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This class intends to familiarise students with Middle English texts, both from a linguistic and a literary point of view. These texts were written between the Norman Conquest and the Renaissance. We will start with a general introduction into the relevant historical, cultural, and social contexts before tackling the key characteristics of the English of post-conquest Britain. We will review Middle English on different linguistic levels, always with the goal to equip students with the necessary skills to read the texts in the original. The subsequent classes will focus on excerpts of canonical texts from different stages of Middle English and various genres, including historical narratives (including British myths of origin), lyrics, romances, dramatic texts, and dream visions. |
