FR 1083
Literature in Translation
Medieval Epic Poetry
Dr. Petrosky
Office: 223D Biddle Hall
Office Hours: Tu 9:00-9:50, W 13:00-13:55, F 9:00-9:55, and by Appt.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone Number: (814) 269-7153
Paintings and photos of tapestries. From top left to right: The crowning of Louis, The death of
Roland, Charlemagne goes to war, and The battle of Roncevaux.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
The Song of Roland. Glyn Burgess Trans. Penguin Books 1990
Guillaume d'Orange: Four Twelfth Century Epics. Joan Ferrante Trans. Columbia University Press
2001.
Aymeri of Narbonne: A French Epic Romance. Michael A. H. Newth, Trans. Ithaca Press 2005.
CLASSROOM APPROACH
Objectives: The readings in this course are designed to help you become acquainted
with the English translations of a small selection of French Epic Poetry. We will begin with The
Song of Roland (circa 1095). We will read two selections from Ferrantes's Guillaume d'Orange:
The Crowning of Louis and Aliscans. We will conclude our introduction to Epic Poetry with the
late thirteenth century Epic Romance Aymeri of Narbonne. You will learn to recognize and
appreciate the works in their historical, intellectual, and literary contexts, considering various
critical approaches and scholarship. You will also be given a cursory introduction to Medieval
French history, art, architecture, and society. The writing in this course is designed to help you
learn to read and analyze critical scholarship, while at the same time learning to incorporate it
into your work. This will also accompany your ability to articulate your growing knowledge
and understanding of the texts, but also argue persuasively in support of your interpretations.
Class activity: will be comprised of three elements: close readings of the literary texts in
relation to context and ideas. Some limited lecture time on topics related to medieval art, history,
literature, and society. Time given to group discussions, as well as any questions that may arise.
This course presupposes that you will have thoroughly prepared yourselves to be able to
meaningfully participate during each class. Written questions regarding a reading assignment
will be, periodically, distributed. You are expected to answer all of these questions before
coming to class.
I would like to remind students attending that, in the interest of a more enjoyable and
productive class, the standards of classroom etiquette and decorum are to be maintained. To
that end, the use of cellphones or unapproved electronic equipment (iPods, laptops, pagers, etc.)
is not permitted during class. They must be turned off or silenced, and stored out of view. Any
violations detected during exams will result at least in a grade of "F'.
Attendance: Class attendance is recommended. However, excessive absences or regular
tardiness will lower your final grade. If you are habitually tardy (more than five minutes late), at
least four times, it will result in an absence being added to your total. You are allowed three
absences this semester. This does not include exam days If you miss more than three classes for
ANY reason other than extenuating circumstances (see below), your final grade average will
be lowered by 2 points (out of 100) for every class you miss (up to a maximum of 10 points).
You must completely prepared before the beginning of class. Any written assignments not
completed on time will earn zero (“0”) credit. There will be no extensions of deadlines except for
extenuating circumstances.
If you have an emergency, leading to extenuating circumstances, it is your responsibility to
convey that information through the Student Affairs Office, which will corroborate the
legitimacy of your absence.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Students with disabilities. Those who may be requesting academic accommodations for
this course should notify the course instructor and the Office of Health and Wellness Services,
G-10 Student Union Building 814 269-7119, as early as possible in the term. The Coordinator of
Disability Services will verify the disability and determine reasonable accommodations for the
course. For other services, contact the Academic Success Center in G-16 Owen Library 814
269-7998. Please feel free to speak with me regarding these policies and services.
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity. As stated in the “Guidelines on Academic Integrity”
published by the University of Pittsburgh and effective at the University of Pittsburgh at
Johnstown, “it is unethical to present as one's own work the ideas, representations, or words of
another, or to permit another to present one's own work without customary and proper
acknowledgement of sources.” You are plagiarizing when you use ideas about something from
another source without acknowledging they are not your own.
GRADE INFORMATION
Exams: You will have four in-class exams during the semester. They will consist of small
essay questions about the texts and broader thematic questions about them, as well as an excerpt
from the text that will have to be critically analyzed. Each exam will cover only material studied
since the previous one. The final examination will be comprehensive, covering material read
during the entire semester. I neither curve class grades nor offer any extra credit assignments.
The material for the exams will be divided thus:
First Exam: Course Introduction
Second Exam: Song of Roland
Third Exam: Crowning of Louis and Aliscans
Fourth Exam: Aymeri of Narbonne
Quizzes: There will be brief quizzes on the content of the readings. There will be no
more than two for any one Epic Poem.
Out-of-Class Essay: This essay should be typed and double-spaced with a font of either
Times New Roman or Book Antigua. The margins will be 1,5 inches all around. Formatting
should follow the MLA Handbook. The length will be 3-4 pages Points will be deducted for not
adhering to these requirements. The essay will be research based on your readings of critical
works (either journal articles or books) written on these Epic Poems only. You will be asked to
summarize and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the articles. You will then compare
and analyze some aspects of the texts you have read. You will receive more indications about
each of the assignments separately.
Participation and Preparation: As stated above in the section on class activity, you will
be evaluated on an individual basis. Being prepared for class, and willingly and relevantly
participating on a regular basis, are the easiest ways to earn a high grade for this category.
Effort, attitude, and individual improvement will also effect your grade in a positive way.
Needless to say, a grade of 0 will be given on any days you are absent. However I do drop your
three lowest participation grades.
Course Grading:
- Attendance and participation: (10%)
- Homework (questions): (10%)
- Quizzes (15%)
- Out-of-Class essay (15%)
- Four Exams (30%)
- Final Exam (20%)
Course Calander
The following abbreviations will be used when refering to the Epic Poems in our course:
R
Song of Roland
CL
Crowning of Louis
A
Aliscans
AN
Aymeri of Narbonne
Note: The numbers for the reading assignments refer to the verses or stanzas to be read, not the
page numbers!! Ranges are up to and including the last number indicated.
January
6. Introduction to Medieval Epic Poetry
8. Lecture Part One: Medieval literature, art, history, architecture, and society
10. Lecture Part Two: Medieval literature, art, history, architecture, and society
13. Lecture Third One: Medieval literature, art, history, architecture, and society
15. Lecture: Epic Poetry and the main Epic Cycles. Begin Song of Roland. An introduction
17. Reading: The readings in R will be given according to the stanzas. R: 1 (up to and
including) 27
20. No
Scheduled Classes – MLK Day
22. First Exam: Lectures from the 8th, 10th, 13th, and 15th. The selection of the questions will
be a combination of short identifications and perhaps either True or False or Multiple Choice
questions.
24. R: 28 -53
27. R: 54-87
29. First
Quiz on R. Class reading R: 88-127
31. 128-180
February
3. R:Continuation of R: 128-180
5. R: 181-216
7. Second
Quiz on R. Class reading on R: 217-246
10. R: 247-298
12. Exam
on Song of Roland
14. Introduction to William of Orange Cycle and to CL
17. CL: Stanzas I-XIV (1-14)
19. CL: XV-XXIII (15-23)
21. CL: XXIV-XXXIII (24-33)
24.
Quiz on CL. Reading for CL: XXXIV-XLVI (34-46)
26. CL: XLVII-LXIII (47-63)
28. Introduction to Aliscans
March
3. A: I-XXXII (1-32)
5. Quiz
on end of CL and beginning of A Class reading A: XXXIII-LXXIX (33-74)
7. LXXV-CXXXIII (75-133)
March 10-14 – Spring Break
17. Undertaking Research: Preparation for your Written Assignment
19. A: CXXXIV-CLXVII (134-167)
21. Second
Quiz on A Reading for A: CLXVIII-CLXXXIII (168-183)
24. A: CLXXXIV-CXCIX (184-194)
26. Exam
on Crowning of Louis and Aliscans
28. Outline of Writing Assignment Due!
Introduction to Aymeri of Narbonne
Avril
31. These assignments will be designated using verse numbers. AN: 1-660
2. AN: 661-1294
4. Class Cancelled
7. AN: 1295-2419
9. Quiz
on AN Reading for class in AN: 2420-3460
11.AN:3461-4181
14. AN: 4182-4686
16. Exam
on Aymeri of Narbonne
18. Course Conclusion.
April 23rd 2:00 p.m.: Final day and time to hand in your written
assignment. Any papers not turned in will receive a grade of 0 for the
assignment!!