LIT203: Medieval Literature
Key details
| Accredited towards | Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts |
| Unit type | Core unit |
| Credit points | 6 |
| Indicative contact hours | 3 hours per week |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Offered in | Semester 1 |
| Tuition fee | Learn more |
Overview
This unit explores literary masterpieces from the Middle Ages, considering a range of topics, including the transformation of classical ideas by medieval authors, courtship, chivalry, and the representations of quintessentially medieval life, culture and concerns. Tensions between classical, Christian and chivalric virtues, as represented in a variety of works, are examined. Works studied may include Beowulf, The Song of Roland, selections from Dante’s Commedia, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the ‘Pearl’ poet’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and the Book of Margerie Kempe.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:
- Examine key thematic and stylistic elements of the great literary works of the Middle Ages
- Analyse literary, historical, aesthetic and moral ideas in medieval literature
- Evaluate the ways in which key selected medieval works develop and transform themes inherited from classical literature
- Explain and analyse the relationship between medieval literature and the development of Christian and Western culture
- Produce clear, coherent and detailed written work and understand the relationship between clear thinking, speaking, argumentation and writing
- Participate in class discussions while developing independence of thought
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