MEd. - Englisches Seminar - Ruhr-Universität Bochum

surveys the immediate and later cultural impact of the Vietnam War in literature and
visual culture.
Texts: 2 novels must be bought and read before the beginning of the seminar
- Michael Herr Dispatches
- Bobbie Ann Mason In Country
further stories and secondary sources will be supplied in a Reader
Credits: attendance and active participation, written assignments (Übung)
+ presentation (transformed into a paper) or paper (Seminar).
050715 Houwen
The Beast Within: English Debate Poetry of the Middle Ages and the Early
Renaissance, 5 CP
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2 st. di 12-14 GB 6/137 Nord
Description: It is a truth universally acknowledged that animals and animal symbolism
permeate almost all genres of medieval and Renaissance literature. It is not as well
known that there are also a few genres that are exclusively devoted to animals. One
of these is fables, the other forms a subset of so-called debate poetry. It is this last
category that forms the focus of this seminar. Animal debates belong to a medieval
and renaissance poetic tradition in which opposed parties contest one or more
issues, often of a philosophical or theological nature. The form is very old and can
already be found in the works of Plato and the Old Testament. In the vernacular such
poetry is often used for humorous or satirical ends. A representative selection of this
type of poetry will be studied in this seminar.
Assessment: The course will be rounded off with an essay to be written in the last
class under exam conditions. The topic may be decided in consultation with the
lecturer. Only non-annotated primary texts may be used during the exam.
Übung: short essay.
Set text: Primary and secondary material will be made available via Blackboard.