2:30-3:45 TTH Spring
2004
Dr. Jane Chance
This interdisciplinary course will examine the idea of the Middle Ages as expressed in its culture(s). At the same time, it will explore the way its social structures changed in response to the impact of cataclysmic events and forces. The major focus will fall on the three estates, aristocracy, clergy, and commons, their interrelated contexts and institutions of court and castle, monastery and friary, cathedral and university, field and town, and their progressive deconstruction and reconstruction. Along the way we will also examine the varying perspectives of feudalism and chivalry, the rights of the poor, and the role of medieval women (the fourth estate?).
Works of literature, history, philosophy, and theology from England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Middle East written primarily in the High Middle Ages will provide a frame for the interweaving of medieval art, philosophy, history, music, science, and gastronomy. Also included will be slide and videocassette lectures and full-length Swedish, British, French, Italian, and German films. Most texts will be read in translation; creative projects are encouraged.
Requirements: two papers (8-10 and 5-8 pp.), both revisable (given adequate time for grading), one medieval dish for the medieval banquet, and two exams (see below for further information). Class attendance and participation are expected.
Texts (all prices according to amazon.com; all on reserve):
Readings in Medieval History, ed. Patrick J. Geary, 3rd ed. (Broadview), pb. $34.95 ISBN 1-55111-550-6 On Order
William Langland, The Vision of Piers the Plowman, ed. A.C. Schmidt (Everyman), 2nd ed. $10.00 ISBN 0460875094 PR2010.S3 1978
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, ed. and trans. A. Kent Hieatt and Constance B. Hieatt (Bantam, 1982), pb. $5.99 ISBN 0553210823 PR1870.A1 H48
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ed. and trans. James Winny (Broadview, 1992), pb. ISBN 0-921149-92-1 PR2065.G3 1992Maggie Black, The Medieval Cookbook (Thames and Hudson, rpt. 1996), pb. $17.47 ISBN 05000115481 TX717.B538 1992
Recommended (On Reserve):
Robert Brent Toplin, ¡§The Filmmaker as Historian,¡¨ American Historical Review 93 (Dec. 1988): 1210-27.
Staiger, Janet. ¡§Securing the Fictional Narrative as a Tale of the Historical Real,¡¨ South Atlantic Quarterly 88 (Spring, 1989): 393-413.
Feature Films:
Peter Glenville, dir., Becket (Great Britain, 1964), G.B. PN1997.B361996, 148 mins.
Ingmar Bergman, The Seventh Seal (1957, Sweden, 96 mins.) PN1997.S5 1985
Anthony Harvey, dir., The Lion in Winter (Great Britain, 1968, 135 mins.), PN1997.L565 1994
Roberto Rossellini, dir., The Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi (1950) (Italy), appr. 80 mins. PN1997 F716 1990
Ingmar Bergman, dir., The Virgin Spring (Sweden, 1959, 88 mins.) PN1997.V567 1986
Jean-Jacques Annaud, dir. The Name of the Rose (Germany, 1986, 128 mins.) PN1997.N35 1987Piero Pasolini, Decameron (Italy, 1971, 111 mins.)PN1997.D3961990
Bertrand Tavernier, dir., Le Passion Béatrice (France, 1988, 132 mins.) Ordered
Carl Theodor Dreyer, dir. The Passion of Joan of Arc (France, 1928, 82 mins.)
(silent) PN1997.P362 1996
Daniel Vigne, dir. Return of Martin Guerre (France, 1982, 123 mins.) PN1997.R47 1984
Jan. 13 Tu Introduction to the Later Middle Ages: History, Literature, and Film.
Jan. 15 Th The Fair Field of Folk.
Read Piers Plowman, Passus 1-7 (Visio) in Schmidt
Sunday Film: Peter Glenville, dir., Becket (Great Britain, 1964), G.B. PN1997.B361996, 148 mins.
Jan. 20 Tu The Three Estates: Aristocracy, Clergy, Commons (and Women?).
Read Chaucer¡¦s General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales in Hieatt and Hieatt
Sunday Film: Ingmar Bergman, ¡§The Seventh Seal¡¨ (1957, Sweden, 96 mins.) PN1997.S5 1985
Jan. 27 Tu Chivalry and the Crusades: Chaucer¡¦s Knight
Read ¡§The First Crusade: Four Accounts (Fulcher of Chartres, Solomon Bar Simson, Ibn Al-Athir, Anna Comnena), in Geary, pp. 407-42; Canons of the Fourth Lateran Council, pp. 466-69
Read: Chaucer¡¦s Portrait of the Knight in the General Prologue
Jan. 29 Th Courtly Love and the Personal Voice.
Read: Excerpts from Andreas Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love, trans. John Parry; Troubadour and Trobaritz Lyrics (Handouts), Recordings
Chaucer¡¦s Portraits of the Squire and the Prioress
Sunday Film: Anthony Harvey, dir., The Lion in Winter (Great Britain, 1968, 135 mins.), ISBN PN1997.L565 1994
Feb. 3 Tu Chivalry and Courtly Love in the Fourteenth Century: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Feb. 5 Th (Continued); Late Medieval Castles: The Trés Riches Heures of the Duke of Berry (slide lecture)
Read: Franklin¡¦s and Cook¡¦s portraits in Chaucer¡¦s General Prologue
Sunday Feb. 8th Medieval Banquet (meet at my house): Bring One Dish
Feb. 10 Tu The Design of the Monastery: Abbeys in England and France; Gregorian Chant; Books and Book-making
In class: ¡§The Medieval Book¡¨ (VHS, 26 mins.) Z6.M415 1996 and recordings of Gregorian Chant
Read: The Rule of St. Benedict, in Geary, pp. 169-98
Gregory the Great, Dialogues (about St. Benedict¡¦s life), pp. 199-220
Feb. 12 Th Life in the Monastery Paper Topic(s) for Paper #1 Due
Read: Bede¡¦s Ecclesiastical History of the English Church and People, in Geary, pp. 224-35
Portraits of Chaucer¡¦s Monk, Prioress, and Nun¡¦s Priest in the General Prologue
Sunday Film: Roberto Rossellini, dir., The Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi (1950) (Italy) 80 mins.
Feb. 17 Tu The Rise of the Mendicant Movement: St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
Read St. Francis of Assisi¡¦s Rule, Clare of Assisi¡¦s Testament, the Canonization Process of St. Dominic, and Thomas of Cantimpré, Defense of the Mendicants, in Geary, pp. 470-92
Read Chaucer¡¦s Portrait of the Friar and the Pardoner
Read excerpts from Catherine of Siena, Dialogues, in Geary, pp. 815-23
Read Chaucer¡¦s portrait of the Second Nun
Sunday Film: Ingmar Bergman, dir., The Virgin Spring (Sweden, 1959, 88 mins.) PN1997.V567 1986
Week 7
Videocassette on ¡§The York Cycle in the Fifteenth Century¡¨ (VHS, 1972, 19 mins.) PR649.Y8 Y67 1984
Read: Quem Quaeritis Trope, Hilarius¡¦s Suscitatio Lazari (handouts)
Midterm Break
Mar. 9 Tu Gender and Iconoclasm: Saxon Canoness Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, Resurrection of Drusiana, Calimachus, and The Fall and Repentance of Mary (videocassette, Santa Clara University, 73 mins.)
Mar.11 Th (cont.) Handouts on Hrotsvit
Read Hrotsvit, Resurrection of Drusiana, Calimachus
Sunday Film: Jean-Jacques Annaud, dir. The Name of the Rose (Germany, 1986, 128 mins.), PN1997.N35 1987
Mar. 16 Tu University, Curriculum, Scholastic Learning, and Aristotle: The Seven Liberal Arts
Read: Chaucer¡¦s Portrait of the Clerk in GP
Read St. Bonaventure, Siger of Brabant, and St. Thomas Aquinas, in Geary, pp. 493-523
Mar. 18 Th Heresy and the Inquisition
Read Jacques Fournier, Inquisition Records, in Geary, pp. 524-44, and Marsilius of Padua, Discourses, in Geary, pp. 545-66
Sunday: Open
Week 10
Mar. 23 Tu The Black Death
Read: documents from Joseph Byrne, ed. The Black Death, handout
Sunday Film: Piero Pasolini, Decameron (Italy, 1971, 111 mins.), PN1997.D396 1990
Week 11
Mar. 30 Tu. The Hundred Years¡¦ War and the Disintegration of Authority
Read The Campaign of Crécy (1346), in Jean Froissart, Chronicles, in Geary, pp. 716-30
Apr. 1 Th The Jacquerie, the Peasants¡¦ Revolt, Literacy, and Rebellion
Read: (Cont.) Froissart, in Geary pp. 730-41
Read: John Ball¡¦s Letter and sel. documents from Dobson, ed. The Peasants Revolt of 1381 (handout)
Read Chaucer¡¦s Portraits of the Miller, the Plowman, and the Parson
Sunday Film: Bertrand Tavernier, dir., Le Passion Béatrice (France, 1988, 132 mins.)
Read: Chaucer¡¦s Wife of Bath¡¦s Prologue and Tale, in Hieatt and Hieatt
Videocassette on ¡§The Fifteen Joys of Marriage¡¨ 11 mins., HQ1143.F54 1972
Apr. 8 Th Excerpts from Margery Kempe, Book, in Geary, pp. 567-99
Videocassette on Margery Kempe by Kathy Garat BV5095.K4 M3 2000
Apr. 13 Tu The Trial and Execution of Joan of Arc
Read: Christine de Pizan, ¡§The Ditie of Jeanne d¡¦Arc¡¨ (handout); The Trial of Joan of Arc, Geary, pp. 742-65
Sunday Film: Daniel Vigne, dir. Return of Martin Guerre (France, 1982, 123 mins.) PN1997.R47 1984
Apr. 20 Tu Private Life in the Middle Ages
Read: George Duby, The History of Private Life, pp. 3-31, 509-540, 581-610 (handout)
Requirements:
Requirements: two papers (8-10 and 5-8 pp.), one medieval dish for the medieval banquet, and two exams (midterm and final), due Feb. 26th and by the end of the exam period in May.
Each student will cook a medieval dish deriving from one of two medieval cookbooks. The menu and recipes (found in Maggie Black, Medieval Cookbook) are for the following dishes:
Appetizers
Cabbage Chowder Green Pea Pottage Jowtes with Almond Milk Mushroom Pasties
(pp. 72-73) (pp. 87-88) (pp. 63-65) (pp. 832-83)
Entrees
Blankmanger Broiled Venison Pike in Galantyne Braised Beef Pork Rolls
(pp. 45-46) (p. 114) (pp. 58-60) (pp. 89-90) (pp. 92-93)
Lombard Chicken Pasties A Grete Pye Poached Fowl and Bacon w. pudding
(pp. 42-48) (pp. 118-19) (pp. 89-95)
Pork Roast in Spiced Wine Departed Creamed Fish (mortrews)
(pp. 116-17) (pp. 74-75)
Side Dishes
Leeks and Sops in Wine Buknade Braised Spring Greens
(pp. 57-58) (pottage soup) (pp. 39-41)
(pp. 101-2)
Breads
White Bread and Rolls Barley Bread Girdle Breads
(pp. 37-38) (pp. 55-56) (pp. 24-25)
Desserts
Fried Fig Pastries Rose Pudding Fig and Raisin Cream Lombard Slices
(pp. 66-67) (pp. 109-110) (pp. 49-50) (pp. 123-4)
Ypocras (or Piment, 3)
(Hippocras)
(pp. 66-67)
Recipes and numbers will be adjusted to fit the size of the class.
II. Medieval Project (8-10 pp.), due March 31st @ 9AM
A long paper (8-10 pp.) or creative project (normally supplemented by a paper).
In previous years student selected these topics for papers:
Irish monasteries
Robin Hood and Forest Law
Images of the Devil in the Middle Ages
El Lazarillo de Tormes (a fifteenth-century Spanish work)
Motets by de Vitry and Machaut
Chivalry and the Samurai
The Ars Nova
Gawain¡¦s Five Faults
Oblatio (child abandonment)
Epicureanism in Dante
Medieval alchemy
Images of Fortune in Boethius and Dante
The Good Samaritan in Piers Plowman
Social Structure in Chaucer¡¦s Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
Students are encouraged to talk to the instructor about topics in which they are interested.
Creative projects in the past have included:
--Medieval costume¡Xa fourteenth-century lady¡¦s dress based on literary evidence from Chaucer and Langland and manuscript illuminations, supplemented by a paper explaining why the dress looked as it did and how it would have been made then.
--Chain mail of the later Middle Ages, made according to instructions and visual evidence available in primary material, supplemented by a paper describing the medieval methods garnered from the medieval materials.
--The ¡§Diary of a Medieval Jew¡¨ (researched by an examination of medieval historical documents and supplemented by a historical introduction)
--A parody of a medieval morality play, Everystudent; and
--A parody of Dante¡¦s Inferno called ¡§The University as Hell.¡¨
--Performance of a medieval play
II. Paper on Medieval Ideas in Modern Films (5-8 pp.), due April 22, 2004
Along the way, this survey of the ¡§reel Middle Ages¡¨ has examined modern filmic versions of well-known masterpieces of medieval literature and of significant medieval historic events reflected in literature, chronicles, and treatises. In the course we will explore how we impose our own cultural overlay onto our interpretations and translations like a palimpsest¡Xthat is, a manuscript scraped and reused for another, different, text.
How and why are the directors of the films we have seen this semester interested in medieval ideas? How are medieval ideas realized? How is film an appropriate medium for the use of such ideas? What differences do you detect between the ideas or images presented in medieval primary sources and in these modern films? What continuity, if any, exists from film to film¡Xdo the directors share the same or different ideas? How do their modern visions differ from the medieval versions of each?
You may wish to cite examples from the medieval texts we have read thus far to define and elaborate on medieval idea. You must also use at least four of the following films in some way in your paper:
Peter Glenville, dir., Becket (Great Britain, 1964), G.B. PN1997.B361996, 148 mins.
Ingmar Bergman, The Seventh Seal (1957, Sweden, 96 mins.) PN1997.S5 1985
Anthony Harvey, dir., The Lion in Winter (Great Britain, 1968, 135 mins.), ISBN PN1997.L565 1994
Roberto Rossellini, dir., The Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi (1950) (Italy) 80 mins.
Ingmar Bergman, dir., The Virgin Spring (Sweden, 1959, 88 mins.) PN1997.V567 1986
Jean-Jacques Annaud, dir. The Name of the Rose (Germany, 1986, 128 mins.) PN1997.N35 1987Piero Pasolini, Decameron (Italy, 1971, 111 mins.)PN1997.D3961990
Bertrand Tavernier, dir., Le Passion Béatrice (France, 1988, 132 mins.) Ordered
Carl Theodor Dreyer, dir. The Passion of Joan of Arc (France, 1928, 82 mins.) (silent) PN1997.P362 1996
Daniel Vigne, dir. Return of Martin Guerre (France, 1982, 123 mins.) PN1997.R47 1984
Some possible themes, figures, or symbols you may wish to consider:
(1) The Black Death (or Death in general)
(2) The Apocalypse
(3) Chivalry and the Knight
(4) Love in the Middle Ages
(5) The Virgin Mary
(6) The Church
(7) This World and the Next
(8) Water and Mirror Symbolism
(9) Art and the Artist
(10) Biblical Quotation and Imagery
(11) Parable, Myth, Legend, and History
(12) The idea and image of return
Students will be asked before the midterm and final examinations to contribute identification and essay questions to a study guide, which will be passed out to all students a week before the exam and which will form the basis for the actual midterm and final examinations in the course.
Office Hours: 4-5 TTH and by appointment
Office: Second Floor Herring Hall
Phone: x2625 E-mail: jchance@rice.edu Fax: 713-349-5991
Home Address (for Banquet): 2306 Wroxton Rd.
(Cross streets: Greenbriar and Bissonnet. Wroxton is one street south of Bissonett and intersects Greenbriar. Going south on Greenbriar, turn right on Wroxton; house is 2nd on the right. Swing in the front yard.)
Disability Notice:
1. Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. Students with disabilities will need to contact Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center.
2. Any student with a disability requiring accommodations in this course is encouraged to contact me after class or during office hours. Additionally, students will need to contact Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center.
3. If you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please contact me to discuss your needs. Additionally, you will need to register with the Disability Support Services Office in the Ley Student Center.