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Studies in Medieval Literature (410-0-20)

Topic

The Courtly Subject

Instructors

Christopher John Davis
847/467-5637
1860 Campus Drive Crowe Hall #2-140

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 3-410: Wed 3:00PM - 5:50PM

Overview of class

This class examines the representation of the individual subject in medieval French and Occitan literature of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Our critical focus will be on the role played by the emergence of new vernacular literary genres and codes in enabling medieval people to imagine alternative models of the individual subject in relation to changing social dynamics including religion, class, sexuality, and gender. Among the works we will study are the lyrics of the troubadours and trouvères, the romances of Chrétien de Troyes, the fabliaux tradition, and the Roman de la Rose. Class discussions will be conducted in English but reading knowledge of modern French is required.