Introduction to Medieval Literature

What is medieval literature, and how have these ‘ancient’ texts come down to us as contemporary readers? How do they continue to be relevant and timely in today’s modern world, and what was going on in the world around them in medieval Europe when they were composed? What skills do we need to engage with these texts critically? 

This module aims to introduce students to a range of medieval European literature, providing a foundation for further and more specialised study. We will study a mixture of canonical medieval texts such as Beowulf, Gawain and the Green Knight, and Chaucer, to texts you may not have heard of such as Havelok the Dane and Grettis Saga. Throughout, we will practise the analytical skills needed to engage with these texts, basing our reading in historical context and supporting this with brief introductions to medieval languages including Old English, Old Norse, and Middle English.

Tutor: Rebecca Drake BA MA PhD

Term: Autumn

Day: Wednesday

Start Date: 25 September 2024

Time: 7-9pm

No. of weeks: 11

Full fee: £156

Credits: 10

Register for this course online