ENG 210 Final, Spring 2008

English 210 Literature of the Middle Ages ~ Dr Wrisley Final Exam Paper This paper should be 8-10 Pages long (12 point font, double spaced, regular margins). You can write more if you like although it will not automatically raise your grade. Quality counts, Especially since it is a final I welcome paper topics that you come up with yourself. I have also listed three possible topics below, Please follow these steps if you will write the paper: (1) Please discuss any personalized Paper topics with me by office hours 2-3pm on Fri, May 27". (2) Please compose a one-page abstract of your Paper and email it to me by Fri, May 27" at the end of the day. If your final Paper changes, I expect you to let me know several days in advance (and/or produce the drafts and notes leading up to your paper). If I do not get an abstract from you, I will expect you to take the exam. (3) Please discuss at least two of the authors from the Course, at most, three. (4) Please, the paper must be Organized, clear and demonstrate independent, original thinking on the (5) Any references to the text should be given in endnote format (e.g. “As the reader can easily tell by the numerous teferences to pink birds in The Phoenix, the author must have had extensive familiarity with aviary treatises of the middle ages (Phoenix, lines xxx, yyy, 2zz)”. References given to secondary works Must be given in footnote format, (6) Please give your own opinions in this paper (and give lots of them.) (7) Avoid making generalizations about “medieval society”. (8) Please read it through for the quality and clarity of the English. (9) If you would like me to read a draft and make any comments, the draft must be received by (The Phoenix. Wonders of the East, Judith, Apollonius of Tyre, John Mandeville, Squire’s Tale, Legend of Good Women) B Forms of Quest. Many of the texts we read this semester Portray characters as Soing on a quest (travel, wandering, pilgrimage). What is the nature of the quest? Obligation? Religion? Honor? Society? Are such purposes ever mixed? What do the characters hope to achieve out of that quest? Are their ? If s0, Lig OF BEIRUT (The Wanderer, Beowulf, Judith, Bisclavret, History of the Kings of Britain, Sir Gawain, John Mandeville, Wife of Bath’s Tale) C. Marvelous occurrences. Medieval literature is full of supernatural occurrences. What kinds of marvels do the texts portray? What is the function of marvels: omament, allegory, moralizing? What fascinates the characters? How do you think an audience could have been fascinated by these texts? Are marvels dangerous? Entertaining? How does the narration help or undercut encounters with the marvelous? (The Phoenix, The Dream of the Rood, Beowulf, Wonders of the East, Bisclavret, Yonec, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, John Mandeville, Squire’s Tale) In this final paper, you will be graded primarily on your the clarity of your writing in English your attention to detail in the readings the organization of your paper the original insights you bring to the discussion of the two works the significance and depth of what you say Grades will be given on a 100 point scale.