MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

ENH3390

Middle English literature

J Strauss

Synopsis The subject considers the themes of love, warfare, fortune and free will as they are embodied in formally diverse narrative treatments of the story of Troilus and Cressida and of the Arthuriad. With the exception of the translations contained in King Arthur's Death, the text will be read in the original language.

Assessment Two exercises (3000 words): 50% + Commentary test (3 hours): 40% + Class attendance and performance: 10%

Prescribed texts

• Chaucer The Riverside Chaucer ed. Benson, OUP, 1988
• Henryson R The Testament of Cresseid and other poems ed. Macdiarmid, Penguin, 1973
• Malory The works of Sir Thomas Malory ed. Vinaver, OUP, 1971
• Stone B (tr.) King Arthur's death: alliterative Morte Arthure and stanzaic Le Morte Arthur Penguin, 1988
• Tolkien J R R and Gordon E V (eds) Sir Gawain and the green knight rev. Gordon, OUP, 1967

Recommended texts

• Burnley D A guide to Chaucer's language Macmillan, 1983
• Coote S English literature of the Middle Ages Penguin, 1988
• Davis N and others A Chaucer glossary OUP, 1979