed), Medieval Mystery Plays. Penguin.
• Tennyson, Poems.
• Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe.