LIT-439 Race and Nation in the Middle Ages
What did race and nation mean in the Middle Ages? We’ll first examine English attempts to establish a unified national identity out of a history of invasion and colonization. We’ll consider the role of Jews in England, as well as examples of Celtic resistance to English imperialism. Then we’ll turn to writing that explores English identity in an international context, to see how real and imagined contact with other cultures—particularly during the Crusades—influences conceptions of nation, race, and identity. Genres include travel writing, drama, romance, and historical narrative.
Seminar (12)
Credits
1
Prerequisite
Three courses in Literature
Offered
Spring
Notes
(History or SSIH).