Love and the Social Bond in the Middle Ages

The goal of this course is to study the tension between individual erotic passion (whatever its form of expression) and the constraints of the family, feudal society, and religion.

We will address these questions by reading a selection of examples of works written between the 12th and 14th centuries: preceded by the Old Testament Song of Songs as a foundation for medieval understandings of desire. This will be followed by two stories of virgin martyrs, a selection of Provençal and French courtly lyric poems, one or two courtly romances, (Tristan and Iseut; Yvain, and/or the Knight of the Lion, by Chrétien de Troyes), Dante’s Vita Nuova, Chaucer’s “Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the “Pardoner’s Tale,” and an unusual spiritual love letter by St. Catherine of Siena.

All readings will be based on English translations, but students will be encouraged to read whatever writings they can in their original language.

Here are a few of the questions we will address:

What is the relationship between courtly desire and medieval misogyny?
What necessary link is there between sexual desire and sin?
How is homoerotic desire understood and expressed in medieval letters?
Can men and women of differing social ranks or classes properly love each other?
What is the relationship between courtly love and chivalric combat in medieval romance?
What are the social purposes of marriage in medieval society?
What are the consequences, real or imagined, of adultery in medieval literature?
What place does wealth have in courtly erotic desire?
Can there such a phenomenon as truly spiritual or sacred erotic desire?
Can men and women desire the Virgin Mary or the flesh of Christ?

Graduate students will be evaluated according to: their participation (30%), a brief oral presentation (10-15 min., 20%) and a final paper (50%)..