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Dr. Chris Healy
HLG 250
482-5476
e-mail
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Office
Hours
MW 11:00–1:00
and by
appointment
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Studies
in
Chaucer
(ENGL 513-001)
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Fall 2013
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MWF 9:00–9:50 a.m.
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HLG 321
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COURSE MATERIALS
Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Wadsworth Chaucer. 3rd ed. Ed. Larry D. Benson. Boston:
Houghton,
1987.
Other materials will be available either online or on reserve in the
Edith Garland Dupré Library.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
To
understand a literary work, we must read the text; however, every
printed edition is to some extent a version of the work. For earlier
texts, particularly those with variations in the extant manuscript
witnesses, we rely heavily on the (all too frequently) silent decisions
made by the editor. This course will look at Chaucer’s works as
edited texts. The Canterbury Tales, which the poet left incomplete, is
particularly revealing as to how the editorial history has shaped the
modern understanding of that work.
As a large portion of the course activity, students will edit some of
Chaucer’s works. That process will include transcribing and
collating from several manuscripts, deciding on base-text/best-text,
and preparing editions with introductions, glossarial notes,
textual notes, and explanatory notes. Making the types of decisions
required for such work will not only produce a profound understanding
of that particular text, but will also foster an awareness of how
removed a printed edition may be from the author’s vision of the
product. Thus, both literary and theoretical concerns will be part of
the seminar.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
- Familiarize students with
Chaucer’s works
- The
works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English literature, remain
vital six centuries after his death, and we will explore those
writings.
- Ground students in Chaucer's language
- Since Chaucer chose to write using his vernacular, the
dialect of Middle English that is the forerunner of standard Modern
English, a familiarity with that language is vital to students hoping
to read other Middle English dialects or to grasp the history of the
English language.
- Introduce students to
textual scholarship
- Because
those in the field of English will deal with texts throughout their
careers, an understanding of the process of editorial decisions is vital.
ASSIGNMENTS
Each edition is a project that
involves comparing variant witnesses and making decisions about the
text you choose to offer. Your editions will include introductions as
well as glossarial, textual, and explanatory notes as appropriate.
The final is an out-of-class essay
For the recitation,
you will memorize
and recite the first eighteen lines of the General Prologue to The
Canterbury Tales. Subsequently, you will be asked to read
aloud,
without prior knowledge of the passages, on two other occasions.
A brief lecture of 5–10 minutes will be required of each student.
All of the assignments just mentioned will be explained more fully elsewhere.
Finally, active participation is rather
self-explanatory, is it not? When we are having a discussion, I really
want the participants to be we, as in all of us. To receive these
points students must regularly attend class:
attendance is required.
I reserve the right to add,
change, or delete assignments, which can result in a change to
percentage values.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have a cellular
telephone or a pager, please turn it off before class.
With all e-mail, include
your name. I will not respond to anonymous or vague e-mail messages.
Visit the course main
page. The site has
not only this current information, but also links to related
supplemental pages.
I suggest that you join the CHAUCER List.
The list is a valuable insight into what contemporary Chaucer scholars
discuss. Be advised, however,
that the list is quite active, so expect frequent bursts of e-mail.
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION POLICY
In accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the University of Louisiana at
Lafayette makes accommodations for students with disabilities. If you
have a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services
(ODS) at 482-5252 or ods@louisiana.edu
during the first week of classes. ODS will assist you with an
accommodation plan. The university also has a Supported Education
Program
(SEP), which provides free confidential help on campus for students
with psychological disabilities (Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety,
etc.). Please contact Kim A. Warren, MSW, PhD, LCSW, Supported
Education Advisor, at 482-5252 or kimawarren@louisiana.edu.
Her office is located in the Conference Center, room 126. Also, if you
have a disability or special needs, please let me know as soon as
possible.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
- University Police are the first responders for all emergencies on
campus. Dial 911 or 482-6447 to report any emergency.
- The Emergency Information Floor Plan is posted in the hallways
for every building. This document includes evacuation routes and other
important information. Please familiarize yourself with this document.
Students who might need assistance should identify themselves to the
teaching faculty.
- In the event that the building fire alarm is sounded, please exit
the building immediately and notify University Police. Do not use the
building elevator—look for the illuminated Exit Signs to direct
you to safety.
- During times of emergency, information may be available on the
University’s Emergency Hotline: 482-2222. This number is printed
on the back of your ID card.
- The university utilizes a text message service to notify its
students and employees of campus wide emergencies. To subscribe to this
service, log on to http://www.ul.mobilecampus.com.
- If you have a disability, special needs, or a medical condition
that might render you incapacitated during class, please make this
known to your instructor as soon as possible, including any emergency
contact information for your next of kin or similar person.
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Last modified: January 16, 2012