106-414 Medieval Representations

Formerly available as 106-075. Students who have completed 106-075 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

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

This subject examines forms of representation and textuality in late medieval English writing and culture. We will focus on the representations of love, gender and war in Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde and on the representations of class violence and the monarchy in the texts surrounding the Uprising of 1381. Students will be introduced to some medieval theories of verbal and visual representation. No prior knowledge of Middle English is assumed in this subject, which is designed as an introduction to late medieval culture.

• have acquired specific generic skills in the following areas:

• conceptualising and planning an original research project;

• communicating arguments and ideas effectively and articulately, both in writing and in group discussions;

• developing critical self-awareness and the capacity to shape persuasive arguments;

• applying research skills (especially in library and online resources) and critical methods to traditional and emerging fields of inquiry;

• detailed readings of a range of texts in different media;

• contrasting traditional and contemporary forms of knowledge about the past.

A research essay of 5000 words 100% (due at the end of the semester).

A subject reader containing texts associated with the Uprising, or 'Peasants' Revolt' of 1381, and other medieval texts, will be available from the University Bookshop.

• L Benson, The Riverside Chaucer. (gen ed).
• Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida. Oxford.