*Dates are approximate, as often the time when a text was composed (usually orally) may be different (perhaps vastly) than the time the manuscript was written.
Original languages of other readings:
Latin
Old French
Italian
Icelandic
Many of our readings are excerpts. To get a more complete view of your chosen text(s), you may need to find an edition and read more than the excerpts in our textbook.
Unit 1: Unexpected Heroes
Judith
Possibly 10th/11th century: Anglo-Saxon version of the Biblical story of “a pious Hebrew widow, Judith, who rescues the people of the besieged city of Bethulia by beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes as he attempts to seduce her” (93). This text is found in the same manuscript as Beowulf and there are interesting parallels, given the genders of the protagonists.
“The Chester Noah’s Flood,”
15th century: A Mystery play following the story of Noah and the Flood in the Bible, though diverging from the original story in several interesting ways.
Heliand
9th century: Anglo-Saxon version of Christ’s life, written in the style of a heroic saga.
“Battle of Maldon"
Possibly 11th century (battle took place in 991): Remaining fragment of Anglo-Saxon poem detailing the Battle of Maldon, a fight between Viking raiders and an English army attempting to hold them off. It is known for its depictions of military loyalty and the search for honor in war.
Unit 2: Holier Than Thou...or Even a Hand Grenade
Saint Mary of Egypt
4th-5th century (original): A saint’s life originally composed in Latin and translated into Anglo-Saxon (a common occurrence). Saint Mary of Egypt is a reformed sinner repenting “her life of sexual depravity” (135).
“The Life of Saint Margaret,” (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
13th century: A saint’s life detailing the torture and martyrdom of the virgin Margaret. It is an example of hagiography that is rather graphically violent.
*There are many different saints’ lives. You may want to read more than the ones assigned. "Everyman" (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
15th century: A Morality play following the revelations of the titular character after he is told that he will soon die and his frantic and futile attempts to find one of a host of personified characters who would be willing to accompany him to the grave.
York Crucifixion Play
15th century: A Miracle/Mystery play depicting the isolated events of Christ’s Crucifixion. Though focusing on the violent event, it exhibits a dark humor.
Margery Kempe
14th/15th century: The autobiography (the first!) of a middle-class woman in England who decides, after living as a wife and mother, to devote her life to God and religion. It is the story of her “spiritual awakening and religious fervor” (604) while travelling throughout Christendom, facing temptations, and dialoguing with various religious persons.
Julian of Norwich
14th/15th century: The mystical experiences of an anchoress, who describes the visions granted to her of Christ and God during a time of great illness.
Unit 3: Alterity
Boccaccio, The Decameron
14th century: Italian collection of short stories. Those in this unit are related to disability.
Chaucer, The Prioress’s Tale
14th century: From The Canterbury Tales. Tale narrated by the pilgrim Prioress, a head nun, it is the story of a Christian boy in a Jewish community, who is murdered by Jews. His devotion to the Virgin Mary allows his body to perform miracles after his death.
Unit 4: Iceland? That’s the Green One, Right?
Egils Saga
13th century: An Icelandic saga following the life and exploits of Egil. It tells of the family of the main character and then traces Egil’s history. As with most Icelandic sagas, it is an adventure, a genealogy, a law book, a legend, etc.
Erik the Red’s Saga
13th century: This saga depicts the Viking exploration and discovery of North America.
Unit 5: Martial and Domestic Violence
Chrétien de Troyes, Erec and Enide
12th century: French romance telling the story of the love between the title characters. Once they have been married, Erec no longer participates in knightly endeavors until he is shamed for his actions. He then proceeds to start up his martial life again, and Enide follows him.
Marie de France, Yonec
12th century: Anglo-Norman romance (a lai, which is a short romance poem, often with supernatural elements) about a young wife who is imprisoned by her older husband. Longing to escape and to find a worthy lover, she is surprised when a hawk appears in her tower and transforms into a handsome knight. The husband is less than pleased upon discovering their affair.
Boccaccio, The Decameron
14th century: Italian collection of short stories. Those in this unit are either sources for Chaucer's tales or stories of romance/marriage.
Marie de France, Lai le Fresne
12th century: Anglo-Norman lai about Le Fresne, a high-born woman abandoned as a baby and raised by an abbess. She later becomes the mistress of Lord Gurun. When he is forced to marry another more suitable woman, Le Fresne, a gentle, obedient woman, even prepares the marriage bed for the wedding night. However, her true parentage is revealed.
Chaucer, Clerk’s Tale (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
14th century: From The Canterbury Tales. Tale narrated by the pilgrim Clerk, it tells the story of Walter, a wealthy lord, who decides to marry the peasant Griselda, who promises at their marriage to obey him in all matters. During their years together, Walter decides to put her through various tests, including pretending to execute their children and to annul their marriage and force her to prepare the wedding for his next bride.
The Franklin's Tale
14th century: From The Canterbury Tales. Tale narrated by the pilgrim Franklin, it tells the story of a young married woman distraught about her husband's safety while he is traveling. She makes a bargain with a young man who is in love with her and then later must honor it.
The Reeve's Tale
14th century: From The Canterbury Tales. Tale narrated by the pilgrim Reeve, it tells the story of two university students who try to get back at a miller for cheating his customers. They end up staying the night in his house and sleeping with his wife and daughter.
Unit 6: History...or Is It?
Gildas, “The Ruin of Britain"
6th century: Though his historical accuracy is in doubt, Gildas is one of the sources for many of the later medieval “historians.” “The Ruin of Britain” mostly intends to “denounce contemporary rulers…for their greed, cruelty, and sinfulness” (1). His work does depict the time of Roman Britain.
Pseudo-Nennius, “The History of the Britons” (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
9th century: This text, like Gildas, is historically questionable. However, it is one of the few of its kind. Further, it is important as a part of Arthurian lore, particularly in telling the story of Merlin.
Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People
8th century: The Ecclesiastical History is “an extensive history of England which takes as its theme the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon invaders who had displaced the native Britons” and “imagines an ‘English’ people united not so much by culture or language or geography as by faith (Roman Christianity)” (9). These excerpts focus on the conversion of King Edwin, the Abbess Hild, and the story of the (first) English poet Caedmon, who “receives (from God) a miraculous talent for poetic composition” (10).
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Began in the time of Alfred the Great (9th century), continues to be added to in subsequent centuries: The Chronicle is a “work of propaganda, designed to inspire the English to resist the Viking invasions” (118). These excerpts deal with King Alfred, King Aethelred (and his failure to hold off the Vikings), and William the Conqueror (c. 1066).
Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain
12th century: The History “recount(s) the history of the kings of Britain from before the time of Christ to the time of Cadwallader (689CE)” (157). His version of the origins of Britain stretches back to Troy. He is known for shaping a great deal of the historical Arthur. These excerpts focus on King Leir (Shakespeare’s King Lear), the end of the Roman period, and the exploits/history/death of King Arthur.
Unit 7: The Once and Future King...Well, We’re Waiting...
Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur
15th century: In modern times, Le Morte d’Arthur is the most well-known of the English Arthurian texts. An immense work, these excerpts focus on young Arthur and the Sword in the Stone, then the events leading up to King Arthur’s death, including the discovery of the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, and the destruction of the Arthurian kingdom.
Original languages of other readings:
Many of our readings are excerpts. To get a more complete view of your chosen text(s), you may need to find an edition and read more than the excerpts in our textbook.
- Possibly 10th/11th century: Anglo-Saxon version of the Biblical story of “a pious Hebrew widow, Judith, who rescues the people of the besieged city of Bethulia by beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes as he attempts to seduce her” (93). This text is found in the same manuscript as Beowulf and there are interesting parallels, given the genders of the protagonists.
“The Chester Noah’s Flood,”- 15th century: A Mystery play following the story of Noah and the Flood in the Bible, though diverging from the original story in several interesting ways.
Heliand- 9th century: Anglo-Saxon version of Christ’s life, written in the style of a heroic saga.
“Battle of Maldon"- 4th-5th century (original): A saint’s life originally composed in Latin and translated into Anglo-Saxon (a common occurrence). Saint Mary of Egypt is a reformed sinner repenting “her life of sexual depravity” (135).
“The Life of Saint Margaret,” (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)- 13th century: A saint’s life detailing the torture and martyrdom of the virgin Margaret. It is an example of hagiography that is rather graphically violent.
*There are many different saints’ lives. You may want to read more than the ones assigned."Everyman" (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
- 15th century: A Morality play following the revelations of the titular character after he is told that he will soon die and his frantic and futile attempts to find one of a host of personified characters who would be willing to accompany him to the grave.
York Crucifixion Play- 15th century: A Miracle/Mystery play depicting the isolated events of Christ’s Crucifixion. Though focusing on the violent event, it exhibits a dark humor.
Margery Kempe- 14th/15th century: The autobiography (the first!) of a middle-class woman in England who decides, after living as a wife and mother, to devote her life to God and religion. It is the story of her “spiritual awakening and religious fervor” (604) while travelling throughout Christendom, facing temptations, and dialoguing with various religious persons.
Julian of Norwich- 14th century: Italian collection of short stories. Those in this unit are related to disability.
Chaucer, The Prioress’s Tale- 13th century: An Icelandic saga following the life and exploits of Egil. It tells of the family of the main character and then traces Egil’s history. As with most Icelandic sagas, it is an adventure, a genealogy, a law book, a legend, etc.
Erik the Red’s Saga- 12th century: French romance telling the story of the love between the title characters. Once they have been married, Erec no longer participates in knightly endeavors until he is shamed for his actions. He then proceeds to start up his martial life again, and Enide follows him.
Marie de France, Yonec- 12th century: Anglo-Norman romance (a lai, which is a short romance poem, often with supernatural elements) about a young wife who is imprisoned by her older husband. Longing to escape and to find a worthy lover, she is surprised when a hawk appears in her tower and transforms into a handsome knight. The husband is less than pleased upon discovering their affair.
Boccaccio, The Decameron- 14th century: Italian collection of short stories. Those in this unit are either sources for Chaucer's tales or stories of romance/marriage.
Marie de France, Lai le Fresne- 12th century: Anglo-Norman lai about Le Fresne, a high-born woman abandoned as a baby and raised by an abbess. She later becomes the mistress of Lord Gurun. When he is forced to marry another more suitable woman, Le Fresne, a gentle, obedient woman, even prepares the marriage bed for the wedding night. However, her true parentage is revealed.
Chaucer, Clerk’s Tale (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)- 14th century: From The Canterbury Tales. Tale narrated by the pilgrim Clerk, it tells the story of Walter, a wealthy lord, who decides to marry the peasant Griselda, who promises at their marriage to obey him in all matters. During their years together, Walter decides to put her through various tests, including pretending to execute their children and to annul their marriage and force her to prepare the wedding for his next bride.
The Franklin's Tale- 14th century: From The Canterbury Tales. Tale narrated by the pilgrim Franklin, it tells the story of a young married woman distraught about her husband's safety while he is traveling. She makes a bargain with a young man who is in love with her and then later must honor it.
The Reeve's Tale- 6th century: Though his historical accuracy is in doubt, Gildas is one of the sources for many of the later medieval “historians.” “The Ruin of Britain” mostly intends to “denounce contemporary rulers…for their greed, cruelty, and sinfulness” (1). His work does depict the time of Roman Britain.
Pseudo-Nennius, “The History of the Britons” (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)- 9th century: This text, like Gildas, is historically questionable. However, it is one of the few of its kind. Further, it is important as a part of Arthurian lore, particularly in telling the story of Merlin.
Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People- 8th century: The Ecclesiastical History is “an extensive history of England which takes as its theme the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon invaders who had displaced the native Britons” and “imagines an ‘English’ people united not so much by culture or language or geography as by faith (Roman Christianity)” (9). These excerpts focus on the conversion of King Edwin, the Abbess Hild, and the story of the (first) English poet Caedmon, who “receives (from God) a miraculous talent for poetic composition” (10).
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle- Began in the time of Alfred the Great (9th century), continues to be added to in subsequent centuries: The Chronicle is a “work of propaganda, designed to inspire the English to resist the Viking invasions” (118). These excerpts deal with King Alfred, King Aethelred (and his failure to hold off the Vikings), and William the Conqueror (c. 1066).
Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain