SYLLABUS
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Please do all your assigned readings before we meet in class so we can assure a dedicated and engaged conversation together to achieve the highest learning effect in class.
Aug. 26: Please read the essential parts in the syllabus, esp. reg. the purpose of literature, the course objectives, etc. Introduction; what is love, what is eroticism, why would we want to study this, why would this be an academic subject? Then: syllabus, library resources, research methods, study ethics, time management. Homework assignment; zoom, Tophat.com, etc. It is critically important that you will be signed up to Tophat so that you can participate in all classes actively, answering the questions online, providing critical statements or responses. Tophat is now available through D2L and free of charge. Alert: use of AI for any of your written work is strictly forbidden. We can easily detect it, and the consequences for you if caught might be horrible.
Aug. 28: Amt and Classen (enough to study Amt for this class today)and come to class prepared to answer questions or to raise questions yourself.
Sept. 2: We’ll begin with this section: Medieval writers commonly divided the members of society, then keep reading, focus on the section by Classen, the Late Middle Ages and the Paradigm Shift. We begin with Tophat today.
Sept. 4: We will work also with Tophat. Please be subscribed (no charge any longer for UA students). All testing and attendance, plus much discussion in writing will take place there. Continue with Amt/Classen. You need to know the major stages in the history of the Middle Ages, the social structure, the major external threats, the history of the crusades (in very general terms), the concept of the court). Focus will be on the high and late Middle Ages in historical, political, and literary terms. We will use Top Hat from now on to test your homework, your understanding of the material, and there will be numerous discussions online on Top Hat while we meet in class. So, let’s also look at this: TIME TABLE FOR THE MIDDLE AGES. This is also your homework for Thu. Fill in at least 4 rows.
We finish today with the literary history of the Middle Ages, pp. 11-14 (Amt/Classen). I will ask you questions on Top Hat about this section. The first reading, see here. “You are mine.” We will also watch this Video to get an idea of medieval music and poetry. For courtly love, see this video. Codex Manesse. Our song, however, is contained in the Tegernseer Briefsammlung der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek (Codex latinus Monacencis 19411) fol. 114v
Sept. 9: Finishing with the last questions about the late Middle Ages. Focus on the list of the 7 C-words, fundamental for the acquisition of love. We will also study some quotes by the famous C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves (1960). We read one of the earliest Troubadour poems by Guillaume le Neuf (William 9th): no. 6, p. 77-78, in the section 3: Lyrics of the Troubadours and Trouveres. Video
Sept. 11: Walther von der Vogelweide, Section 6, p. 168-69, no. 42, then p. 175: Who made you, love, so fierce and bold, We conclude with The Wild Alexander, Section 7.
Sept. 16: Walther, pp. 173-65; then, The Wild Alexander. Then: Apollonius of Tyre. Trigger warning: There will be some scenes that, certainly troubling, amount to sexual violence. We will have to deal with them critically since they are part of some of the narratives covered in this class, and they are unfortunately part of life. If you have trouble with that, please let me know, I’ll help you as much as I can.
Sept. 18: We continue with Apollonius. I will post the questions for your first paper.
Sept. 20: Finishing with Apollonius; we then turn to Marie de France: read my intro. What do we know basically about this female poet?
Sept. 21: First paper is due at 8 p.m.
Sept. 23: We work on Apollonius, 2nd part. Then: Marie de France’s prologue, and Guigemar
Sept. 25: Marie de France: Continue with Guigemar.
Sept. 30: 1st Exam, on Top Hat: History of the Middle Ages; time frame, paradigm shifts, discoveries, Apollonius, and Marie de France.We discuss: Marie de France: The Two Lovers, and Lanval
Marie de France
Oct. 2: We continue with our discussion of Lanval
Oct. 7: Le Fresne and Yonec
Oct. 9: Yonec and Eliduc
Oct. 14: We continue with Eliduc. 2nd Paper is due at 8 p.m.: on D2L: only MS Word files, please, no PDF!. This paper will have to be a thesis that you develop focusing on one or two of Marie’s lais. Make an argument according to the list of 7 Cs. Write a title, formulate a thesis (ca. 40 words; 30 pts.), then follow the critical arguments (evidence borrowed from the original text) (ca. 150 words; 40 pts.), and conclusion (ca. 40 words; 20 pts), in which you demonstrate that your thesis either holds or not. 10 pts for stylistics. For this paper, secondary lit. is not yet required (will come in the 3rd paper). Warning: AI use is absolutely prohibited. If caught, it will be an automatic F. If you want to consult with me before you submit, please feel free to do so any time.
Oct. 16: Erotic Tales: Dietrich of the Glezze, “The Belt” Ms. Codex Palatinus germanicus 4. Table of Contents: Bl. 2rv = Arbor affinitatis und Arbor consanguinitatis (schematische Zeichnungen)
Bl. 3r-197v = Rudolf von Ems: ‘Willehalm von Orlens’ (p2)
Bl. 197v = Taktische Anweisungen zum Kriegswesen
Bl. 198r-208v = Dietrich von der Glesse: ‘Der Gürtel’ (‘Borte’) (h1)
Bl. 208v-210v = ‘Die Graserin’
Bl. 211r-225v = ‘Der Schüler zu Paris A’
Bl. 225v-228r = ‘Minner und Trinker’
Bl. 228r-230v = Peter Suchenwirt: ‘Liebe und Schönheit’ (h3)
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Oct. 21: Dietrich of the Glezze: Cross-Dressing, gender identity; morality, ethics, masculinity, a woman fights for her husband
Oct. 23: We conclude our examination of “The Belt.” Then: We discuss: “The Knight with the Hazelnuts” and “The Innocent Murderess” (Kaufringer)
Rewrite or paper 2 will be due on Sunday, Oct. 26, 10 p.m.
Oct. 28: “The Innocent Murderess” (Kaufringer) and “The Little Bunny Rabbit” (Erotic Tales)
Oct. 30: We finish “The Little Bunny Rabbit” and then turn to “Two Merchants and the Loyal Wife” (Erotic Tales).
Nov. 4: We begin with: Two Merchants, then: Kaufringer: The Search for the Happily Married Couple (Erotic Tales)
Nov. 6: Continue with: The Search. Group activity: Evaluate Bertram, Irmgard, Hogier, and the group of parents, then The Monk with the Little Goose: Love, linguistics, monastery, education
Nov. 11: Veterans Day, no class
Nov. 13: 2nd exam, on Top Hat. We continue with “The Monk with the Little Goose”
Nov. 18: “The Nightingale” (no. 18) and “Woman’s Constancy” (Erotic Tales, no. 8)
For nightingales as symbols, see link 1, link 2, link 3, link 4, link 5 (until “probably not music”), link 6 (until Tereus becomes a hoopoe); link 7 (until “Song of Sorrow”), link 8 (until “as Varro argued”), link 9 (until “not her child”), link 10 (until “Hingley), link 11 (until “thy bosom”), link 12 (until “absent beloved”). Each group presents its finding on top hat one after the other. So don’t rush into presenting and wait until it is your turn.
Nov. 20: The Disappointed Lover (Erotic Tales)
Nov. 25: Back to our book Eroticism and Love. We continue with Macabru (listen also to this version or this female performance and this version) and then turn to the women’s love poetry, troubairitz, pp. 117-118 (intro.) and pp. 119-121. We continue with the poems by the troubairitz, esp. Comtessa de Diaz.
Nov. 27: Thanksgiving; no class
Dec. 2: I changed, let’s focus only on the poetry by the troubairitz, instead of Floris and Blanchefleur (in our book Eroticism and Love)
Azalais de Porcairages: : Now we are come into the cold time
Comtessa de Diaz, “Of Things (II): or this version, or this version
Also today: The 3rd paper is due, 8 p.m., on D2L, only MS Word file. Create a title, then develop a thesis statement (ca. 50 words), then offer the argument, (ca. 200-250 words), conclude (ca. 50 words), and have a bibliography: 3 monographs and 3 scholarly articles from the last 10 years at most. One of the articles in a scholarly journal you must have read and integrated into your argument (supporting your thesis or not; you are also invited to consult any of my articles if pertinent). You can choose either: Dietrich of the Glezze (Gletze), The Little Bunny, Floris and Blauncheflour, or Heinrich Kaufringer. If you find it valuable, you could also use “The Knight” or “The Monk and the Goose” as your main text. But in that case, to create the bibliography might be more difficult. Search under the category of “maeren.” Grading (always up to a max of pts): Thesis: 10 pts.Argument: 40 pts. Conclusion: 10 pts. Bibliography: 15 pts. Inclusion of one article: 15 pts., stylistics: 10 pts. Consult both Worldcat and MLA in our online catalogue under databases.
Dec. 4: 3rd exam, on top hat, and we read: Mystical Love: Mechthild of Magdeburg (Eroticism and Love, ch. 15)
Dec. 8, 8 p.m.: If you want to earn extra credit, here is my invitation. Since the Museum of Art is closed this semester, I cannot send you there to study medieval art. So, instead, read the story “Friedrich von Auchenfurth” and study my article that I have written on it (please find it yourself): “Contracting Love Versus Courtly Love.” First read the text, then formulate a thesis, and defend it in your paper. Engage with my argument. Total, ca. max. 500 words. 50 points max., i.e. 3% of the total grade.
Dec. 9: Last day of class: Carmina Burana: Iam ver oritur, Cupido metem gyrat, Grates ago veneri, Exit diluculo, and Ich was ein chint so wolgetan (Eroticism and Love, ch. 2)
Please do the Teaching Evaluation!
Final reflections:
1. How does honor interact with love as reflected by our medieval poets?
2. What do our poets say about human vices and virtues in relation to love?
3. What does love have to do with utopia?
4. Love and marriage are not automatically synonymous. What problems and conflicts surface throughout the entire Middle Ages.
Again: TEACHING EVALUATION: Please go online and provide an objective evaluation of this course
TCE (Evaluation): Please go to our D2L page and start this evaluation.
Dec, 13: Last chance to have your grade reviewed in a possible case of discrepancy or disagreement.
(For an introduction to Wolfram von Eschenbach, see this article, and to Titurel, see this short article online. We read: Titurel, part IWolfram von Eschenbach, Titurel, part II)
(For Gottfried von Strassburg’s Tristan [not this semester, F 2025]: We continue with Gottfried von Strassburg, Tristan:
Gottfried’s Tristan: Here is a link for an older (but free) translation: or copy and paste: https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/German/Tristanhome.php. For a quick introduction, see this link. The online link will give you a brief synopsis. You must familiarize yourself with the content of this romance at least through this source. Please read the prologue, a requirement! (for a summary of the actual text, see here).