November 17, 2006
Reflective Essay # 2
On most weeks, I am able to complete my scheduled reading by the Wednesday on which we discuss that selection in class. For the Troilus and Criseyde reading I purchased a modernization; The Portable Chaucer, edited and translated by Theodore Morrison. This particular translation is helpful, because I have found that it does not deviate far from the
Riverside text. In most cases, Morrison has simply updated the spelling. This modernization allows me to read more quickly than the Riverside Chaucer, but also gives me a feel for the language and format of the original text.
However, I have been too passive in the reading process. This half of the semester, I have slipped into the habit of reading far too quickly and impatiently. As a result, I do not absorb enough of the subtleties, nuances and patterns of the text. Therefore, my goal for the remainder of the semester is to increase my active engagement with the text.
I am enjoying the opportunity to read Chaucer, particularly selections of the Canterbury Tales. I did not have any prior exposure to Chaucerian material before this class. I now realize that Chaucer connects to a great deal of literary texts, and so I feel that by reading Chaucer I am more aware in my other literature classes. I especially enjoy Chaucer’s exploration of personal identity and the ways in which it connects to society, gender and sexuality.
One of the concepts that have most influenced me in our discussions of medieval literature is the portrayal of narcissism in courtly relationships. I think that this concept has a great deal of exigency; I find connections to courtly narcissism in other works of literature, as well as in contemporary media and idealized views of romance.
I have not yet made enough progress on my research portfolio. I have begun the process of browsing and selecting articles, but I have not yet decided on a theme. I considered continuing with the topic of “marriage and adultery”, which I selected for the first half of my portfolio. However, most of the scholarly articles I have found on Troilus and Criseyde do not fit with this topic, and so it might be beneficial to choose another. In addition, a different topic would help to broaden my knowledge and perspectives on courtly literature. I am considering researching either the Chaucerian portrayal of sexuality, or Chaucerian depictions of the masculine.
September 29, 2006
Reflective Essay #1
My reflective essay, in all its glory:
Completing the reading on schedule has been a bit of a struggle, but so far I’ve been managing. I usually don’t have a text completely read until the Friday of the week in which we discuss it. Occasionally this hinders my understanding of class lecture. Hearing class discussion on plot events that I haven’t yet digested on my own alters my perception when I am reading. In some ways it biases me, preventing me from coming to new conclusions on my own. But at other times I am able to use the ideas discussed in class as springboards; they make me aware of elements in a text I wouldn’t otherwise have discovered. I hope to better manage my reading time for the remainder of the semester; this will allow me to more actively absorb lecture material.
Before we discussed “The Knight’s Tale” in class I read a few scholarly articles on Chaucer. Having a familiarity with some of the scholarly criticism on the text made class lecture more meaningful for me, because I was able to compare and contrast the theories found in these articles with ideas expressed in class. Therefore, one of my goals is to read scholarly literature on texts as we discuss them. This will also help me narrow down topics for my research portfolio.
Although we’ve only been using the blog system for a few weeks, it has been useful for me. Reading other people’s ideas is one of the most successful ways for me to generate and sort out my own ideas.
For me the most difficult aspect of reading medieval literature is its lack of psychological depth in terms of characterization. I haven’t had much prior experience with literature written before the eighteenth-century, and I’ve become very accustomed to critically analyzing texts in terms of character psychology. Because this isn’t as prevalent in medieval literature it is difficult for me to figure out how to approach the text. This is becoming easier as I am getting more and more exposure to medieval literature. It is also easier because we are now moving into Chaucer.
One interesting characteristic of medieval literature is the contradiction inherent in the notion of a Christian, chivalric hero. The pull between the notion of a hero as a man who violently fights and kills in the Greek epic tradition on one hand, and Christian ideals on the other, creates an absorbing tension. This conflict is apparent in all of the texts we have read, particularly “Gawain and the Green Knight.” I am looking forward to reading Chaucer over the next few weeks and exploring the end of the chivalric tradition.
My favorite medieval author to date is Marie de France. She stands out as the only female author we have read. Her lays were unique in their female perspective, including events important to the lives of women, such as marriage and childbirth.
I have begun the process of gathering articles for my research portfolio. I hope to find authors who will represent a diverse assortment of perspectives and critical approaches. However, I am most interested in critical articles that deal with gender, as this is one of my preferred topics and one I have the most experience with. One article I have found deals with gender in “Bisclavret;” “Woman-hating in Marie de France’s Bisclavret” by Paul Cremer, from the Romantic Review. In this article Cremer places “Bisclavret” in the context of woman-hating. It attracted me because I believe that, while his argument has some merit, Cremer himself uses gender bias to validate it. In addition, he fails to maintain his argument in the context of Marie’s other lays.
Rebecca's Courtly Blog 