This is a survey course covering the English literary tradition from its beginnings through the Middle Ages. Given the 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 investigation begins with Old English Literature, featuring the epic poem Beowulf, covers Anglo-Norman literary production, and then moves on to Middle English masterpieces such as The Canterbury Tales and Piers Plowman. 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.