ENGL3300: Women in Literature (53462)

Camp, Cynthia

MWF 11:30 AM

Park Hall 250


Women in Literature: Badass Women of the Twelfth Century

The twelfth century was a time of rapid historical and cultural change in the medieval world, and women were at the center of it. In this course, we’ll focus on three major events in the century – the Norman Conquest of England, the rise of the universities and scientific learning, and the Crusades – and the women who shaped and were shaped by them. We’ll read words written by queens, courtesans, and abbesses, and we’ll also look at the books made for and about them. Throughout all this, we’ll think intently about the interplay of words, books, and power – and the conditions under which twelfth-century women can and can’t deploy all three. Importantly, this course takes a broad approach to about where counts as “medieval” (we’ll range from England and France to Andalusian Spain, Byzantium, and the Crusader State of Jerusalem), and we’ll set to rest some common misapprehensions about medieval women, religion, and cultural interactions.

Highlighted women will include the scientist and mystic Hildegard of Bingen; the recluse Christiana of Markyate; the lover-scholars Heloise and Abelard; Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem; the Byzantine princess and historian Anna Komnena; and the Andalusian courtesan and poet Nazhun al-Garnatiya bint al-Qulai’iya. Evaluation will include formal essays, informal written responses, and a final reflective project. Attendance is required; a rigorous (but not draconian) attendance policy will be in place.

Book list

You must use THESE editions, not others you may find elsewhere. Used copies of any of these texts are fine! Ebooks for all of the above are also fine; you should be able to get the Penguin editions and the Pangonis (Queens of Jerusalem) via Amazon/Kindle, the Broadview edition (Lais of Marie de France) in an online-textbook reading app via the link above, and the Throop book (The Crusades) via various vendors (incl. Amazon) through the link above. All will also be available at the University Bookstore

  • Life of Christina of Markyate. Ed. and trans Samuel Fanous and Henriette Leyser. Oxford World's Classics. ISBN-13: 978-0199556052 not available as an ebook AFAICT, and this is the first book you'll need, so get a paper copy ordered ASAP!

  • The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Ed and trans. Michael Clanchy, Betty Radice. Penguin Classics. ISBN-13: 978-0140448993

  • Hildegard of Bingen: Selected Writings. Ed. and trans. Mark Atherton. Penguin classics. ISBN-13: 978-0140436044

  • The Alexiad of Anna Comnena. Trans. E.R.A. Sewter. Penguin classics. ISBN-13: 978-0140455274

  • The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman: The Arabic Epic of Dhat al-Himma. Ed. and trans. Melanie Magidow. ISBN-13: 978-0143134268.

  • The Lais of Marie de France. Trans. Claire M. Waters. Broadview. ISBN-13: 978-1554810826

  • Susanna A. Throop, The Crusades: An Epitome. ISBN-13: 978-1912801022

  • Katherine Pangonis, Queens of Jerusalem: The Women who Dared to Rule. ISBN-13: 978-1474614092

  • additional material will be made available online and via eLC.