Fall 2006 Undergraduate Courses - Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame

715 Hesburgh Library, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5629, Telephone: (574) 631-6603, Facsimile: (574) 631-8644, Email: medinst@nd.edu

Fall 2006: Undergraduate Courses

MI 20001 The World of the Middle Ages
Thomas F.X. Noble
MW 1:55 - 2:45

The Middle Ages have been praised and reviled, romanticized and fantasized. The spectacular popularity of Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Narnia have brought a revival of interest in and curiosity about the Middle Ages. But what were they like, these ten centuries between Rome and the Renaissance? In this course, we will explore major themes and issues in medieval civilization in an attempt to offer some basic answers to that question. We will have in view three kinds of people: rulers, lovers, and believers. But we will also study carefully those who wrote about those kinds of people. We will constantly ask how can we know about the Middle Ages, and what kinds of things can we know? We will consider major literary texts as both works of art and historical documents. We will explore various kinds of religious literature. We will try to understand the limits, boundaries, and achievements of philosophy and theology. Some lectures will incorporate medieval art so as to add a visual dimension to our explorations. This course will constitute an extended introduction to the dynamic and fascinating world of the Middle Ages. This course can be used to satisfy either the University Literature OR University History requirement.

MI 20671 Celtic Heroic Literature
Hugh Fogarty
TR 5:00-6:15

An exciting introduction to Celtic literature and culture, this course introduces the thrilling sagas, breathtaking legends and prose tales of Ireland and Wales. Readings include battles, heroic deeds, feats of strength and daring and dilemma faced by the warrior heroes of the Celts. Celtic Heroic Literature, which requires no previous knowledge of Irish or Welsh, studies the ideology, belief system and concerns of the ancient Celtic peoples as reveled in their saga literature. By examining the hero’s function in society, students investigate the ideological concerns of a society undergoing profound social transformation and religious conversion to Christianity and the hero’s role as a conduit for emotional and social distress. Among the heroes to be studied in depth are: Cu Chulainn, Lug, St. Patrick and the king-heroes. Wisdom literature, archaeological and historical evidence will also be considered in this course. No prior knowledge of Irish required. All texts provided in English.

MI 22001 The World of the Middle Ages: Tutorial
Various instructors
F Various times (see InsideND course schedule)

Discussion section accompanying MI 20001.

MI 30237 Medieval and Early Modern Russia
Alex Martin
TR 3:30-4:45

This course will examine the history of Russia from its medieval origins until the age of Catherine the Great in the 18th century. We will begin with the genesis of Orthodox Slavic civilization in medieval Kievan Rus and that state's destruction in the Mongol invasion. Then we will study the rise of the tsardom of Muscovy and the fateful developments that nearly doomed it in the 16th-17th century: the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the Time of Troubles, the imposition of serfdom, the schism of the Orthodox Church, and widespread popular revolts. Lastly, we will see how Peter the Great and his 18th century successors attempted to stabilize the social order, Westernize the upper classes, and make Russia a great European power.

MI 30301 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
David O’Connor
MWF 8:30-9:20

A survey of western philosophy from the 6th-century B.C. Presocratics to the 16th-century Scholastics. The lectures will focus primarily on Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas, using the twin themes of nature and human nature as an occasion for (a) formulating with some precision the main metaphysical and moral problematics that emerge from the works of Plato and Aristotle, (b) investigating the influence of Plato and Aristotle on the Catholic intellectual tradition, and (c) exploring in some depth the relation between faith and reason.

MI 30301 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Stephen Dumont
MWF 9:35-10:25

A survey of Western philosophy from its beginnings in the early Greek physicists to the late middle ages. The emphasis in class will be on the reading and analysis of fundamental texts by main figures of the period: Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Anselm, Bonaventure, and Thomas Aquinas. Concurrent reading of a standard history will supply additional background and continuity.

Requirements: Two papers (one each for the ancient and medieval portions of the course), a mid-term, and final examination.

MI 30411 Christian Theological Traditions I
Joseph Wawrykow
MWF 10:40-11:30

A survey of Christian Theology from the end of the New Testament period to the eve of Reformation. Through the close reading of primary texts, the course focuses on Christology of such influential thinkers such as Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm and Aquinas. How do these thinkers understand the person and work of Jesus Christ? What are the Christological problems that they tried to resolve? How do the different Christologies of these thinkers relect their differing conceptions of the purpose and method of "theology?" Some attention will also be given to non-theological representations of Christ. How does the art of the early and medieval periods manifest changes in the understanding of the significance of Jesus. This course is obligitory for all first and supplementary majors but is open to others who have completed the University requirements of theology and who wish to gain a greater fluency in the history of Christian thought.

MI 30500 Survey of Spanish Literature
Encarnacion Juarez-Almendros
TR 11:00-12:15

A survey of Spanish literature through 1700. Readings of selected texts in prose, poetry, and theater from the medieval, Renaissance, and baroque periods.

MI 30530 Survey of French Literature I
Jo Ann Della Neva
MW 3:00-4:15

This course is designed as an introduction to French literature of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Classical Period. It will focus on six major authors: Chrétien de Troyes (Yvain), Villon (select poems), Rabelais (Pantagruel), Ronsard (select poems), Racine (Phédre), and Moliére (Tartuffe). Other authors and representative works will be read in excerpts. In addition to acquiring a basic familiarity with early French literature, students will be introduced to the vocabulary of literary criticism, versification, and classical rhetoric. Throughout the course, a close reading of texts will be emphasized; in this way, students will be introduced to the practice of explication de textes and will be required to do at least one formal explication. Oral work is heavily emphasized: this includes active participation and quality contributions to the discussion. Students will have the chance to engage in other forms of interpretation, including the memorization and oral recitation of a sonnet, and the performance of one scene from a play (done in groups of two or three). Additionally, students will be asked to write 10 “perfect” one-page papers, as well as one longer paper done in conjunction with the final exam. Other writing practice will include short answers to daily preparation questions. There will be a final exam but no mid-term.

MI 30577 Medieval-Renaissance Italian Literature and Culture
Christian Moevs
TR 9:30-10:45

An introduction to the close reading and textual analysis of respresentative texts from the Duecento through the Renaissance, including Lentini, Guinizzelli, Cavalcanti, Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Poliziano, Machiavelli, and Ariosto.

MI 30680 Medieval German Literature
Albert Wimmer
TR 11:00-12:15

This course constitutes a survey of German literature from its beginnings during Germanic times until the 16th century. Ideas, issues, and topics are discussed in such a way that their continuity can be seen throughout the centuries. Lectures and discussions are in German, but individual students' language abilities are taken into consideration. Readings include modern German selections from major medieval authors and works such as HILDEBRANDSLIED, ROLANDSLIED, NIBELUNGENLIED, IWEIN, PARZIVAL, TRISTAN, courtly lyric poetry, the German mystics, secular and religious medieval drama, DER ACKERMANN AUS BUHMEN, and the beast epic REINEKE FUCHS. Class discussions and brief presentations in German by students on the selections are intended as an opportunity for stimulating exchange and formal use of German.

MI 30753 Art into History: Reading the Art of Medieval Byzantium
Charles Barber
TR 12:30-01:45

Byzantine art has often been opposed to the traditions of western naturalism, and as such has been an undervalued or little known adjunct to the story of medieval art. In order to develop a more sophisticated understanding of this material we will examine the art produced in Byzantium in the period from the ninth to the twelfth century, a period which marks the high point of Byzantine artistic production and influence. Stress will be placed upon the function of this art within the broader setting of this society. Art theory, the notions of empire and holiness, the burdens of the past, and the realities of contemporary praxis will be brought to bear upon our various analyses of material from all media. How we, as art historians, can write the history of this rich culture will be a central issue of this course.

MI 40003 Introduction to Christian Latin
Anna Taylor
TR 02:00-03:15

Introduction to Christian Latin Texts (= Medieval Latin I) has two goals: to improve the student's all-around facility in dealing with Latin texts and to introduce the student to the varieties of Christian Latin texts and basic resources that aid in their study. Exposure to texts will be provided through common readings which will advance in the course of the semester from the less to the more demanding and will include Latin versions of Scripture, exegesis, homiletic, texts dealing with religious life, formal theological texts, and Christian Latin poetry. Philological study of these texts will be supplemented by regular exercises in Latin composition. (Medieval Latin II, a survey of Medieval Latin texts, will follow this course in the spring term.)

MI 40110 Introduction to Old English
Tom Hall
TR 3:30-4:45

Training in reading the Old English language, and study of the literature written in Old English.

MI 40193 Allegory and Symbol: Tolkien, Lewis and Their Medieval Inheritance
Miranda Wilcox
TR 11:00-12:15

In this class, we will read two works by professional scholars of medieval literature: The Lord of the Rings and The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. These popular and accessible works enact two important modes of literary narrative: allegory and symbol. The broad aim of this course is to be an introduction to medieval literature, and more specifically to bring some important theoretical writings on allegory and symbol to bear on several medieval texts and modern texts that they inspired. Medieval literature can seem intimidating and not very relevant to the twenty-first century, but I hope that as we read medieval English texts juxtaposed with modern texts and movies we will be able to identify elements of contemporary society that are rooted in the Middle Ages. Although the class will be primarily focused on the function of symbol and allegory, we will also discuss the concept of medievalism, that is, the "translation" of medieval into modern. Required work: Two papers, two group presentations, ten reading responses.

MI 40220 The Roman Empire
Keith Bradley
TR 2:00-3:15

This advanced course in ancient history examines the Roman Empire from Augustus to Constantine. It deals with the establishment of the Augustan Principate and the progression of autocracy at Rome in the first two centuries of the imperial age, leading to discussion of what is generally called the third-century crisis and the new monarchy of Diocletian and Constantine. It investigates how the Roman Empire as a geo-political unit was governed and administered (paying particular attention to the all-powerful figure of the Roman emperor), and how the diverse regional cultures of the greater Mediterranean world were affected by Roman rule. Among topics studied are contemporary debates on Roman society, economy, demography, and culture.

MI 40261 Politics and Religion in Medieval Europe
John Van Engen
TR 2:00-3:15

This course considers the intersection between political action and religious claims in medieval Europe. Virtually all the powers--kings and popes, princes and bishops--claimed to act on religious principle and in accord with transcendent notions of virtue or world order. Yet they fought bitterly with each other, with words and with swords, and mutually condemned one another. The course will begin with the showdown between emperors and popes known as the Investiture Contest, then take up pivotal figures like Pope Innocent III, King Frederick II, and Pope Boniface IX, and conclude with sections on the Spiritual Franciscans and on conciliarism.

MI 40365 Aquinas and Dante
Ralph McInerny
MW 3:00-4:15

A comparative study of two giants of medieval Catholicism. The course will be a chance to make a tour of the SUMMA THEOLOGIAE and the DIVINE COMEDY, supplemented with looks at other works of these two giants of Western culture. The dependence of the DIVINE COMEDY on the SUMMA is a cliche, but a close look at the theological and poetic visions of the whole of reality as seen through the eyes of faith is an essential component of cultural literacy.

MI 40533 Life, Love, and Literature in Renaissance Lyons
Jo Ann Della Neva
MW 1:30-2:45

The city of Lyon was a cultural center of Renaissance France. This course will focus on the literature that arose from that location, most especially (but not exclusively) the love poetry of three French Renaissance lyricists: Maurice Scève's Délie, the Rymes of Pernette Du Guillet and the Oeuvres poétiques of Louise Labé. Excerpts from other authors associated with Lyons, including Rabelais, Marot, and Du Bellay will also be treated. This course will take a "cultural studies" approach, and students will be expected to work on topics such as the presence of Italians, royal pageantry and celebrations, the presence of the court, industry, fairs, banking and trade, architecture, art and music, intellectual circles, and the Reformation in the city of Lyons. Special attention will be given to the role of women in Lyonnais society and the "Querelle des Amyes" generated in that city. This course will be taught in French. ROFR 30310 (Textual Analysis) or prior experience with textual analysis highly recommended. NOTE: If there is sufficient interest, it may be possible to arrange a "field trip" to Lyon over Spring Break. Please contact the professor immediately if you have an interest in pursuing this possibility.

MI 40552 Dante I
Ted Cachey
TR 12:30-1:45

The course will be a journey inside the ultimate nightmare in the whole history of literature: Dante's INFERNO--a prison for eternity, accurately subdivided like a model--dungeon, perfectly organized, with no possible evasions, no bribery to the guardians, no leagues between inmates, crossed through by two traveling poets, one of them relating about their trip with outstanding precision, the other guiding him after rescuing him and becoming one of the great characters of the entire poem. We will study this great metaphor of a cosmic incarceration created by Dante's genius, and the amazing variety of the world of the convicted felons, and the philosophical ideas that rule this descent into the womb of the Earth where Lucifer, the utmost convict, lies.

MI 40670 The Irish in Their Own Words
Peter McQuillan
TR 12:30-1:45

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the richness and variety of literature produced in the Irish language during the medieval and early modern periods (we will cover primarily the period between approximately 800 and 1700 A.D).The emphasis in the first half of the semester will be on studying the mainly prose saga literature of the medieval period in its various literary, cultural and historical contexts. This will involve both a close reading of the texts themselves in English translation and an examination of the material in the light of recent scholarship in this area. The second half will investigate the literature of the early modern period, in this case largely the poetry. This period is one of cumulative crisis for the Irish and their linguistic and cultural well-being. Students read closely a selection of texts representative of various facets of this crisis and of Irish responses to them in their own language rather than in the English language of their colonisers. All the translations are accompanied by facing original text so that students gain some working knowledge of the Irish language which will assist them in evaluating the translations which they are reading and in appreciating the sensuous beauty of much of this poetry. The material provides interesting contrasts and comparisons for those who have already studied some Anglo-Irish literature and it should also be of interest to students of modern Irish history. No prior knowledge of Irish presumed. This course satisfies University Literature requirement.

MI 43323 Moses Maimonides
Alven Neiman
MW 4:30-5:45

A careful reading of Maimonides philosophical classic A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED. Close attention will be paid to its influence on Aquinas.

MI 46020
Directed Readings (for Undergraduates)
Thomas Noble

Offers advanced undergraduate students a possibility to work closely with a professor in preparing a topic mutually agreed upon.