Middle English 1 (BAN-321)
Karáth Tamás
Fall 2008
INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH: READING MIDDLE ENGLISH TEXTS
Lecturer: Karáth Tamás (kartauzi@gmx.de)
BAN-321/c and d: Fri 12.00 and 14.00
The aim of the seminar is, primarily, to give an introduction to a stage of the development of
the English language, known as the Middle English period. Information concerning grammar,
syntax, and vocabulary will be drawn directly from the fragments of literary passages to be
translated and discussed during the course. Linguistic information can modify to a large
extent our perceptions of a literary piece known through a modern English rendering.
Therefore, parallel with the literal translation and linguistic analysis of the texts, also literary
aspects will be considered.
The choice of texts for the course was limited to two main areas (the South East and the East
Midlands) so that the significant differences between other regional dialects should not
disturb our familiarizing with Middle English. Even so, the vast chronological range of the
texts’ composition (from the 12th to the 15th century) will guarantee that we will have the
chance to read a variety of forms of “the same language.”
Readings for the class can be found in:
(1) J. A. Burrow – Thorlac Turville-Petre (eds.) A Book of Middle English. 2nd edition.
Oxford: Blackwell, 1996. (BME) This textbook (available in the department library in
huge numbers) will serve as the standard book for the seminar.
(2) Available from http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/tmsmenu.htm#menu
(TEAMS)
Methods:
Class work is based on regular home readings. For the mid-term test, the introductory
chapters of The Book of Middle English will provide you with valuable information about ME
phonetics, syntax, and vocabulary.
Requirements:
1. Regular class attendance: do not miss more than 3 classes.
2. The preparation of readings for each class (looking up words in the glossary) is
indispensable. Any evidence of the lack of preparation means extra HW that has to be
handed in the following week.
3. A mid-term test based on the texts discussed beforehand in class and on assigned
chapters of BME.
4. You are expected to hand in a translation of a text of ca. 20 lines latest by 5 Dec.
The translation must be completed by a brief (2-3 pages) analysis of the linguistic
characteristics of the text. The criteria of this paper as well as the possibilities of
choice will be discussed at the beginning of the semester.
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Middle English 1 (BAN-321)
Karáth Tamás
Fall 2008
Course syllabus:
12 Sep - The Middle English period in brief parameters. A language in transformation: the
beginnings and the end. Aspects to consider in ME texts.
19 Sep – How to pronounce ME? How to reconstruct pronunciation?
Reading: excerpt from “The General Prologue” to Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales
26 Sep – Reading: “In Praise of Women” (TEAMS)
3 Oct – Reading: “Against Hasty Marriage I” and “The Trials of Marriage” (TEAMS)
10 Oct – Reading: “A Young and Henpecked Husband’s Complaint” (TEAMS)
17 Oct – Reading: “Four Things That Make a Man a Fool and Yit of the Same” and “Against
Hasty Marriage II” (TEAMS)
24 Oct – Long weekend holiday
31 Oct –Autumn break
7 Nov – Midterm test
14 Nov – The Beginnings of ME: Transition from OE to ME.
Reading: excerpt from the Peterborough Chronicle (BME Text 1, ll. 1-30)
21 Nov – Between the beginnings and Chaucer’s age
Reading: excerpt from The Owl and the Nightingale (BME Text 2, ll. 1-30)
28 Nov – Chaucer’s age: John Gower
Reading: Gower’s Confessio Amantis (BME Text 12, ll. 61-147)
5 Dec – Deadline of home translations
Reading: Gower’s Confessio Amantis continued (BME text 12, ll. 148-230)
12 Dec - Evaluation of the home translations
Have a nice semester, and enjoy your readings in Middle English literature.
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