ME3502 The Medieval Book

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof M Connolly

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Professor Margaret Connolly

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Who made books in the later Middle Ages? Who read them? What did people read, and what kinds of books did they own? This module combines the study of medieval texts with the study of medieval books and their readers. Using Chaucer's fictional representation of late medieval English society in the 'Canterbury Tales' this module considers what ordinary literate people might have read in the century from the 1390s to the death of Caxton. What books would the Knight, Friar, Yeoman, Man of Law, Physician, Merchant and Cook have needed? How might the reading of the Monk, Clerk, Prioress, Nun, and Wife of Bath have differed and why? The module explores a wide range of extracts from later Middle English texts (historical, legal, medical, scientific, practical, devotional, fictional, hagiographical); considers particular kinds of books (bibles, books of hours, miscellanies, anthologies); and engages with material aspects of manuscripts and printed books through use of Special Collections.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS EN2003 AND PASS EN2004 OR PASS ME1003 AND PASS ME1006 AND PASS ME2003 AND PASS HI2001

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

4000-word essay = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour seminar, plus 1 office hour.

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

278

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of the module, students will be have a broad understanding of manuscript and printed book production, circulation, and reception
  • By the end of the module, students will have gained an appreciation of late medieval English literate culture
  • By the end of the module, students will possess enhanced skills in reading and analysing primary sources
  • By the end of the module, students will have experience of reading a wide variety of later Middle English texts