ENGL 231 | Medieval and Renaissance Literature

This course studies literature written in Britain during its medieval and Renaissance periods, from the earliest surviving stories in the English language, such as Beowulf and The Wanderer, to those like Paradise Lost written almost a thousand years later in the aftermath of the English Civil War. The texts from these centuries (roughly 700-1700) register great shifts, yet also surprising continuities, in conceptions of heroism and honor; evil and monstrosity; gender and family; the natural and supernatural; and the relationship between the individual and the church. The analysis of these stories takes into account their historical contexts, as well as the expectations of their original and current audiences. Several forms and genres are considered, including epic poetry, Arthurian romance, sacred meditation, bawdy tales, Shakespearean drama, autobiography, and metaphysical verse.