Fall 2022 - WL 401 D100

Early Modernities Beyond the Medieval (4)

Class Number: 7378

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units including two 300-level courses in World Literature, English, and/or Humanities.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

In regions the world over, classical civilizations covering large territories separated over time into more locally defined cultures. This course examines the transitions from cosmopolitan literatures characterized by lingua francas (e.g. Latin, Sanskrit) to popular, vernacular literatures and cultures from the 8th century CE to 1500.

COURSE DETAILS:

According to Carl Jung, our modern attitude considers medieval beliefs as mere superstition, forgetting that they carry a living heritage of meanings and values. Instead, he proposes plunging into those myths, in order to bring to the surface significant aspects that are common to different cultures.

In this course, we will read and analyze texts characterized by the presence of metaphysical elements which are the result of both individual creativity and collective zeitgeist. By examining and comparing these texts, which spring from a wide spectrum of cultural and historical backgrounds, we will trace aspects of continuity or discontinuity in space –from one geographical area to another–, and time –from the past to the present time.

We will apply a theoretical approach based on Jung’s psychoanalytic studies on Religions and Archetypes, as well as concepts commonly investigated in Biopolitics, to decode texts that describe the afterlife (Dante’s Inferno and the Tibetan Book of Dead), theological allegories (Langland’s Piers Plowman) and demonic presences (Calderón de la Barca’s The Wonder-Working Magician), searching for those threads that make premodern literatures still meaningful and relevant in our societies.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Recognize symbols and allegories in premodern texts.
  • Elaborate original connections between premodern literature and contemporary topics.
  • Broaden their knowledge of medieval and early modern history within a global context.

Grading

  • Attendance and Participation 15%
  • Oral report 15%
  • Midterm 20%
  • Reading Responses 20%
  • Final Exam 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  • The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Tödöl). Ed. Graham Coleman. Penguin, 2006. ISBN: 978-0140455298
  • Alighieri, Dante. Inferno. Alma, 2014. ISBN: 978-1847493408
  • Langland, William. Piers Plowman: A Modern Verse Translation. Trans. By Peter Sutton. McFarland, 2014. Kindle/Epub version. ISBN: 978-0786495030
  • Calderón de la Barca, Pedro. The Wonder-Working Magician (available on Canvas)

Additional material will be made available by the instructor.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html