Course Information:

Instructor: C. Fee

Meeting Time: W 6:30-9:00 PM

Meeting Place: Breidenbaugh 312

Office: B-406

Office Hours: MWF 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, TH 2:00 PM-4:00 PM, and by appointment

Office Phone: x6762

Home Phone: 528-4799 (Call before 10:00 PM)

E-mail: cfee@gettysburg.edu
 
 

Course Description:

Mythology in the Middle Ages will take us on a fantastic journey across many centuries and through the mythic imaginations of medieval peoples and empires from the Atlantic and Baltic coasts of Europe, south through Iberia into North Africa, and east to Byzantium and Persia. The itinerary for these travels will include popular destinations from the well-known European traditions, to be sure, but the monsters of the West have their counterparts in the East, and cursed treasure is not limited to the Valley of the Rhine. Heroes, Gods, Quests and Monsters emerge from the depths of time to assert themselves again and again on the human stage, and their costumes change to conform to the audience of the moment. Thus, to give us some sense of the breadth and depth of the mythologies of the Medieval World, this course will chart mythic traditions and their relationships from all the corners of Christendom and throughout the Islamic world. The Middle Ages were a time of cataclysmic contact, conflict, and confluence, and we are hard pressed to understand the literature of one nation outside of this vibrant context. Thus this course will inform students interested in British literature, history, and religion of the crucible through which the ancient substance that was to be Medieval British culture was transmuted into familiar myths, legends, cults, folktales, epics, and Romances.

Required Texts:

Burgess, G., ed. The Song of Roland. (Penguin Classics 1990) ISBN: 0140445323

Byock, J., ed. The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer. (Penguin Classics 2000) ISBN: 0140447385

Dawood, N., ed. Tales from the Thousand and One Nights. (Penguin Classics 1973) ISBN: 0140442898

Fee, C. & D. Leeming. Gods, Heroes, & Kings: The Battle for Mythic Britain. (Oxford 2004) ISBN: 0195174038

Ferdowsi, A. and J. Clinton. The Tragedy of Sohrab and Rostam: From the Persian National Epic, the Shahname of Abdol-Qasem Ferdowsi (University of Washington 1996) ISBN: 0295975679

Gantz, J. The Mabinogion. (Penguin Classics 1976) ISBN: 0140443223

Hamilton, R., J. Perry, & I. Michael, eds. The Poem of The Cid. (Penguin Classics 1985) ISBN: 0140444467

Hatto, A. ed. Nibelungenlied. (Penguin Classics 1985) ISBN: 0140441379

Kinsella, T. The Tain. (Oxford 2002) ISBN: 0192803735

Lewis, G., ed. The Book of Dede Korkut. (Penguin Classics 1988) ISBN: 0140442987

Malory, T. Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript. (Oxford 1998) ISBN: 0192824201

Voragine, J. The Golden Legend. (Penguin Classics 1998) ISBN: 0140446486

Wineman, A. Mystic Tales from the Zohar. (Princeton 1998) ISBN: 0691058334

Zenkovsky, S., ed. Medieval Russian Epics, Chronicles, and Tales. (Rev. ed. Plume 1974) ISBN: 0452010861

Recommended Texts:

Crossley-Holland, K. The Norse Myths. (Pantheon 1981) ISBN: 0394748468

Gantz, J. Early Irish Myths and Sagas. (Penguin Classics 1982) ISBN: 0140443975

Heaney, S. Beowulf : A New Verse Translation. (Norton 2001) ISBN: 0393320979

Lacy, N., et al. The Arthurian Handbook. 2nd ed. (Garland 1997) ISBN: 0815320817

Lindahl, J., J. McNamara, & J. Lindow, eds. Medieval Folklore: A Guide to Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs, and Customs. (Oxford 2002) ISBN: 0195147723

Reserved Texts

Section Bibliographies

Course Objectives & Structure:

This course will provide an overview of the mythic traditions of the Middle Ages in Europe, will delve into the Islamic world on the borders of Christendom, and will explore the Turkish and Iranian traditions that both inform and provide counterpoints to those of the West. This course is designed to offer a narrative trajectory of Medieval Mythology, and thus will contextualize its component traditions and examine the conflicts and confluences thereof. It is an objective of this course to construct a framework upon which each student may begin to assemble a model of how diverse details of character, setting, and plot may fit together into a mosaic of discernable patterns and relationships that may truthfully be called "Medieval Mythology."

The assignments for this course are designed both to facilitate and to interrogate each student's exploration of the major themes of Medieval Mythology and their relevance in the contemporary world. The reading, writing, research, and presentation requirements of this course are intended to foster oral and written effective communications skills; the interdisciplinary format is meant to promote integrative thinking; finally, the examination of Western Medieval cultures and traditions in the context of non-Western mythology should inform our post-modern understanding of "diversity."

Introduction:

Week 1: The Origins & Context of Medieval Mythology; Sign up for Background Presentation

Section I. The Mythic Heartland of Christendom:

Week 2: Medieval Saints' Myths

Week 3: Medieval Arthurian Myth

Week 4: Medieval French Myth

Section II. The Pagan Frontier:

Week 5: Medieval British & Irish Myth

Week 6: Medieval Scandinavian & Germanic Myth

Week 7: Medieval Slavic & Baltic Myth; Topic of Research Paper Due

Section III. Holy War:

Week 8: Medieval Iberian Myth; Midterm Exam Due on Monday

Week 9: Medieval Arabian Myth; Working Bibliography of Research Paper Due

Week 10: Medieval Jewish Myth; Outline of Research Paper Due

Section IV. The Eastern Marches:

Week 11: Medieval Byzantine Myth; Annotated Bibliography of Research Paper Due

Week 12: Medieval Turkish Myth

Week 13: Medieval Persian Myth; First Draft of Research Paper Due

Conclusion:

Week 14: The Mosaic of Medieval Mythology

Week 15: Research Paper Due on Monday; Final Exam during designated slot
 

Course Evaluation:

Daily Preparation & Participation:    10%

Weekly Email Queries: 10%

Weekly Quizzes:      10%

Section Reaction Papers: 10%

Background Presentation & Paper:    20%

Final Research Paper:     20%

Exams:      20%

Preparation & Participation:

You are expected to be present, prepared, and ready to participate in each and every class period. "Preparation," for this class, entails a fair amount of reading and thinking before each class: although all of the reading for this class is in modern English in accessible editions, there is quite a bit of it to do, and much of it will be new. Reading assigned for a particular week should be completed before the relevant class period; read ahead whenever possible. Also take care to read the introductions and notes carefully, as these will provide the context for some of the more alien and/or confusing aspects. Be sure to remember the materials on reserve and electronic reserve; my quest to locate cheap paperback editions of primary texts was not completely succesful, and some of the primary required texts and recommended texts are on reserve. I also will assign some ad hoc short segments of longer works which are on reserve and not available in your abridged editions. Most of the secondary materials on reserve are intended for Background Presentations and Research Papers, not day-to-day class discussions (although feel free to prep to your heart's content!)

Some find participating in class discussions to be fun and easy, while others find it threatening and uncomfortable. You need not be a big talker to do well in this class (although it usually doesn't hurt!) but you do need to be prepared to answer an occasional question, articulate intelligent confusion, or voice the odd query (about the subject matter at hand rather than, say, grading procedures!). The Reaction Papers and Email Queries are ideal vehicles for framing questions or issues you might like to pursue in class.
 

Weekly Email Queries:

Every week each student must submit three queries/comments to me via email; these are due each Monday by Midnight. I will integrate your questions and comments into class as best I can, and I will keep all of your Email Queries in a file until the end of the term, at which time I will assess the thoughtfulness, creativity, and regularity of your responses across the length of the term. Your Reaction Papers will be evaluated in a similar way. As these questions are meant to spur and extend class discussions, they may not be made up. This is your chance to ask questions and make comments without having to lift a finger in class; don't fritter it away!

Weekly Quizzes:

We have a lot of material to cover this term, and much of it will be new to you and may seem alien at first; it is therefore vital that you keep abreast of the regular reading.  To ensure that you have a regular impetus to do so, we will have a series of short (10 minute maximum) Quizzes each Wednesday. If you are late or absent we will have moved on, and quizzes may not be made up. These quizzes will be structured to test your basic comprehension of the material, not to trick you in any way, so if you’ve done the reading you should be all right.

Section Reaction Papers:

Each student must prepare a series of 500-600 word (2 page) Reaction Papers; these are due by 4:00 PM on the Fridays of Weeks 4, 7, 10, and 13 (in other words, on each Friday after we're scheduled to have completed a section.) I will integrate your responses into class as best I can, and I will keep all of your reaction papers in a file until the end of the term, at which time I will assess the thoughtfulness, creativity, and regularity of your reaction papers across the length of the term. Your e-mail responses will be evaluated in a similar way. You may write about whatever strikes your fancy: What is interesting? What is boring? What relates to post-modern life? What is entirely alien? What is offensive? Why do you feel the way that you do about it? Say what's on your mind about the texts/discussions, but don't fail to examine your own reactions, perceptions, and preconceptions. Generally speaking, what is most important about these exercises is your attempt to assimilate class discussions, readings from the texts, and your own intellectual and emotional responses. Try to react substantively with the material, and feel free to take some risks; as long as it is clear that you have put some time and thought into these exercises, you will do quite well on this portion of the course. As these exercises are meant to spur and extend class discussions, they may not be made up. Each of these four short essays should be submitted both as hard-copy and as an email attachment.

Background Presentation & Paper:

Each student will choose one tradition (Irish, Turkish, etc.) to explore and to report on to the class; if the class size requires it, students may work in pairs. The oral portion of this report should be 10-15 minutes long, and should cover the historical, legendary, and mythic context for the tradition in question, including an overview of the major epics and literary works representative of that culture during the period from ca. 500-1500 CE. As part of the oral report, each student should create a handout, an annotated bibliography, and a powerpoint presentation. The handout should contain a short synopsis (outline form is fine) of your main points concerning that report. The format of the bibliography should conform with MLA guidelines. "Annotated" means that you provide a brief (25-100 word) overview of each item, including your assessment of its value to your classmates and to your own research (see sample annotated bibliography.) The powerpoint presentation should include at least 10 relevant high-resolution images, including a timeline, maps, manuscript illustrations, and pertinent art works. All images must be properly identified and credited to a print source. Handouts and annotated bibliographies must be typed, double-spaced, clear, and helpful; bring enough copies of each for all of your classmates (provide me with a hard-copy and an email attachment of all your materials, including the powerpoint presentation.) Late handouts and/or bibliographies are not acceptable. Creativity is expected: pictures, diagrams, audio-visual aids, and clever illustrations are a necessary part of this exercise. A word to the wise: don't be boring!

Each student is expected to write a paper which develops these findings into cogent narrative form; this paper should be 2500-3000 words (probably 8-10 pages) in length, and should contain a works cited page and conform to MLA guidelines. The paper is due two weeks after the date scheduled for the presentation, and should be submitted both as hard-copy and as an email attachment.

Final Research Paper:

The final paper should be 5000-6000 words (probably 15-20 pages) in length, and should be concerned with how a work, a set of works, a particular tradition, or a set of traditions contribute(s) to our understanding of "the Mosaic of Medieval Mythology." Each student should plan to consult with the instructor extensively on this project; come early and come often! A good place to begin would be by tackling the slippery nature of what "Medieval" and "mythology" mean in the first place. After developing a sophisticated theoretical sense of these concepts, then, each student should apply this understanding to the work(s) and tradition(s) at hand. This project will be divided into a series of stages, each of which will be evaluated; these stages will include, at minimum: the selection of a topic; the compilation of a bibliography; the development of an outline; the composition of an annotated version of the bibliography; a first draft consisting of at least 500-600 words (say ten percent of the total project;) a final draft. The final draft is due on the Monday of Week 15 (after classes are over.) Each stage should be submitted both as hard-copy and as an email attachment.
 

Exams:

There will be two exams, each of which will combine short-answer identification of key terms and concepts with passage identifications and essay questions. Some questions might be drawn from the Quizzes, Email Queries, and Reaction Papers. The Midterm Exam will be a take-home assignment, and must be typed and double-spaced; it will be due by 9:00 AM on the Monday of Week 8. The Final Exam will be taken in the time-honored tradition fashion, during the appropriate finals slot. The exams are intended to give you an opportunity to display how well you have absorbed the reading and discussion material, as well as to give me a chance to gauge your mastery of critical analysis.