James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2000

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EL3028:06

Early English: Monsters and Dreams

Townsville, Cairns

26 lectures, 13 tutorials. First semester.

Staff: Mr J Gray, Dr C Taylor.

An intensive study of two major works of Early English Literature: Beowulf and Piers Plowman.

Learning Objectives:

  1. to broaden and intensify the literary-critical skills and understanding attained by students at earlier levels, particularly where essay writing and extra-literary issues are concerned;
  2. to attain an ability to read the text of Beowulf in Old English;
  3. to develop an understanding of the principles by which editors determine, reconstruct and emend the text of the Beowulf manuscript;
  4. to acquire the ability to locate, summarise and evaluate a current topic in Beowulf studies and to judge which studies are determining the current direction of research;
  5. to achieve a detailed knowledge of the C-Text of Piers Plowman and of the ideas and arguments on salvation, poverty, charity and love which it contains;
  6. to attain a knowledge of the political context of Piers Plowman;
  7. to develop an understanding of the poetry and poetic genres of Piers Plowman.

Assessment by written translations Beowulf (20%); research seminar paper Beowulf and participation (20%); one Piers Plowman essay of 2,000 words (20%); a three-hour examination (40%).

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