Passions & Pleasure - Medieval Narrative / New Approaches
G65.2290 (Originates in the French Department)
Fall 2008, Wed 2-4
New York University, French Department
Prof. Evelyn (Timmie) Birge Vitz - ebv1@nyu.edu
This course focuses on a wide range of works of medieval verse narrative,
mostly French but open to texts in other languages.
Note: The course will be given in English in order to make the discussion available to
graduate students from different departments. Students should be able to read modern
French; we will do some work on Old French together in class.
Works to be studied include:
La Chanson de Roland—and excerpts from another version of the Roland,
Rhymed Roland
Selected readings from the Tristan legend: Béroul, Thomas, the Folies
Chrétien de Troyes’ Yvain
Lais by Marie de France
Aucassin et Nicolette
Several narrative lyrics, e.g., chansons de toile, pastourelles
Several short saints’ lives
Scenes from the Roman de la Rose
Several fabliaux
Passages from Dante’s Divine Comedy
Selected tales from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Theoretical approaches:
We will approach these works in part through the lens of several contemporary
theoretical frameworks, in particular:
Work from the field of evolutionary biology, e.g., Joseph Carroll, and
Ellen Dissanayake on art and aesthetic experience
Recent work on performance (e.g., “Performing Medieval Narrative Today: A Video
Showcase”: http://wilde.its.nyu.edu/mednar/) and on cognition of medieval narrative
Richard Schechner’s work on performance and on “rasa” (the passions)
Work on “Theory of Mind,” in particular, Lisa Zunshine, Why We Read Fiction
Book order: Several texts will be read in part, in a Reader. Texts to be purchased are:
La Chanson de Roland, Lettres Gothiques
Tristan et Iseut, Lettres Gothiques
Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain, Lettres Gothiques
Aucassin et Nicolette, Garnier Flammarion
Note: For the theoretical works, there will be a Reader. But copies of books by Ellen
Dissanayake, Joseph Carrolll, Richard Schechner, Lisa Zunshine and others are readily
available on Amazon and through other book-sellers.