LITR269

(Formerly LITR 210) In this course we will explore some of the literature produced during the Middle Ages, focusing on the Western tradition. As we read the major works introduced here we will examine various critical and interpretive issues relevant to the period including genre, content, convention, and the meaning of the label "medieval literature" itself. What does it mean to talk about medieval literature or culture in terms of religious, social, and philosophical ideals and/or realities? We will consider these and other questions primarily through class discussion and close reading, supplemented by occasional lectures to provide cultural and literary contexts. All works will be read in translation.