English 499: Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval and
Renaissance Literature
Professor Melissa D. Aaron Rm. 24 106 MWF 1-2:05 pm
Office hours: MW 10:30-11:30, Th. 12-3, and by appointment
Phone:869-3839
Email:maaron@csupomona.edu
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Required texts
The Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd edition.
Course description
Medieval and Renaissance literature draws on a cultural
context which assumes various supernatural “givens.” We will read
some of the most interesting works of this period, including Sir Gawain and
the Green Knight, selections from The Canterbury Tales, and plays by Jonson
and Shakespeare, against this cultural context.
Concepts covered will include alchemy, astrology—the Ptolomaic system
and its use in medicine and other arts--, witchcraft and witch identification,
and lycanthropy.
Course requirements
You will need access to a computer and the Internet
for this course—if this will present a problem, please contact me.
Participation—20%
Midterm—20%. This typically consists of a few short passages for identification
and analysis and a short, in-class essay.
One research paper with three due dates: topic, preliminary work, draft and
final copy. –60%
All work handed in to me must be typed and double-spaced in ten
or preferably twelve point font. The font I'm using for this,
Times New Roman, is nice and easy to read. Please type your name,
the class and section number, my name and the date in the upper-right
hand corner, and the title centered at the top of the first page.
Do not have a title page, and please, please staple your papers
together.
The short, ungraded assignments will be done electronically on a threaded discussion board. They are discussion-related and will count towards your participation grade. Since they are time-sensitive, they cannot be made up.
Attendance policy
You can't participate if you're not
here, obviously. Here are some reasons you don't want to be absent:
More than three absences and your grade will be lowered. Six or
more and you will fail the course. Extreme tardiness (more than
ten minutes late) counts as an absence.
I don't distinguish between excused and unexcused absences,
and here's why. If you miss class, you'll miss discussion, my commentary on
the texts, homework assignments, etc. In a remarkably short period of time,
you'll find yourself terribly behind, and it will be next to impossible for
you to catch up. The attendance policy is to help you succeed, not to punish
you. If you are faced with illness or emergency, please let me know right away,
and the same applies if you want questions answered or additional help. I check
my email very regularly and you can also always come to my office hours.
Plagiarism
Did you know that "plagiarism" comes from
the Latin word for "kidnapper?" That's because it's theft, and the
University and I will treat it that way. I don't want to go into all the dire
consequences that will ensue, but they can include expulsion; so don't do it.
Enough said. If you really enjoy scaring yourself, I direct you to page 49 of
the Cal Poly catalog.
I count using the Cliff's Notes as plagiarism in all cases. Don't use them, period; they will only confuse you and irritate me. If you need additional help or information, please email me or ask me for authorized and useful sources of assistance.
You may be surprised to know that yes, you can steal from yourself. Turning in a paper for credit that you have already submitted to another class for credit without explicit permission is considered plagiarism by the University and will be treated as such.
If you use someone else's ideas or words, you have to credit them. Here are two rules to help you with this: are you giving credit where credit is due? If someone wanted to find out more about the information you cited, or look up the quote, do they have enough information to do it? I would like you to use MLA documentation. Here's a online MLA style guide, with full information about documentation (including online sources).
Here's another useful link on plagiarism--and more importantly, how to avoid it--courtesy of Indiana University.
Week 1: January 5th
M Introduction to the course, historical background, and intellectual history.
Web sites with material to be given in class.
W. The universe, Ptolomaic astronomy, Chaucer’s astrolabe, Davies, Donne.
F. Cosmology and planetary/elemental connections.
Week 2: January 12th
Fairies, elementals and others.
M Chaucer—The Wife of Bath’s Tale.
W. Chaucer—The Wife of Bath’s Tale.
F Chaucer—The Wife of Bath’s Tale.
Week 3: January 19th
M Campus closed—no class.
Fairies plus King Arthur.
W Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
F Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Week 4 January 26th
M. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
W Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
F Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Week 5: February 2nd
M Midterm.
W Ceremonial magic and alchemy. Dr. Faustus.
F Dr. Faustus.
Week 6: February 9th
M Dr. Faustus.
W Dr. Faustus. Topic due.
F Campus closed—class does not meet.
Week 7: February 16th
M Alchemy continued—and fakes. The Alchemist.
W The Alchemist.
F The Alchemist.
Week 8: February 23rd
Witches---and how to spot one.
M Macbeth and selections from Scot, James, etc. Preliminary/exploratory
paper due.
W Macbeth.
F Macbeth.
Week 9: March 1st
M Macbeth.
W Macbeth.
Werewolves
F The Duchess of Malfi. Draft due.
Week 10: March 8th
M The Duchess of Malfi.
W The Duchess of Malfi.
F The Duchess of Malfi.
Final paper in portfolio form due on exam date.