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2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
FREN2080 Laughter, Love and Chivalry: Society and Culture in the French Middle Ages
20 creditsClass Size: 13
Module manager: Rosalind Brown Grant
Email: r.brown-grant@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
Pre-requisite qualifications
Satisfactory completion of Level 1 French or equivalentThis module is mutually exclusive with
FREN2081 | Laughter, Love and Chivalry: Society and Culture in the Fren |
FREN2082 | Laughter, Love and Chivalry: Society and Culture in the Fren |
Module replaces
FREN2081/2082This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
If you think the Middle Ages are dead and gone, think again! Modern popular culture in fact owes a huge debt to medieval literature, - whether in films like Star Wars which are just updated epic quests, in love songs with their age-old iconography of hearts and arrows, or in spoofs like Monty Python and the Holy Grail which continue a tradition of self-parody dating back to the Middle Age itself.To find out more about this vibrant culture whose influence is still so keenly felt today, read on...This module provides students with a detailed introduction to the extraordinary variety of texts written in the French Middle Ages; from love lyric poems to bawdy comic tales, and from chivalric verse romance to prose parodies. In addition to analysing set texts we will use a computer-assisted language-learning programme in order to acquire a good reading knowledge of the Old French language.Lectures contextualising the various genres will alternate with literary seminars as well as with linguistic seminars which students will prepare in advance in self-study sessions on computer. To complement the study of written texts, there will also be opportunities to hear medieval music, to look at medieval art, to see the medieval manuscripts in the Brotherton Library and to enjoy a hands-on medieval weapons session at the Royal Armouries Museum here in Leeds.Objectives
On completion of this module, students should be able to:- read a variety of literary genres in medieval French literature of the 12th and 13th centuries: lyric poetry, fabliaux, lays, longer verse and prose narratives;
- possess a good reading knowledge of Old French;
- develop a range of skills: research (individual and collaborative); critical analysis and evaluation (primary and secondary material); and structured, coherent presentation (oral and written) in French and in English.
Syllabus
This course has been specially designed to give students a detailed introduction to the extraordinary variety of texts written in the French Middle Ages; from love lyric poems to bawdy comic tales, from chivalric verse romance to prose parodies.
In addition to studying set texts representing these different genres, we will be using a computer-assisted language learning package to enable students to acquire a good reading knowledge of the Old French language. Lectures contextualising the various genres will alternate with literary seminars as well as with linguistic seminars which students will have prepared in advance in self-study sessions on computer.
To complement the study of texts, there will also be opportunities to hear medieval music, see the medieval manuscripts in the Brotherton Library and to enjoy a hands-on medieval weapons visit to the Royal Armouries Museum here in Leeds.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 13 | 1.00 | 13.00 |
Seminar | 17 | 1.00 | 17.00 |
Private study hours | 170.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 30.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
- Backround reading for lectures and seminars- preparation for seminar presentations
- researching for essay
- revision for exam.
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Regular student presentations with opportunity to write presentations up and submit as practice essays, opportunity to discuss plans for writing assessed essays.Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay | 2,500 word essay in English due end of semester 2 | 50.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr 20 mins | 50.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 23/02/2017
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