FR4116 Medieval Marvels: The Exotic, the East and the Other in Medieval French Literature

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

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 10

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.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

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

Module coordinator

Dr V C Turner

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

Module Staff

Dr V Turner

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

Module description

Relations between the medieval Occident and Orient were highly complex during a period that saw violent crusades and interracial conflicts. Cases abound where notions of East and West merge and the East itself may even appear as no more than fantasy. Alongside the hideous monsters common to medieval epic, throughout the 12th-13th centuries there are many examples of fascination with the East that betray a desire to emulate its opulence as well as a fear of the foreign. This module consequently aims to introduce students to a variety of literary representations of the medieval East and its residents, focussing above all on representations of cultural difference, the marvellous, and the exotic. The set texts give students the chance to engage with theoretical questions of otherness, fantasy and gender in relation to the specific historical period in question and to develop their ability to work critically with primary materials.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF THE FRENCH HONOURS ADVISER

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x Seminar, 1 x lecture (+ 1 surgery hour).

Scheduled learning hours

27

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

Guided independent study hours

123

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