British Literary Traditions I

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

In this class, students will learn about the beginnings of English literature, starting with the first surviving piece of literature written in English, Caedmon's hymn. No prior knowledge of medieval or early modern languages or literature is expected. Texts will be drawn from different genres, including riddles, lyric, epic poetry, drama, allegory, and romance. Readings will include Beowulf, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Julian of Norwich's Revelation, Spenser's Faerie Queene, Shakespeare's Winter’s Tale, and Milton's Paradise Lost. There will be several short paper assignments, passage analyses, and quizzes, but no midterm or final exam.