Introductory description

In contemporary contexts, the labelling of something as 'medieval' often harks back to what is seen as a violent, bigoted, uncivilised past. This module will look beyond this comforting fantasy of a ‘dark ages’ against which the present can be measured, giving you a better understanding of how Western medieval sources actually deal with topics like gender, race, and religion.

While not shying away from the misogyny, anti-Semitism, and racial/religious prejudice sometimes articulated in medieval texts and images, the module will also give you an insight into how such views are challenged or troubled. We will consider how medieval women, Muslims, Jews, and various kinds of racial 'others' were represented in medieval culture. We will do this through focused analysis of a range of different source types, including didactic materials, illustrated works of natural history, exemplary literature, romance, and fantastical travel narratives. No previous knowledge of the Middle Ages is required for the module; the textual materials studied are predominantly written in Old French or Latin, but will be studied in modern French or English translation.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Term 1 or 2

1 Lecture: Introduction; Medieval Misogyny and the ‘Defence’ of Women
Seminar: ‘Three Medieval Views of Women’

2 Lecture: Women in Medieval Saints’ Lives
Seminar: Clemence of Barking’s ‘Vie de Sainte Catherine d’Alexandrie’

3 Lecture: Christine de Pizan and the Defence of Women
Seminar: Christine de Pizan ‘La Cité des Dames’ (extracts)

4 Lecture: Misogyny and Gender in the Bestiaries
Seminar: The Second Family Bestiary

5 Lecture: Anti-Semitism in the Bestiaries
Seminar: The Second Family Bestiary

6 Reading Week

7 Lecture: Parody and Otherness in Aucassin et Nicolette
Seminar: Aucassin et Nicolette

8 Lecture: The Saracen Woman in Aucassin et Nicolette
Seminar: Aucassin et Nicolette

9 Lecture: The Monstrous Races in Mandeville’s Travels
Seminar: Mandeville’s Travels

10 Lecture: The Monstrous Races in Mandeville’s Travels
Seminar: Mandeville’s Travels

Term 3

3 Revision sessions (x 2)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Knowledge of debates surrounding women, race, and religious difference in the Middle Ages
• Critical thinking about themes in medieval sources that have an impact on questions of gender, race and religion
• Knowledge of medieval sources and the contexts in which they circulated
• Subject specific research skills

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Interdisciplinary

The module draws on the fields of history, literature, visual culture, and manuscript studies; and examines materials belonging to both English and French cultural history.

International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will develop students’ linguistic skills through engaging with secondary materials in the target language and through translations of primary materials. It will build students’ capacity to engage with aspects of French culture through analysis of primary material and through seminar discussion aimed at deeper critical thinking. In particular, students’ awareness of gender, race and religion in the Middle Ages will be enhanced through lectures and seminars which engage with scholarship in the field.

Transferable skills

n/a