English Literature before 1600
Ming-Tsang Yang

This is a survey course covering the English literary tradition from its beginnings through the sixteenth century. Given the scope and nature of the course, students must gear up for the fast-moving tempo and the considerable amount of reading assignments, with or without the instructor＊s guidance. Students have to preview the weekly materials and report on the related period introductions, headnotes and the study questions on the selected texts. The fall semester begins with Old English Literature, featuring the epic poem Beowulf, covers Anglo-Norman literary production and Middle English masterpieces such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Canterbury Tales, Piers Plowman, Morte Darthur, and then moves on to the sixteenth-century literature. Though time allows only cursory and selective readings of texts under consideration, we will still try to conduct guided readings and in-depth analyses of the representative texts. Whenever possible, students are also required to engage in group discussions on assigned topics.