Introduction to Early Medieval Great Books

Introduction to Early Medieval Great Books is a course designed for junior high students who desire to study the Great Books but may be concerned about the pace and level of material normally attempted in a Great Books course. What makes this course distinctive is that focal literature selections are paired with history selections as well as a “living” book and the time spent with individual works is extended over several weeks, so that the student is reading short sections from three works each week. This allows the student to absorb the material at a moderate pace and also allows ample time for connections between the works. Students are provided with a comprehensive reading guide for all primary weekly assignments in both medieval history and literature which includes explanatory notes as well as questions that help the student to identify the major points and themes of each selection as they read. Optional assignments of chronological history “spines” to give more context to the readings as well as movies, videos, music, and art that relate to the focal material will also be provided. Composition instruction will be an introduction to two progymnasmata essays. These assignments are integrated into the history and literature being studied, and will consist of two essays per semester, one from each level. Daily time spent on assignments is expected to be approximately two hours.

Course Objectives:

1. To become familiar with the primary points of plot, character, and style of major ancient works and authors, providing a fundamental understanding which will enable students to tackle these or other similar works in their entirety in future studies.
2. To receive an overview of events in medieval events and their place in historical chronology.
3. To make connections of selected themes across a broad range of works, contemporary as well as historical, that will give students a base of knowledge from which to approach other Great Books.
4. To learn and execute the forms of two types of progymnasmata essays: the chreia/maxim and the confirmation/refutation.
5. To receive an appreciation of the works studied at their most engaging level—as Great Stories that are enjoyable for all ages and all times.
6. To approach all works from a Christian worldview and to view each selection through the lens of Scripture.

Texts:

• Green, King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, ISBN 0141321016 (or another introduction to the tales of King Arthur, to be read before class begins)
• Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of England, Book 1 (provided by instructor)
• Beowulf (trans. Seamus Heaney) ISBN 0393320978
• White, The Sword in the Stone from The Once and Future King, ISBN 0441627404
• Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of England, ISBN 0140441703
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (trans. Brian Stone) ISBN 0140440928
• Scott, Ivanhoe, ISBN 0140436588
• Song of Roland (trans. Robert Harrison) ISBN 0451531930
• The Magna Carta (provided by instructor)
• Henty, In Freedom’s Cause, ISBN 0486423623
• Haweis, Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key, ISBN 1684182999
• Dante, Inferno (trans. Esolen) ISBN 9780345483577