Eng 447/547: Major Writers -- Chaucer

Syllabus

Texts: [Benson, ed.] The Riverside Chaucer, 3rd ed. (Houghton-Mifflin)
Allen, The Age of Chaucer (Cambridge 2004)

Non-written Assignments (30%):
1. Oral pronunciation passage. Each student will prepare a passage of 25-30 lines from one of the texts we are reading to read aloud (in my office) using Middle English rules. I will tape your reading. Due anytime between the 4th and 8th weeks of class (~in Feb.); make an appointment early on-this is a busy term for me. 10%
2. Participation: A large amount of each class day will be devoted to answering questions about the reading-if you don't read, you won't know what to ask about, and if you aren't there you can't ask, either. Careful attention to reading and learning Middle English is expected; brief vocabulary-type quizzes will be given randomly "to keep you honest", included in partic. grade. 15% (Grads 10%)
3. Oral report on article/chapter (#1 below) and discussion questions based on reading. Discussion questions should focus on literary ideas and cultural issues and get beyond the yes/no or factual information stage. 5% (Grads 10%)

Written assignments (70%):
1. Critical review of an article/chapter, ca. 4 pp. 15% (Graduate students do 2, 10% each)
2. Analysis paper, incorporating secondary sources (max. 2 web sites), examining any course text(s), any unifying idea within or across texts, ca. 8 - 10 pp. [Graduate students ca. 12 pp.] Please give me a WRITTEN proposal by Feb. 23. Paper due Mar. 9 (late=markdown). 25%
3. Exam 20% (Grads 15%), primarily based on key passages from our reading; one will be a translation passage. The Allen book & editorial essays in the Riverside will also be fair game.
4. Reading log (informal writing - reactions & reflections, not notes) on Allen book, 3-4 pp. per chapter, using the book's questions within & at end of chapters. 10%

Online resources are available via links from my website. I have reviewed sites and have only linked with reliable sites. If you find others, you should check with me before using them (this can include "links to other sites" from reliable pages).

Allen book: Plan on reading one chapter every 1-2 weeks until you finish. *Turn in chapter logs regularly; **finish by Feb. 28. [stars refer to schedule, below]

Assignments for Allen, The Age of Chaucer

For the journal on this book, address the questions listed, at minimum. You are welcome to do more, but check for some questions listed for later chapters.

Chapter 1 - page 11, page 33, page 48 #2, page 49 #10

Chapter 2 - page 55, page 68, page 79 #2, page 80 #9

Chapter 3 - page 20, page 25, page 36, page 46

Chapter 4 - page 102, page 106 top, page 112, page 113 #2

Chapter 5-page 119 #2, page 120 #6 and #7

Schedule:

January 3 Course intro
January 5 Lyrics: TBA

Jan. 10 Book of the Duchess
Jan. 12 Book of the Duchess

Jan. 17 holiday
Jan. 19 Book of the Duchess*

Jan. 24 Book of the Duchess
Jan. 26 C. Tale (TBA)

Jan. 31 C. Tale (TBA)*
Feb. 2 Parlement of Fowles

Feb. 7 Parlement of Fowles
Feb. 9 Parlement of Fowles*

Feb. 14 Finish Parlement of Fowles
Feb. 16 Troilus, Book 1*

Feb. 21 Troilus, Book 1-2
Feb. 23 Troilus, Book 2; paper proposal due

Feb. 28 Troilus, Book 3 **
Mar. 2 Troilus, Book 4

Mar. 7 Troilus, Book 5
Mar. 9 Review; Paper due

Finals Week: 12-2 Mon or 12-2 Fri {TBA}