Unit information: Chaucer and Chaucerians in 2020/21

Unit name	Chaucer and Chaucerians
Unit code	ENGL20061
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Baden-Daintree
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of English
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will focus on a range of medieval texts by Geoffrey Chaucer, and a selection of contemporary or later texts that are in dialogue with Chaucer’s example, or which have preceded him. The unit will facilitate detailed study of Chaucer’s poems, and of various writers who followed, imitated, and strove to outdo him, for instance John Gower, Thomas Hoccleve, James I, and Robert Henryson. Students may read a number of Canterbury Tales, as well as Chaucer’s dream visions, and his masterful love poem, Troilus and Criseyde.

Aim:

The aim of the unit is to give students a good grounding in Chaucer’s poems, and enable them to assess Chaucer’s influence on later literary tradition.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the evolution of Chaucer’s works, and that of some of his followers;
2. apply understanding of historical, cultural and intellectual contexts to readings of Middle English Literature;
3. discriminate between different critical perspectives on Chaucerian literature;
4. identify and present pertinent evidence to develop a cogent argument in oral and written discourse;
5. demonstrate skills in textual analysis, argumentation, and critical interpretation using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources;
6. demonstrate skills in presenting an aspect of Chaucer’s influence in the form of a poster.

Teaching Information

Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including long- and short-form lectures, group discussion, research and writing activities, and peer dialogue. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation.

Assessment Information

• 1 x group project (formative) [ILOs 1-6]
• 1 x 2000 word essay (100%) [ILOs 1-5]

Reading and References

1. Riverside Chaucer, ed. Larry Benson, 3^rd edn (Oxford, 2008)
2. Robert Henryson: The Complete Works, ed. David J. Parkinson (Kalamazoo, MI, 2010) [free online edition available]
3. John Gower, Confessio Amantis, ed. Russell A. Peck, 2 vols (Kalamazoo, MI, 2006) [free online edition available]
4. Sources and Analogues of the Canterbury Tales, ed. Correale and Hamel (Brewer, 2002) [e-text available in UoB library]