FYS 053, 1999
Cassandra Potts (ext. 5319, e-mail: potts@panther.middlebury.edu)
Chellis 2: Mon. & Wed. 1:30-2:30; Fri. 12:15-1:30
Chivalry and Courtly Love in Medieval Europe
Torn between loyalty to his lord and love of his lady, the chivalric knight was a favorite figure of medieval literature, art and legend. What were the components of this ideal, and how did the ideal of chivalry evolve over the centuries? This course examines the historical origins of medieval chivalry in the context of political, ecclesiastical and economic life in the period from the eleventh to fourteenth centuries. We will also trace the evolution of this ideal in literature, art and history to see how it changed to suit the changing needs and tastes of medieval society. The readings will be drawn from a variety of sources written during the middle ages, including historical chronicles, Arthurian romances, poems and troubadour literature.
Books available for purchase
William Zinsser, On Writing Well
David Herlihy, The History of Feudalism
Maurice Keen, Chivalry
David Crouch, William Marshall: Court, Career and Chivalry
Meg Bogin, The Women Troubadours
Christine de Pisan, Book of the Duke of True Lovers
Jean Froissart, Chronicles, trans. Geoffrey Brereton
The Quest of the Holy Grail, trans. P. M. Matarasso
Georges Duby, The Knight, the Lady and the Priest
The Romance of Arthur: An Anthology of Medieval Texts in Translation, ed. James Wilhelm
WEB SOURCES: In addition to readings in the books listed above, your assignments will include texts that are published on the World Wide Web. The majority of these will be found in the Internet Medieval Sourcebook or IMS (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html), but some are published on less well-known websites. (For directions and links to other websites, see my general medieval history page). I will be posting the syllabus, assignments, handouts, and any late-breaking news on this webpage, so check it regularly.
Course Requirements
1. Participation in discussion and informal assignments, both written and oral
2. Four 3-4-page papers (two before Spring break and two afterwards)
3. Research paper (approx. 7 pages), submitted twice [suggested research subjects]
4. Oral presentation of research paper to class (15 minutes) [guide to research]
5. Final exam, May 18, 9 am-noon [Study Guide: Names and Terms to Know]
Topics and Reading Assignments
Thurs. Feb. 4: Introduction
Thurs. Feb. 11: Library Meeting (meet in the Library Classroom, Meredith Wing, level 2)
-Reading assignment: On Writing Well, pp. 3-54, 111-125, 187-198; Keen, Chivalry, pp. 1-17; "Extracts from The Song of Roland" (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/roland-ext.html).
-Due in class: two-page essay on Roland
-Bring a hard-copy of the Roland passage (11 pp.) with you to the library, as well as Keen's Chivalry and Zinsser's On Writing Well. We'll spend approximately an hour and a half on library information, and another hour and a half discussing the readings and your essays.
Thurs. Feb. 18: The Feudal Context
-Reading Assignment: Keen, Chivalry, pp. 18-43; Four online sources: (1) "Feudal Capitularies" - 9th century; (2) Fulbert of Chartres "On Feudal Obligations, 1020"; (3) "Charter of Homage and Fealty, 1110"; (4) "Agreement between Count William V of Aquitaine and Hugh IV of Luignan". Please print these documents out, read them, and bring them with you to class.
-Due in class: Library Assignment
Thurs. Feb. 25: Arthur's Images: the Early Years
-Reading Assignment: Keen, Chivalry, pp. 102-124; Romance of Arthur, pp. 3-94
-Oral Presentations: Rhiannon
Thurs. March 4: Knighthood: Real and Imagined
-Reading Assignment: Keen, Chivalry, pp. 64-101; William Marshall: preface, introduction and chapter 1; "Lancelot" in Romance of Arthur, pp. 121-199
-Oral Presentations
Thurs. March 11: Kings, Lords and Vassals: Ties and Tensions
-Reading Assignment: Herlihy, Feudalism, pp. 281-285; William Marshall: chapters 2 and 3; "The Romance of Tristan" in Romance of Arthur, pp. 225-276
-Oral Presentations
Thurs. March 18: Warfare and Statecraft in the Age of Chivalry
-Reading Assignment: William Marshall: chapters 4 and 7; Herlihy, Feudalism, pp. 34-65, 233-276, 288-298
-Oral Presentations
--Spring Recess--
Thurs. April 1: Ideals and Realities: the Early Troubadours
-Reading Assignment: Knight, Lady, & Priest: introduction, preface, chapters 1, 2, and 4; Women Troubadours, pp. 8-76, 82-137; Troubadour Lyrics on WWW
-Oral Presentations: Jordan and Patricia
Thurs. April 8: Courtly Love and Marriage
-Reading Assignment: Knight, Lady, & Priest: chapters 5, 6 and 7; "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," in Romance of Arthur, pp. 399-466; Primary Sources on WWW
-Oral Presentations: Marc and Michaela
Thurs. April 15: Anti-Courtly Courtly Romance
-Reading Assignment: Knight, Lady, & Priest: chapters 8, 10, and 11; Book of the Duke of True Lovers, pp. 9-131, 146-150; Primary Sources on WWW
-Oral Presentations: Kate
Thurs. April 22: The Church Weighs In: Religious Chivalry and Crusades
-Reading Assignment: Keen, Chivalry, pp. 44-63; Quest of the Holy Grail, pp. 31-161, 235-284; Herlihy, Feudalism, 286-288-298, 305-344
-Oral Presentations: Nick and Andrew
Thurs. April 29: Chivalry under Siege
-Reading Assignment: Keen, Chivalry, pp. 143-161; Froissart, Chronicles, pp. 9-24, 37-230, 351-372
-Oral Presentations: Francis and Gabby
Thurs. May 6: Chivalry in the Later Middle Ages
-Reading Assignment: Keen, Chivalry, pp. 219-253; "Le Morte Darthur", in Romance of Arthur, pp. 529-576
-Oral Presentations: Sydney and Liz