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. Not open to students who have taken WRIT 143 in Fall 2022.
Instructor: Lynch
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
Instructor: Wall-Randell
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered
Notes:
Few cities are as imbued with history, culture and myth as is Cordoba in the south of Spain. As of 2018 it can boast even more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other city in the world. As “City of Three Cultures” it witnessed the convergence over centuries of the three main monotheistic religions, a commingling that, while unique in medieval civilization, was rarely completely harmonious and may have oftentimes been overly idealized. Print materials (including philosophical and literary production), recent educational media (including digital architectural reconstructions) and samples of dance and music will offer students the opportunity to see how cultural cross pollination resulted in significant and lasting contributions to the world.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 14
Crosslisted Courses: MER 248
Prerequisites:
Instructor: Vega
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered
Notes:
This course is devoted to one of the most important masterpieces of world literature, the Divine Comedy by Florentine poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). Designed as a journey across the Christian afterlife, the Comedy has redefined the understanding of morality, political engagement, and the sacred across the centuries. We will analyze and discuss the Comedy in its entirety focusing on Dante’s own dilemmas: What does it mean to love a person, one’s community, or an idea? Is there a logic to the universe? How can we reconcile justice, curiosity, and desire? And why should we care? Our interdisciplinary discussion will explore fields such as literature, history, ethics, and theology. No previous knowledge of Italian literature or medieval studies is required.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 20
Crosslisted Courses: MER 263
Prerequisites: None.
Instructor: Staff
Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature
Typical Periods Offered: Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall
Notes:
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Open to juniors and seniors.
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Prerequisites: Permission of the department.
Instructor:
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.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: MER 360 and permission of the department.
Instructor:
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.