French

Medieval & Middle French

This course presupposes some reading knowledge of Modern French, and aims to teach the basics of Medieval & Middle French forms of the language (incl. Anglo-Norman). Subsequently, students will have the opportunity to study a variety of texts in their original language, and to translate previously untranslated works into English.

Representations of the Islamic Other in Medieval France

To what extent were modern perspectives on Islam already prefigured in medieval Europe? Muslims appear as stereotyped adversaries in a wide range of medieval texts. Usually depicted with manifest ignorance of their traditions as pantheists, they may be bloodthirsty savages but are often more civilized counterparts of the European knights whom they encounter. In either case, the encounter with the Islamic other tells us more about the fears and aspirations of French writers than it does about contemporary Islam. Most intriguing is the tradition of the erotic encounter with the Saracen blonde where the exotic is rendered both exciting and docile through feminization. This course offers the opportunity to study a range of (mainly thirteenth-century) texts (chansons de geste, drama, romance, mixed genres) either in the original language or in modern French translation.

Seminar Leader: Catherine Emerson

Semester 1, weeks 7-12 Tuesday 2-4pm AM215 (through French, or through English at other times by arrangement).

Romance and Medievalism

This course will examine a number of short examples and excerpts from longer works to build up a picture of medieval attitudes to love. We will also look at depictions of the French middle ages in film to see how the medieval period has become synonymous with a certain sort of romantic sentimentalism.

Seminar Leader: Catherine Emerson

Semester 2, Monday 11am AC213 and Wednesday 11am IT203.

French and German

Comparing Medieval Texts

This course in French and German will look at Fabliaux next year. This course will examine a range of French and German humorous narratives to identify common themes and variations in different cultural settings.

Co-ordinators: Catherine Emerson and Micheal Shields

Semester 2

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