ChaucerENGL 3353 Chaucer (updated for Fall 2007)

David Buck, Assistant Professor
Fairleigh Dickinson University
E-mail: DBuck@howardcc.edu
Webpage: http://www.davidbuckenglish.com
Office: ELB 137
Phone: 410-772-4290

NOTE:  If you are registered for an online session of ENGL 3353, please disregard the Session Numbers and follow the directions found on the Blackboard.  Thank you!

Text: The Canterbury Tales - Penguin Classics (translated into modern English by Nevill Coghill). ISBN: 0-140-42438-5.  Amazon.com price: $8.
chaucer

Course Description:  ENGL 3353 focuses upon the one major literary contribution of Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales.  Emphasis will be placed upon the imperfect pilgrims who, while traveling to Canterbury, portray the various ranks and levels of Chaucer's fourteenth-century world while exposing the reader to the vast medieval stereotypes that seem to be broken by the dynamic pilgrims.  Discussion will involve the cultural background of the Tales, as well as the political, religious, and social commentary extended in each of the character's speech.

Reading List and Session Numbers:
                          Session Number                                                                                     Literary Text
#1 Date:                                                                                          
Course Introduction, syllabus review.
"The Life of Chaucer"
#2 Date: The General Prologue (pp. 3-26) 
"The General Prologue"
E. Talbot Donaldson, "Chaucer the Pilgrim"
#3 Date: The Knight's Tale (pp.26-86)
"The Knight's Tale"
Charles Muscatine, "The Knight's Tale"
Words between the Host and the Miller (pp. 86-88)
The Miller's Tale (pp.88-106) "The Miller's Tale"
#4 Date: The Reeve's Prologue and Tale (pp. 106-119)
"The Reeve's Tale"
The Man of Law's Prologue and Tale (pp. 125-156)
"The Man of Law's Tale"
#5 Date: The Monk's Tale (pp. 189-212)
"The Monk's Tale"
The Nun's Priest's Tale (pp. 214-231)
"The Nun's Priest's Tale"
#6 Date: The Physician's Tale (pp. 232-239)
"The Physician's Tale"
The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale (pp. 241-258)
"The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale"
#7 Date: Midterm Exam
#8 Date: The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale (pp. 258-281)
"Prologue"
"Tale"
#9 Date: The Friar's Prologue and Tale (pp. 292-303)
"The Friar's Tale"
The Summoner's Prologue and Tale (pp. 303-320)
"The Summoner's Prologue and Tale"
#10 Date: The Clerk's Prologue and Tale (pp. 320-354)
"The Clerk's Tale"
Chaucer's Envoy to the Clerk's Tale (pp. 355-356)
#11 Date: The Merchant's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue (pp. 356-388)
"The Merchant's Tale"
#12 Date: Mini-Essay Exam
#13 Date: The Squire's Prologue and Tale (pp. 389-408)
"The Squire's Tale"
The Franklin's Prologue and Tale (pp. 408-433)
"The Franklin's Tale"
#14 Date: The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale (pp. 449-474)
"The Canon's Yeoman's Tale"
Chaucer's Retractions (pg. 489)
"Chaucer's Retractions"
#15 Date: Final Exam; Analysis Essay Due

Assessments:
1.  Blackboard Discussion:  Specific direction will be provided on the Blackboard. 
2.  Midterm Exam comprised of essay questions.
3.  One Mini-Essay in response to chosen questions from a provided list.
4.  One Analysis Essay of any of The Canterbury Tales on the course syllabus.  The essay should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, be double-spaced, be MLA formatted, be 1200-1500 words in length (about 6 typed pages), contain at least 3 outside critical sources (I suggest Norton Critical Editions), and contain a correctly formatted Works Cited page.  Attempt to focus your analysis on one "pilgrim," moving from vocation and status to the background and morals of the individual as revealed in his/her tale.
5.  Final Exam comprised of essay-type questions.
6.  Class Participation: since ENGL 3353 will be considered a student-centered, participative course, it is your responsibility to read the assigned texts and come prepared for each class session to contribute to the ongoing discussion or writing.  Active, motivated, and engaged behavior will be expected! 

Grading:
 
Blackboard Discussion
 15%
Midterm Exam 20%
Mini-Essay 10%
Analysis Essay
30%
Final Exam
 10 %
Class Participation and Effort 15%
100-92=A 79-78=C+
91-90=A- 77-75=C
89-88=B+ 74-70=C-
87-84=B 69-65=D
83-80=B- 64-below=F