NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 英國文學:中古與文藝復興時期(3511)
	(Eng.) English Literature :Medieval and Renaissance Periods
Offering Dept	Continuing Bachelor Program in Foreign Languages and Literatures
Course Type	Required	Credits	3	Teacher	CHEN SHU-CHING
Department	Continuing Bachelor Program in Foreign Languages and Literatures(N)Undergraduate	Language	中/英文	Semester	2026-FALL
Course Description	Why study literature written more than five hundred years ago? Although medieval knights, pilgrims, queens, monks, and Renaissance humanists lived in a world very different from ours, they wrestled with questions that still shape our lives today: What makes a hero? What is love? How should power be used? What is the relationship between faith, knowledge, and individual freedom? Throughout this course we will discover how these early texts continue to influence modern literature, films, fantasy, political thought, and our understanding of what it means to be human. This course surveys English literature from the Middle Ages through the sixteenth century. Literary works will be studied in relation to their historical, political, religious, and cultural contexts, while paying particular attention to the development of literary genres, the emergence of humanism, changing concepts of the individual, and representations of gender, class, nation, and authority. Rather than memorizing historical facts alone, students will be encouraged to ask how these texts continue to speak to contemporary concerns.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
• Explain the major characteristics of Medieval and Renaissance literature. • Analyze literary texts within their historical and cultural contexts. • Develop interpretations supported by close textual reading. • Compare ideas in early English literature with contemporary social and ethical issues. • Recognize the continuing influence of medieval and Renaissance literature on modern culture.			Discussion Lecturing	Attendance Quiz
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 9/8 Introduction Why does literature still matter? Week 2 9/15 The Middle Ages What kind of world did medieval people imagine? Week 3 9/22 Beowulf What makes a hero? Week 4 9/29 Beowulf How do courage and leadership define a community? Week 5 10/6 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight What is true honor? Week 6 10/13 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Can anyone be morally perfect? Week 7 10/20 Canterbury Tales: General Prologue How do stories shape our understanding of people? Week 8 10/27 Wife of Bath Who has the authority to tell their own story? Week 9 11/3 Midterm Week 10 11/10 The Renaissance What changed when humans became the center of inquiry? Week 11 11/17 Utopia What would an ideal society look like? Week 12 11/24 Utopia Can perfection ever exist? Week 13 12/1 The Faerie Queene Can virtue survive political power? Week 14 12/8 The Faerie Queene How do allegories teach moral values? Week 15 12/15 Astrophil and Stella Why do people write love poetry? Week 16 12/22 Final Examination self-directed learning    02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia.
Evaluation
Textbook & other References
The Norton Anthology of English Literature
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
Office Hours
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)
include experience courses：N

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Update Date, year/month/day：2026/08/02 19:34:20	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 8 / 18
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