Introduction to Medieval French Literature

Introduction to the premodern period of French literature through the interpretation of canonical works (La Chanson de Roland; Béroul and Thomas, Tristan; selected lais of Marie de France; selected romans of Chrétien de Troyes; Le Roman de la Rose).  Special attention will be given to the socio-cultural contexts in which these works were composed and first received, and to the emergence of the concept of writing as a self-defining act. We will study Old French language and the material aspects of a medieval work.