EN4319 Green and Pleasant: Landscape and Later Medieval Literature

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof M Connolly

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof Margaret Connolly

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Locations encountered in Middle English literary texts are frequently green and pleasant places where the sun always shines, yet in reality during the fourteenth century the English countryside was affected by extreme weather, famine, plague, and social unrest. This module will explore the depiction of landscape across a wide range of later medieval spiritual and secular narrative genres. Through close analysis of lyric, romance, debate, and dream poetry we will encounter different refractions of the idealized spaces of garden, meadow, forest, and wilderness. Alongside we will consider productive engagement with the landscape, as evidenced through advice about seasonal labours, weather prognostications, and medieval recipes. The aim of the module is to focus on close analysis and in-depth study of the chosen texts to encourage exploration of both literary, critical, and environmental and ecological issues.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE EN2003 AND TAKE EN2004

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework - 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2 hour seminar (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

260

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • read, understand, and comment on a wide range of later medieval texts
  • analyse Middle English verse and prose through advanced close reading skills
  • develop oral and written communication skills through independent learning and in-class work
  • appreciate the pervasive influence of the natural world on medieval English literature
  • bring a more informed historical perspective to contemporary discussions of the environment and climate change