Prof. Lisa Wolverton
Department of History
325 McKenzie Hall
lwolvert@uoregon.edu
http://uoregon.edu/~lwolvert/
Office Hours: Fridays 1-3 pm
Humanities 102
Encounters with God
This course is an
introduction to literature, art, architecture, history, religion, and
philosophy in the late antique and medieval periods of European history. This is not a survey—there is
simply no way we can cover all these subjects over all these centuries in ten
weeks! Instead then we will focus
on one that is fundamental to the Western Christian tradition throughout the
millennium treated in our class:
God.
Structure of the Course
This course consists of
three lectures and one discussion section per week. Readings, exclusively primary sources in translation,
correspond with each lecture. Students are expected to have read these before
class, and to review them before discussion sections. Individual readings also form the basis the short writing
assignments due in section.
Students are strongly
advised to attend lectures. If you
must miss a class, you should borrow notes from a fellow student as soon as
possible. Although this is primarily
a large lecture course, students should come prepared to discuss the
readings. While lectures will
provide crucial background, they will not be structured to dump large amounts
of information. Much of the
learning that goes on in lecture will come from freeform interactions between
the students and instructor concerning aspects of the texts we are
reading. You should bring the
readings to lecture, as well as to every discussion section.
Weekly discussion sections
are also an integral part of the learning process. They are not review sessions, nor will instructors simply
rehash the weekÕs lectures. Instead, they are an opportunity to engage with the
course themes and readings in a small-group environment. Each week in section, students will
discuss their writing assignments, analyze the readings, and discuss issues
relevant to the weekÕs lectures.
Section attendance is mandatory and students must attend the section for
which they have registered.
Writing assignments, in
the form of one-page papers,
are due weekly in section. Unless
otherwise specified, papers must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-pt font with 1Ó
margins.
Your section instructor is
responsible for your overall course grade, including all written work. Individual grades will be
assigned to written work, and instructors will also keep records of attendance
and oral participation. Writing
assignments will be graded on a straight A-B-C-D-F scale. Good participation in section—or
lack thereof—may add a + or – to your paper grade. In other words, if your assignment
receives a B but you perform well in section, your instructor will record a B+
for that dayÕs section grade.
Please note: while individual writing assignments seem like minor
exercises, together they do add up. Consistent high-quality work will
contribute to a good final grade in the course overall—as will
consistently thoughtful engagement with the material.
For some general writing
guidelines, click here.
The grade distribution is
as follows:
Papers must be turned in
on time, at the beginning of class, and no make-up assignments or exams will be
given. Absences and missing or late
writing assignments will be accepted only with a valid medical excuse. Papers may not be submitted by
email. There is no extra credit. However, all students have the option
of skipping one paper of the
ten assigned during the quarter (whether missed through illness or unforeseen
circumstances, or by choice).
Be advised: plagiarism and other forms of cheating
are serious academic offenses, and will be pursued and punished
accordingly. Ignorance of their
definitions, or of the UO Student Conduct Code, is no excuse. Students should familiarize themselves
with university policy at this link.
Readings
Two books are available
for purchase at the UO Bookstore.
One copy of each is also on reserve at Knight Library. Other readings, marked with an asterisk
below, are available electronically through Blackboard; these should be printed
out by each student.
Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, trans. Henry Chadwick (Oxford, 1991)
The Book of Margery
Kempe, trans. B. A. Windeatt
(Penguin, 1994)
Students are strongly
encouraged to use these specific translations.
Schedule
Jan 7 Introduction to the Course
The Late Roman
Empire: Understanding God
Jan 9 Introduction to the Late Roman
World
Confessions,
Bk. 1
Reading Guide
Section—Short paper: Book 1 of AugustineÕs Confessions opens with a long prayer. What is its main
theme and how is it elaborated?
Jan 11 Morality and Community
Confessions,
Bk. 2
Jan 14 The Liberal Arts
Confessions,
Bk. 3
Jan 16 Questions
Confessions,
Bk. 4
Section—Short paper: The first sections of Book 3 discuss various emotions (love,
lust, suffering, mercy, pleasure, friendship, etc.). How does Augustine
distinguish "authentic" from false emotions?
Jan 18 Manicheism
Confessions,
Bk. 5
Jan 21 MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. DAY
Jan 23 Ambrose of Milan and Christian
Practice
Confessions,
Bk. 6
Section—Short paper: According to Augustine, why did he return to the Christian
Scriptures at this stage in his life?
Jan 25 Plotinus and Neo-Platonism
Guest Lecture by Kimberley Parzuchowski, Dept of Philosophy
Confessions,
Bk. 7
Jan 28 An Alternative Approach: Asceticism
*Athanasius,
Life of St. Anthony
Jan 30 Will
Confessions, Bk. 8
Also: SPECIAL EVENT! (Required)
Prof.
James OÕDonnell, Georgetown University, ÒWhat Augustine DidnÕt ConfessÓ (Global
Scholars Hall, 7 pm)
Section—Short paper: According to Prof. OÕDonnell, what did Augustine not confess
and how does he know?
Feb 1 Wrap-up Confessions & AugustineÕs Legacy
Confessions, Bk. 9
Feb 4 MIDTERM
The Medieval Monastery
and the Love of God
Feb 6 Introduction to the Middle Ages
*Nicene
Creed; *Exhortation to the Faithful
Section—Short paper: To what extent does CharlemagneÕs ÒExposition of
FaithÓ reflect or deviate from the Nicene Creed?
Feb 8 The Medieval Monastery
*The
Rule of Benedict
Feb 11 Psalmody: Music and Prayer
Guest Lecture by Prof. Lori Kruckenberg and Prof. Eric Mentzel,
School of Music
*Four
short excerpts
Feb 13 An Alternative Approach: Relics & Miracles
*Book
of Sainte Foy
Section—Short paper: Judging by the miracle stories, what role does St. Foy play
in lay society?
Feb 15 On Loving God
*Bernard
of Clairvaux, Letter to the Carthusians
Feb 18 The Interpretation of Scripture
*Hugh
of St. Victor on the meanings of Scripture; *Song of Songs
Feb 20 The Song of Songs
*William of St. Thierry, Commentary
on the Song of Songs
Section—Short Paper: How does WilliamÕs interpretation of the first stanzas
of the Song of Songs accord with the principles he laid out in the preface?
Feb 22 Visions of the Bridegroom
*Gertrude
of Helfta, Herald of GodÕs Loving-Kindness
Feb 25 An Alternative Approach: Gothic Cathedrals
Guest Lecture by Prof. N. Camerlenghi, Dept of Art &
Architecture
*Suger
Feb 27 Another Alternative Approach: The Logic of Scholars
*Thomas
Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, three
excerpts
Section—Short Paper: Compare and contrast ThomasÕs understanding of GodÕs love
with BernardÕs, WilliamÕs, or GertrudeÕs.
Late Medieval Laity and
the Passion of Christ
Mar 1 Introduction to the Late Middle Ages
Margery,
pp. 31-38
Mar 4 Social Hierarchies
Margery,
pp. 42-82
Mar 6 Dialogue with and Images of God
Margery,
pp. 83-122
Section—Short paper: What is the significance of MargeryÕs weeping?
Mar 8 An Alternative Approach: Dante and Poetry as a Privileged
Approach to the Divine
Guest Lecture by Prof. Gina Psaki, Dept of Romance Languages
*Dante (Mandelbaum trans.),
three excerpts: Inferno 1,
Purgatorio 1, Paradiso 1
Mar 11
Eucharistic Devotion
Margery,
pp. 122-182
Mar 13 Contemplation and Union with God
Margery,
pp. 221-61
Section—Short paper: How would you characterize MargeryÕs relationship with God?
Mar 15 The Power of Prayer
Margery,
pp. 292-7
Tuesday Mar 19 10:15
am-12:15 pm FINAL EXAM