Spring 2016 Short Course
Programme
COURSE INFORMATION SHEET
HISTORY
Medieval romance and marriage
Diane Heath MA
Study Day
Thursday 11 February
Course code: 15TON204
10am – 4pm
Course fee: £35
This study day discusses medieval romances such as those involving Launcelot and
Guinevere (for example in Chretien de Troyes, Lancelot de la Charrette) and the
Loathly Lady in Chaucer’s Wife of Bath’s Tale against historical evidence for medieval
attitudes to women and marriage and examines the tensions evident in the source
material. What does romance have to do with aristocratic dynastic alliances? Were
knights sexy or might priests make better lovers – as a medieval troubadour
suggested? We shall explore some interesting material on medieval marital and extramarital relations.
Synopsis:
Welcome and Icebreaker
Introduction and short presentation:
• how much were women named, blamed and defamed in the Middle Ages?
• what tensions are there between medieval ideas of marriage and courtly love?
Introduction to a key Anti-feminist Debate text
Reading - An extract from anti-Jovian by St Jerome
Reading – Thrush and Nightingale poem
First discussion focusses on key questions on misogyny (hatred of women) and
misogamy (hatred of marriage) in medieval authorities. Eva/Ave
Coffee Break
Second Discussion Texts
Introduction to the romance
Reading – An extract from Andreas Capellanus on how to treat your lover (in
translation)
Reading Lancelot de la Charrette – the seduction scene
Guided discussion
Lunch break (please note that lunch is not included)
Third Discussion Point
What was medieval marriage like? Gratian canon law
Wonderful medieval cartoon on marriage problems
Analysis and discussion
Fourth Discussion Point
The Wife of Bath on experience in marriage as opposed to St Jerome’s view Reading
of Extracts in two groups
Prosecution and Defence discussion – Did she kill her fourth husband?
Conclusions
Reading: The Loathly Lady
Sovereignty in Marriage and Courtly love – both fictions access emotions and tensions
in a patriarchal society.
Note: this course contains reference to some sex, domestic abuse, as well as arrant
medical nonsense.
About the tutor
Diane Heath is an enthusiastic and open-minded cultural historian. Her MA in
Medieval Studies was completed under the supervision of Professor John Arnold at
Birkbeck, University of London. Her PhD at Kent under
Professor Tony Edwards on medieval Canterbury books has
recently been submitted. Diane has lectured at University of
Kent and Christ Church Canterbury University for several
years on medieval and early modern history, historiography,
and the history of Canterbury and its hinterland. Diane is also
Colloquium Secretary for the London Medieval Society
(founded in 1945, patron:
Professor Michael Clanchy).
General information, Terms & Conditions
How to book a place on this course
These courses are usually very popular and you are advised to apply as soon as possible. Places
cannot be held without payment of the course fee.
•
Online Booking is preferred. Please visit www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge
•
By post to us at the address below, using the application form in the programme
pamphlet. An online course booking or paper application affirms acceptance of our Terms &
Conditions.
University Centre Tonbridge
For details of our other courses, news, events and location visit www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge .
• Parking. There is plenty of public pay and display car parking locally, but please note that only
selected car parks permit parking in excess of 4 hours; detailed information is available from
www.tmbc.gov.uk . No parking is available here on site.
• Refreshments are not provided; food and drink can be purchased from any of the nearby café
outlets - we are closely situated to the High Street and town centre. A hot drink vending machine
is usually available on the ground floor of this building.
Mailing List and data protection
Those attending our courses are automatically added to our database and kept informed about new
courses. This information is not released to outside organisations. Please write to us if you do not wish
your details to be kept on our database.
Course cancellation
As these short courses are self-financing there must be sufficient enrolments on each course for it to
proceed. Therefore, if a course is cancelled due to insufficient enrolments we aim to notify you
approximately one week before the course start date; if there is no suitable alternative course, we will
refund the course fee in full. The University of Kent reserves the right to cancel a course for this or any
other reason in which case the relevant course fee will be refunded in full.
If you find it necessary to cancel your place on a course, please let us know as soon as possible. Refund
requests should be made in writing (including the reason) to us at the address below. We reserve the
right to retain all or part of the course fee if you request a refund after 14 days of your online booking
being made or paper application being received. Partial discretionary refunds may be made, after the
deduction of an administrative handling fee as follows:
a course fee of up to and including £39 will incur an administrative handling fee of £7.50
a course fee of £40 and over will incur an administrative handling fee of £10.00.
The University reserves the right to:
a) exclude any student if the student’s presence is making it difficult for the class to function
properly
b) cancel or amend the length of any course if the circumstances so warrant.
Neither the University of Kent, nor its staff, can be held responsible for any damage, loss or injury,
however sustained, suffered by participants attending courses. Insurance is the student’s responsibility.
Please contact us if you have any queries or would like to register your email address to
receive our course information updates. We look forward to welcoming you here soon.
University of Kent Tonbridge Centre
Avebury Avenue
Tonbridge
TN9 1TG
01732 352316
[email protected]
www.kent.ac.uk/tonbridge