EGL 202 - Amazons, Saints and Scholars: Women’s Writing in the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Course Units: 1.0

This course explores the medieval and early modern female writers of England and France. We will ask: how did women respond in writing to the male-defined literary traditions and conventions of these eras? The course also provides an introduction to some of the major questions and works of feminist literary criticism, including: Why should we read the works of women? What aesthetic standards should we apply when discussing their works? Is there a difference between “masculine” and “feminine” writing? We will focus on six female writers: Marie de France, Christine de Pizan, Elizabeth Carey, Isabella Whitney, Amelia Lanyer, and Mary Sidney. Prerequisite(s): One 100-level English course or a score of 5 on the AP English Language or Literature and Composition test. CC: HUL, HUM, WAC ISP: GSWS