Program Overview

Unit Overview

The unit WLIT200 - Medieval and Renaissance Masterpieces: the Rise of the English Literary Tradition introduces students to the great literary works of the Medieval and Renaissance periods. This includes works by Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton, providing a strong understanding of the historical context in which they were written.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The aim of this unit is to explore the foundational works of the English literary tradition, considering their ongoing significance in Western intellectual life and culture. Students will analyze key literary, social, historical, aesthetic, and ethical ideas and movements in texts from the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this unit, students will be able to:

• Identify key aspects of great literary works from the Medieval and Renaissance periods.
• Discuss literary, social, historical, aesthetic, and ethical ideas and movements in texts from these periods.
• Evaluate and synthesize knowledge from diverse sources, communicating complex ideas to various audiences.
• Locate, use, and appropriately reference a variety of critical sources relevant to developing a coherent argument about Medieval or Renaissance literature.
• Analyze key debates about the significance of Medieval and Renaissance literature in literary studies.

Unit Content

Topics may include:

• The Origins of English
• Literary, social, historical, aesthetic, and ethical ideas and movements in texts drawn from the Medieval and Renaissance periods
• Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales
• Chivalric Romance and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• Spiritual autobiography (Augustine)
• Mystery Plays
• Renaissance Stirrings: Dante, The Divine Comedy
• Early English Renaissance Literature
• Shakespeare
• Sixteenth and Seventeenth Poetic Forms
• Milton and Paradise Lost

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

Assessments are designed to meet unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. These include:

• A close reading task to test the ability to locate works within Medieval or Renaissance cultural contexts and produce analyses considering context and genre/style.
• A research project requiring students to interpret a literary work through its historical context.
• A summative task/exam that requires students to demonstrate an ability to locate a work within its historical context and discuss how literary history is constructed.

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit will be taught in a small group setting, facilitating discussion and debate about the texts and thematic concerns of the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The teaching strategy includes exercises to promote understanding of literary periods, the development of the English language, and the concept of the canon. Students will hone their skills in close reading to generate deeper levels of analysis.

Representative Texts and References

A list of representative texts and references is provided, including works by Burger, Cadman, Dawson, Greenblatt, Johnston, Mack, Tether, Treharne, Turner, and Varnam, among others.

Unit Details

• Locations: North Sydney
• Credit Points: 10
• Year: 2025
• Prerequisites: WLIT100 Greek and Roman Classics: Origins of Western Literature

Assessment Overview

• Close Reading Task: 20% - Tests ability to locate works within Medieval or Renaissance cultural contexts.
• Research Project: 40% - Requires interpretation of a literary work through its historical context.
• Summative Task/Exam: 40% - Requires demonstration of ability to locate a work within its historical context and discuss literary history construction.