A2BK_SALI Old and Middle English Literature

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/0/1. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Dita Hochmanová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Zdeněk Janík, M.A., Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jiří Šalamoun, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
A2BK_SALI/Kombi01: Fri 29. 9. 16:00–16:50 učebna 54, Fri 13. 10. 16:00–16:50 učebna 54, Fri 27. 10. 16:00–16:50 učebna 54, Fri 10. 11. 16:00–16:50 učebna 54, Fri 1. 12. 16:00–16:50 učebna 54, Fri 15. 12. 16:00–16:50 učebna 54, Z. Janík
A2BK_SALI/Prez01: Mon 16:00–16:50 učebna 62, Z. Janík
A2BK_SALI/Prez02: Tue 8:00–8:50 učebna 38, Z. Janík
A2BK_SALI/01: Mon 14:00–15:50 učebna 12; and Fri 29. 9. 12:00–13:50 učebna 54, Fri 13. 10. 12:00–13:50 učebna 54, Fri 27. 10. 12:00–13:50 učebna 54, Fri 10. 11. 12:00–13:50 učebna 54, Fri 1. 12. 12:00–13:50 učebna 54, Fri 15. 12. 12:00–13:50 učebna 54, J. Šalamoun
A2BK_SALI/02: Wed 13:00–14:50 učebna 62, D. Hochmanová
Prerequisites
SOUHLAS
A reading proficiency adequate to university level.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to map out the period of the British literature from the beginnings till the end of the 18th century. This course is designed to help students to comprehend the selected primary texts of Old English, Middle English and Early Modern period up to the beginning of the English novel. The seminar is based on reading and analysis of selected extracts, and activities and discussions related to them. The objectives of the course are that the students are acquainted with chief authors and their works of the English literary canon, discussing archetypes and topics of the relevant periods.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1) identify and describe major trends in British literature and understand their relationship to British society and culture
2) develop their skills in analytical reading and proposal writing
3) research, prepare, and hand in a proposal for an academic paper
4) understand and frame literary works as a form of social commentary which responds to specific historical occurrences
Syllabus
  • 1.Introduction to the course: organization, content, final assignments.
  • 2. Introduction to Old English period: “The Dream of the Rood,” “Parable of the Sparrow” and riddles.
  • 3. Beowulf: The Old English Epic Poem.
  • 4. England in the Middle Ages and Chivalry: Gawain and the Green Knight.
  • 5. Middle English Literature: Geoffrey Chaucer in Context. (“Prologue to Canterbury Tales” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.”)
  • 6. Elizabethan Era: Shakespearean sonnets.
  • 7. Class canceled (Independent Czechoslovak State Day)
  • 8. Elizabethan Era: The Many Layers of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
  • 9. The Dawning of a New Genre: The Novel and Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (part one).
  • 10. Robinson Crusoe (part two).
  • 11. Satire against Progress?: Jonathan Swift’s Modest Proposal and Gulliver’s Travels.
  • 12. William Blake and the Beginnings of Romanticism.
  • 13. Summary and conclusion of the course.
  • Since we only have six contact sessions, half of the readings will be discussed in our Moodle course.
Literature
  • BURGESS, Anthony. English literature : a survey for students. Burnt Mill: Longman, 1974, 278 s. ISBN 0582552249. info
  • PODROUŽKOVÁ, Lucie. A Reader in British Literature: Part I. 2nd ed. Brno: PdF MU, 2005, 132 pp. 2. vydání. ISBN 80-210-3638-9. info
  • BARNARD, Robert. Stručné dějiny anglické literatury. Translated by Zdeněk Beran. Vyd. 1. Praha: Brána, 1997, 251 s. ISBN 8071767050. info
Teaching methods
Discussion, small group work, lecture, in class writing exercises.
Assessment methods
Weekly writing exercises in Moodle (25%)
Participation (20%)
In-class low-stakes writing (5%)
Annotated bibliography of five academic papers related to one text from the curriculum (50%).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hodin.
Teacher's information
http://moodlinka.ped.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=1789&hide=14&sesskey=ynzsB5B6rz#section-14
During the course, students read one longer text (a novel) and watch a Shakesperean play. Reading assignments for the remaining sessions are of a shorter nature.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2004, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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