Worlds of Book of Good Love

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The fourteenth-century Spanish "Book of Good Love" ("Libro de buen amor") is a most perplexing book. Its author, Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita, promises readers that his book will be 1) a manual for salvation; 2) a manual for sexual seduction; and 3) a manual for the composition of poetry. This class will take Juan Ruiz's philosophical, comic, and literary tour de force as a central text for an introduction to medieval studies. To understand the "Book of Good Love" we will delve into the medieval history, theology, philosophy, and arts of rhetoric that produced it. We will pay special attention to the cultural crossroads of Al-Andalus, where the traditions and languages of Christianity, Judaism and and Islam coexisted. In addition to key works of the Middle Ages by St. Augustine, Boethius, Maimonides, and Ibn Hazm of Cordoba, we will read selections from Ruiz's near contemporaries Boccaccio and Chaucer. In order to better understand medieval texts and to hone their own writing skills, students will do in-class writing exercises that introduce some of the same techniques learned by medieval authors and readers. Readings and discussion are in English. Required for the Medieval Studies major, minor, and SFS Certificate, but open to other freshmen, sophomores and juniors; seniors by permission only. Can also count toward the English major and fulfills the Humanities & Writing II requirement.