This course will select its monsters, villains, and wives from early English, French, and Anglo-Norman literature, ranging from the giant Grendel (and his mother) in Beowulf to the arch-villain Ganelon in The Song of Roland, from the faithless queen Guinevere to the seductive wife of the enigmatic Green Man in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. We will finish by considering the survival of magical monsters in the modern-day fantasy classic The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien, and in The Mere Wife, by Maria Dahvana Headley. We will also trace Tolkien’s career as a medievalist himself and especially as a Beowulf scholar.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Crosslisted Courses: MER 212
Prerequisites: None.
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered
Notes:
The legends of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, with their themes of chivalry, magic, friendship, war, adventure, corruption, and nostalgia, as well as romantic love and betrayal, make up one of the most influential and enduring mythologies in our culture. This course will examine literary interpretations of the Arthurian legend, in history, epic, romance, and fiction, from the sixth century through the sixteenth, following the characters and motifs through their evolution. We will also consider some later examples of Arthuriana, in novels, comics, TV and movies, in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Crosslisted Courses: MER 247,CPLT 247
Prerequisites: None
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered
Notes:
Written in the wake of the plague, the Decameron is a repeatedly censored masterpiece of wit that Boccaccio addressed to women who suffered in love. We will dive into Boccaccio’s collection of 100 tales told by ten young Florentines who escaped the plague by retreating to the countryside. Their stories — ranging from bawdy to tragic, philosophical to absurd — offer a kaleidoscope of medieval life, exploring love, fortune, deception, and desire. As we read, we will ask: What is the role of storytelling in times of crisis? How does Boccaccio’s world mirror and challenge the social, moral, and gender norms of his time? Through discussion, creative projects, and close-reading, this course invites students to explore the Middle-ages with one of its most influential and outrageous storytellers.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 20
Crosslisted Courses: MER 262
Prerequisites: None. Not open to students who have taken ITAS 362/MER 362.
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Typical Periods Offered: Spring
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring
Notes: This course is also offered at the 300 level as ITAS 362/MER 362.
This seminar is a collective close-reading of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy, along with extended selections from Purgatorio and Paradiso. We will examine the poem's historical context, its intricate narrative structure, and its enduring influence. We will treat Dante’s poem as a gateway into the medieval world. Secondary reading will include near-contemporary chroniclers, theologians and poets as well as classic Greek and Roman authors such as Aristotle, Virgil and Ovid. No historical or religious background knowledge is required, only attention to detail and a willingness to be surprised. Sample discussion questions we will tackle with Dante: How can I distinguish between love and lust? How do I navigate a hyper-polarized society? What is justice? Is there value in suffering? How far should political prosecution go? How can I stand up to authority in a world where dissent is dangerous? Why are there spots on the moon?
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 20
Crosslisted Courses: MER 263
Prerequisites: None. Not open to students who have taken ITAS 363/MER 363.
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Typical Periods Offered: Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall
Notes: This course is also offered at the 300 level as ITAS 363/MER 363.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Open to juniors and seniors.
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes:
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Prerequisites: Permission of the department.
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes: Students enroll in Senior Thesis Research (360) in the first semester and carry out independent work under the supervision of a faculty member. If sufficient progress is made, students may continue with Senior Thesis (370) in the second semester.
Written in the wake of the plague, the Decameron is a repeatedly censored masterpiece of wit that Boccaccio addressed to women who suffered in love. We will dive into Boccaccio’s collection of 100 tales told by ten young Florentines who escaped the plague by retreating to the countryside. Their stories — ranging from bawdy to tragic, philosophical to absurd — offer a kaleidoscope of medieval life, exploring love, fortune, deception, and desire. As we read, we will ask: What is the role of storytelling in times of crisis? How does Boccaccio’s world mirror and challenge the social, moral, and gender norms of his time? Through discussion, creative projects, and close-reading, this course invites students to explore the Middle-ages with one of its most influential and outrageous storytellers.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 20
Crosslisted Courses: MER 362
Prerequisites: ITAS 201 and ITAS 202, or ITAS 203, or permission of the instructor.
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Typical Periods Offered: Spring
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring
Notes: This course is also offered at the 200 level as ITAS 262/MER 262.
This seminar is a collective close-reading of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy, along with extended selections from Purgatorio and Paradiso. We will examine the poem's historical context, its intricate narrative structure, and its enduring influence. We will treat Dante’s poem as a gateway into the medieval world. Secondary reading will include near-contemporary chroniclers, theologians and poets as well as classic Greek and Roman authors such as Aristotle, Virgil and Ovid. No historical or religious background knowledge is required, only attention to detail and a willingness to be surprised. Sample discussion questions we will tackle with Dante: How can I distinguish between love and lust? How do I navigate a hyper-polarized society? What is justice? Is there value in suffering? How far should political prosecution go? How can I stand up to authority in a world where dissent is dangerous? Why are there spots on the moon?
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 20
Crosslisted Courses: MER 363
Prerequisites: ITAS 201 and ITAS 202, or ITAS 203, or permission of the instructor.
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Typical Periods Offered: Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall
Notes: This course is also offered at the 200 level as ITAS 263/MER 263.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: MER 360 and permission of the department.
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes: Students enroll in Senior Thesis Research (360) in the first semester and carry out independent work under the supervision of a faculty member. If sufficient progress is made, students may continue with Senior Thesis (370) in the second semester.